John Joseph Rawlings
John Joseph Rawlings (1860-1942) of Rawlings Brothers
Brother of William Robert Rawlings
Founder of the Rawlplug Co
1860 Born in Putney[1] son of John Joseph Rawlings, a contractor, deceased by 1896[2], and his wife Sarah.
1881 A whitesmith living with his parents in Putney[3]
1896 Married Millicent Dale in West Kensington.
1901 A civil and mechanical engineer, employer, living in Roehampton with Millicent Rawlings 30[4]
1911 Employer in the electric, motor and building industries, living in Wandsworth, with John Millicent Rawlings 41, Kathleen Millicent Rawlings 9, Ralph John Rawlings 6[5]
c.1917? John Joseph Rawlings, a building contractor, solved a fixing problem at the British Museum by inventing the fibre plug - known as the Rawlplug - into which screws were driven. The basic principle in the design was grip by expansion.
1919 Incorporation of the Rawlplug Co
1942 'Kensington Inventor's Estate. — The will of Mr. John Joseph Rawlings, the inventor of "Rawlplugs," who died August 4, at his home, "Cromer," Home Park-road, Wimbledon, aged 82. has been proved at £51,381 (net personalty £28,538).'[6]