Widnes Alkali Co
Widnes Alkali Company, caustic soda and bleaching powder manufacturers of Widnes, Lancashire.
1865 Widnes Alkali Co established works which later became Muspratt's No 2 Works[1]
1884 erected a revolving furnace of about 26ft. length with two discharge holes.
1888 Installed a very large revolving furnace of 30 ft. length with diameter of 12 ft. 6 in. A charge of salt cake was 8 tons 12 cwt. producing 240 tons of 60 per cent. caustic soda in 7 days operation.
1888 Widnes Alkali Co exhibited crystals of chlorate of potash at the Glasgow International Exhibition[2].
1888 For some time the Widnes Alkali Co had been making a type of Portland cement from caustic lime mud to the patent of Mr John S. Rigby; a company was formed to purchase the rights and build works at Widnes and St. Helens[3].
1891 One of many Leblanc soda manufacturers which amalgamated to form the United Alkali Co.
1919 merged with Muspratt Wood End works as Muspratt No 2 works.
1930 Amalgamated with Gaskell, Marsh works
See Also
Sources of Information
- J Soc Chem. Industry, reproduced in Scientific American, 1888