Dunlop Rubber Co Ltd, general

Sectors:

  • Transport equipment production Aeroengines & components production
  • Wearing apparel & footwear production Footwear & footwear components production
  • Wearing apparel & footwear production Outerwear & underwear production
  • Agriculture & fishing Plantation management, rubber
  • Rubber & plastic products manufacture Rubber products inc tyre manufacture
  • Luxury / consumer goods production Sports equipment production
  • Luxury / consumer goods production Wooden furniture production inc upholstery, mattress, mirror, etc

Notes:

Traced origins to 1889 when John B Dunlop and W Harvey du Cros floated the Pneumatic Tyre & Booth's Cycle Agency to acquire, inter alia, Dunlop's patent for the pneumatic tyre. 1894 known as Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd and in 1896 sold to Ernest Hooley who floated the business as Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd. Initially made tyres for bicycles, later motor cars and early on based in Clerkenwell, London. Reorganised 1900 as Dunlop Rubber Co Ltd and rapidly emerged as a leading UK business with extensive overseas operations. Acquired rubber plantations in Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Diversified into other rubber products after 1918 including footwear and clothing through acquisition in 1925 of Charles Macintosh & Co Ltd, tyres and other components for aircraft, sports goods such as golf balls, mattresses, etc. Major manufacturing plant at Fort Dunlop, Birmingham, opened 1916 and which sometime employed 10,000. In decline from 1970s and 1985, as Dunlop Holdings Plc, acquired by BTR Plc. In its early days Arthur James Wilson, 1858-1945, played an important management role; he was notable on account of being deaf and for his support of charities for the deaf and of the Cycle & Motor Trades Benevolent Fund

Publications:

Groups: