India Rubber Gutta Percha & Telegraph Works Co Ltd

Sectors:

  • Financial services Business promotion, projection, etc, activities
  • Construction Cable laying inc at sea
  • Electrical & electronic engineering Electrical wire & cable production
  • Wearing apparel & footwear production Outerwear & underwear production
  • Rubber & plastic products manufacture Rubber products inc tyre manufacture

Notes:

Traced origins to late 18th century when Silver family operated an outfitting business in City of London. In early 19th century the business was developed by Stephen Winckworth Silver, d1855, and known as S W Silver & Co. He was succeeded by his sons, Stephen William, 1817-1905, and Hugh, in 1846. Sometime established a rubber waterproof clothing factory at Greenwich which in 1852 relocated to what became known as Silvertown where output diversified into insulated wires and cables. 1860 Charles Hancock joined business. 1864 most of the rubber part of Silver family's business incorporated as India Rubber Gutta Percha & Telegraph Works Co Ltd. [1898 the other part of Silver family's business, still S W Silver & Co, 'merchants, outfitters, etc', merged with Benjamin Edgington, 'government contractors' to form S W Silver & Co & Benjamin Edgington Ltd, canvas including tent manufacturers]. From 1860s the Gutta Percha Co making insulated cables for submarine telegraphy and emerged as major manufacturers and layers of submarine cables. Also made electrical equipment and other rubber products ranging from tyres to golf balls. 1889 noted for a prolonged strike. Also involved in promotion of submarine telegraph companies. 1934 acquired by British Goodrich Rubber Co Ltd but soon sold off as British Tyre & Rubber Co Ltd [later BTR Plc]. A subsidiary in 1950s was known as Silvertown Rubber Co Ltd [2023]

Groups: