Grace's Guide
British Industrial History
Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 145,229 pages of information and 230,730 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.
A. G. Kurtz and Co
From Graces Guide
A. G. Kurtz and Company, chemical manufacturers of St. Helens
1842 Andreas Kurtz had loaned money to Messrs Darcy and Dierden; against his own wishes Kurtz had to take over their alkali works at St Helens; Darcy tried to pretend that Kurtz had been a partner which Kurtz had to challenge in court.
1846 On the death of Kurtz, the works were run by his son Andrew George Kurtz.
The "Sutton Alkali Works" were well regarded for their arrangement and management amongst St Helens chemical works, and this continued for many years.
1853 Manufacturing chemist[1]
1887 A. G. Kurtz and Co won an action against P. Spence and Sons of Manchester restraining the latter from making threats about a patent relating to fixing colours on cloth and paper which both parties claimed to have originated[2].
1891 Incorporated in the United Alkali Co together with most of the other users of the Leblanc process.
1899 Fire and explosion in the chlorate house of the Kurtz Works of United Alkali Co followed by explosion at neighbouring Hardshaw Brook Chemical Works also owned by United Alkali; several workmen were killed and many injured[3].
1920 Works closed