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Albright and Wilson was founded in 1856 as a United Kingdom manufacturer of potassium chlorate and white phosphorus for the match industry. For much of its first 100 years of existence, phosphorus-derived chemicals formed the majority of its products. It was set up as a Partnership between two Quakers, Arthur Albright, and John Edward Wilson.〔(Description of Albright family papers at Birmingham City Archive )〕〔Arthur Albright died 3 July 1900, aged 89: Sources:''Birmingham Daily Post'', Wednesday, 4 July 1900; Issue 13123: Obituary. ''Wrexham Advertiser, and North Wales News'', Saturday, 25 August 1900; pg. 5 "Personal" - Description of Will.〕 It became a private limited company, Albright & Wilson Ltd, in 1892; and it remained a double family-owned firm, for nearly 100 years, until 5 March 1948, when it became a public company.〔Threlfall (1951). Chapter XIV: ''The Public Company.''〕 Albright and Wilson expanded considerably into silicones, detergents, food additives, metal finishing chemicals, strontium based chemicals and chromium based chemicals. It was the second largest chemical manufacturer in the United Kingdom; although it was always very much smaller than ICI. In 1971 Tenneco bought a part of Albright and Wilson's share holdings; and in 1978 obtained full ownership. In the short term, the company retained its own identity; however many of its subsidiaries were sold off. In 1995, Tenneco divested many of its assets; and parts of the original core of Albright and Wilson were transferred into a new public company, Albright and Wilson Plc which was floated on the stock market, in February of that year. However, just four years later, following disappointing results, the French chemical company Rhodia acquired Albright and Wilson in March 2000〔http://www.rhodia.co.uk/cws/content_detail.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673378112&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723696667251&bmUID=1230937010621〕 and the century-and-a-half old name finally disappeared except in India, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.〔Hugh Podger (2002). ''Albright & Wilson: The Last 50 Years''. Studley: Brewin Books. ISBN 1-85858-223-7.〕 Parts of the original Albright and Wilson company are now owned by the Huntsman Corporation. After a large fire at its Avonmouth plant in 1996, which caused the temporary closure of local motorways and rail services, Albright and Wilson were fined £60,000. ==The move to Oldbury== In 1842 Arthur Albright, a trained chemist, became a Partner in the Birmingham chemical firm of John and Edmund Sturge; his sister had married Edmund Sturge who was also a Quaker.〔It is not known how long the company retained Quaker scruples. Arthur Albright was an Active Quaker for his whole life. Later the company produced phosphorus munitions, contrary to the Quaker Peace Testimony.〕 The Sturges were already manufacturing potassium chlorate for the match industry, at their chemical works at Selly Oak, adjacent to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.〔(British History Online )〕 Albright therefore added the production of white phosphorus in 1844. In 1850 the production of potassium chlorate and white phosphorus was moved to Langley Green, Oldbury, West Midlands; and production of white phosphorus restarted in 1851.〔Threlfall (1951). Chapter IV: ''The Foundations, 1844–56: John Wilson''.〕 The new site was located next door to the firm of Chance and Hunt in order to obtain access to a supply of sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid; and of coal from the Black Country coal fields. It was also adjacent to two different arms of the Birmingham Canal Navigations, (the BCN), one leading off the Titford Canal, so it had good transport links.〔 Production of the red form of phosphorus, "amorphous phosphorus" was commenced by Arthur Albright in 1851, by heating white phosphorus in a sealed crucible under a vacuum. It had been discovered by Professor Schrötter, in Vienna and patented by him. However, it was explosive to make and Albright discovered a safe means of production. On 31 December 1854 Albright terminated his partnership with the Sturges; and John Edward Wilson, a merchant, joined him. In 1856 John Edward Wilson became a partner, and the new partnership was known as Albright and Wilson. In 1857 John Wilson married the sister of Rachel Albright (Albright's wife). The Sturge Brothers continued as manufacturing chemists at Birmingham, but moved their works to Stirchley; and no longer had any involvement with phosphorus. Oldbury remained the Headquarters of Albright and Wilson for most of the company's existence, eventually becoming known as the Oldbury Division. The Oldbury site was also the location of its central Research Laboratories. The business was so highly regarded in Oldbury that a new secondary school opened in the town in the 1930s was named Albright Secondary Modern School.() The firm also maintained a leased London office, at Knightsbridge Green. In October 1974 it moved its Industrial Chemicals Divisional Offices, from Oldbury, to Warley. The six-storey office block, A&W House, at 210–222 Hagley Road, was originally rented for 25 years. Fifteen years later, parts of the Head Office were moved from Knightsbridge Green to A&W House. In October 1991 the Head Office moved to A&W House; and in 1997 the feehold of the building was purchased. A&W House was sold in 2001; and is now known as Quadrant West.〔Hugh Podger (2002), Page 218.〕 () 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Albright and Wilson」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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