Robert McArd and Co
of Crown Cabinet Works, Denton, near Manchester. Telephone: Denton 2095. Telegraphic Address: "Pioneer, Denton, Lancashire". (1937)
1890 Company founded. The history of the Celmac toilet seat goes back to the "Sanitary Seats" first made by Robert McArd and Co of Denton, Manchester, and London, in the year 1890.
1910 Private company.
When Robert died he left a thriving business to his daughters Celia, Elizabeth and Lucy McArd and the company style was changed to incorporate their initials as Celmac Ltd.
1930s Celmac was one of the first companies to experiment with the use of plastics. The early moulded plastic seats were made in Bakelite, a thermoseat material made from urea formaldehyde.
1937 British Industries Fair Advert for: 'Natural' Moulded W.C. Seat; W.C. Seats in all finishes; W. C. Seats in Bakelite, of all colours. Celmac Bathroom Furniture. White Enamelled Bathroom Furniture: Cabinets; Linen Boxes; Splash backs; Mirrors; Tables; Cupboards; Bathroom Chairs and Stools. (Building, General Building and Cooking Section - Stand No. B.602). [1]
WWII. During and immediately after the Second World War, Bakelite was used for everything from radio sets to ash trays, from cups and saucers to toilet seats and is remembered with mixed feelings for its brittleness and "utility" appearance. Nevertheless the new Celmac seats were an immediate success, first for domestic use and then in the emerging market for school toilet seats.
Celmac introduced the Crescent A Model, complete with seat cover and fully adjustable chromium plated hinges for 14" and 16" school pans with the gap front designed specifically for hygiene in toilets used by both boys and girls. The seat design remains virtually unchanged.
1947 Company made public.
1953 Patent - Improvements in or relating to hinges for closet seats and covers.
1961 Plastic moulders and manufacturers of sanitary seats and bathroom and kitchen furniture. 250 employees. [2]
1962 Acquired Kingsland (Plastics)[3]
1965 Minerals Separation acquired the company[4].
1966 Name changed to Celmac[5]
1966 Was part of Minerals Separation[6]
1967 Patent - A Wall Tie.
By 1969 Celmac Ltd was part of the building products section of Foseco Minsep[7]
1991 Burmah-Castrol acquired Foseco Minsep including its industrial subsidiaries such as Celmac
1997 Polypipe acquired Celmac of Manchester[8]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1937 British Industries Fair Advert p533; and p387
- ↑ 1961 Dun and Bradstreet KBE
- ↑ The Times, May 14, 1962
- ↑ The Times, Jun 15, 1965
- ↑ The Times, Apr 01, 1966
- ↑ The Times, May 14, 1966
- ↑ The Times, Jun 19, 1969
- ↑ The Times, April 30, 1997