Reeves & Sons Ltd

Sectors:

  • Luxury / consumer goods production Artists' materials production
  • Chemical production Paint, varnish, mastic, glue, resin, white lead, etc, production

Notes:

Established c1766 by William and Thomas Reeve as W & T Reeves, artists' colourmen. Made an innovative form of colour called 'watercolour cake'. By 1780s suppliers to East India Co, for many years a very important customer. Soon held royal warrants. By 1800 had emerged as a leading producer of oil and watercolour paints and indian inks. From 1877 owned by Wilds family and c1880 moved from central London to Dalston. Late 19th century incorporated and opened retail branches in London and started to supply growing school market. Major new works opened at Enfield in 1921. From 1930s opened overseas subsidiaries. 1971 merged with Dryad Ltd of Leicester to form Reeves Dryad Ltd which was subsequently acquired by Reckett & Colman and sold on to A B Wilhelm Becker

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