Erinoid
of Lightpill Mills, Stroud, Gloucs.[1] London Office at Regent Street, W1. Birmingham Office at Coleshill Street. (1922)
Commenced as Syrolit
1909 Casein plastics, derived from milk, were developed by Erinoid[2].
1914 Erinoid Ltd of Rodborough, was established at Lightpill Mill, near Stroud. The firm manufactured plastic using casein, a substance derived from milk by a patented dry process.
The factory quickly became the main source of casein plastic in the UK, producing at least 5 tons a week at the start of the First World War.
1922 British Industries Fair Advert (double page) for Erinoid - The New British Insulating Material. A Non-Inflammable Substitute for: Celluloid; Bone; Amber; Ebonite; Horn; Coral; Fibre; Ivory; Jet; Vulcanite; Tortoiseshell; Turquoise. Ideal for Turning and admirably suitable for: Electrical Fittings and Accessories; Buttons, Beads, Combs and Hair Ornaments; Cigarette Holders; Knife Handles; Pencils and Penholders; Hat Pins; Umbrella and Stick Handles; Organ Stops; Piano Keys, etc. (Stand No. K.51) [3]
The business continued to expand rapidly, and employed over 500 people by 1933.
1947 British Industries Fair Advert as Manufacturers of Modern Plastics Materials: Casein; Cellulose Acetate; Vinyl Plastics; Polystyrene; Oil Soluble Synthetic Resins. (Plastics Section - Earls Court, 1st Floor, Stand No. 808) [4]
1958 The rise and fall of Acordis Co. Erinoid's interest ended in 1958.[5]
1959 Shell Chemical Co terminated their agency agreement with Erinoid, a subsidiary of O. and M. Kleemann, who had been selling polystyrene manufactured by Shell's subsidiary Styrene Products[6]
1961 For some years had had a joint interest with Hercules Powder Co and James Nelson Ltd in Nelsons Acetate Ltd and Nelsons Lancashire Estate Co. Sold its interest to its partners.[7]
1962 The parent company was renamed Mobil Chemicals
1964 British Celanese, part of the Courtaulds Group, acquired J. Nelson’s interest in 1964. Growing demand for textile fibre saw the plant expand ...[8]
1964 Part of Mobil Chemicals[9]
1965 BP acquired the plastics interests of Mobil Chemicals in the UK, including factories at Stroud and Wokingham[10]
By 1969 was part of the BP Plastic department of BP Chemicals[11]
In 1973, when 700 people were employed, the factory also made polystyrene and articles in thermo-plastic materials for use in the electrical and building industries.
The Stroud-based factory remained the major producer of casein plastic right up to the 1980s, when it ceased manufacture faced with a dwindling market.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ "British Plastics" Vol.1 No.1 June 1929
- ↑ History of Plastics[1]
- ↑ 1922 British Industries Fair Adverts lxxvi and lxxvii; and p26
- ↑ 1947 British Industries Fair Advert 383; and p97
- ↑ Morecambe Guardian 04 July 2003
- ↑ The Times Dec. 1, 1959
- ↑ The Times Apr. 24, 1961
- ↑ Morecambe Guardian 04 July 2003
- ↑ Gloucester Citizen 07 December 1964
- ↑ The Times Aug. 18, 1965
- ↑ The Times May 20, 1969
- [2] Gloucestershire County Council
[3] Science Museum Collections