Title
Contract file
Reference
YA2007.92/6/1/5
Production date
1936 - 1950
Scope and Content
File of contract notes for orders purchased by Grimshaw Brothers & Co. Ltd from various chemical companies. Notes included details on goods, delivery and payment. File also includes related correspondence and rate schedules.
Language
English
Level of description
ITEM
Repository name
Science and Industry Museum
Associated people and organisations
- Grimshaw Brothers & Company LtdBiographyBiography
Chemical manufacturer, set up in 1875. Its products included pure muriate of zinc, iron remover, sizing ingredients, Amazon rubber chemicals, Paton's soap economiser and woollen scourers. Grimshaw's remained in business until 1957.
- Imperial Chemical Industries plcBiographyBiography
Imperial Chemical Industries plc came into existence in 1926, following the merger of Nobel Industries Ltd, Brunner, Mond and Company Ltd, the United Alkali Company, and the British Dyestuffs Corporation. The new company was called Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. Its operations began in 1927, with 33,000 people employed in five main product areas: alkali products, explosives, metals, general chemicals, and dyestuffs. In 1928, its head office opened in Millbank, London. The former British Dyestuffs Corporation works at Blackley, Manchester became the home of ICI's Dyestuffs Division. The main factory for the General Chemicals Division was at Billingham, County Durham.
ICI's Research and Development Department developed a number of significant products in the early 20th century, including the acrylic plastic Perspex in 1932, Dulux paint (in partnership with DuPont) in 1932, polyethylene in 1937 and polyethylene terephthalate fibre (known as Terylene and PET) in 1941.
The work on polyethylene was led by the Dyestuffs Division at Blackley until a new Plastics Division was established at Welwyn Garden City in 1937. In 1971, the Dyestuffs Division merged with parts of the Nobel Division to become known as the Organics Division. Later mergers with other specialty chemical producers created ICI Colours and Fine Chemicals, which then became ICI Specialties.
From 1940, ICI Dyestuffs was involved in the manufacture of Nylon fabrics at its Huddersfield plant, and in 1964 the company established ICI Fibres to manage its successful textile, fibres and Nylon production. The Nylon part of the business was sold to DuPont in 1992.
In 1944, as Imperial Chemical (Pharmaceuticals) Ltd, the company was involved in the development of penicillin at its Trafford Park works. Because of its success with pharmaceuticals, the company established ICI Pharmaceuticals in 1957. In 1993, ICI Pharmaceuticals and other bioscience divisions became Zeneca, along with ICI Specialties. Zeneca merged with Astra AB in 1994 to form Astra Zeneca Plc.
General Chemical production continued until the acquisition of ICI by Akzo Nobel in 2007.
- William Blythe and Company LimitedBiographyBiography
Chemical manufacturer based in Lancashire. Known to have been active in 1936-1939.
- Harrison, Clark LtdBiographyBiography
Chemical company based in Essex, England. Known to have been active 1938-1950.
Conditions governing access
Open access.
Conditions governing Reproduction
Copies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions.
System of arrangement
artificial