Document 5k8maRZqj9K5geoDYM83ReoNe

BERGER HOUSE BERKELEY SQUARE LONDON W.l. TELEPHONE: MAYFAIR S171 (10 LINES) TELEGRAMS : BERWEST WESDO -LONDON Dr. J. C. Weaver, Sherwin Williams Co. 101, Prospect Avenue, Cleveland. Qiio. U.S.A. 29th December, 1961. Dear John, As premised in my letter of the 21st instant I now enclose a further copy of Chapter V of my History for your Mr. Kent. With kind regards. Yours sincerely,^^A| V F. Annitage. FA/mu enc: N15894 / i* t Chapter V The Last Half Century ll,Ao Shorcin ond WoK0 Cotttofijiam of the Sherwin Williams Company of Cleveland, ChiOo hod first visited Europe in 1896 and Cpttinshani0 s report of his visits to tho most important British Paint Factories was characterised by an almost total look of enthusiasm,. Compered 'with the /aaarican Paint industry, production methods, and finished products, t o st said to bo natch inferior, faotoiy workers in key positions were thought to be too old; and advertising methods were particularly condemned as being old fashioned and ineffiolmto Bergers were sot essapt from these crlticisstSo Nevertheless, Cottdn^am was to becoao the chief shareholder in the Company, and in 1905 was elected Chairman cf tho Board of Birsotorso In the Shcrwin=Williec2a museum is the original Illuminated address of welcome, dated 1906, to Sherwin and ** / Cottinafram, and signed by tho general foremen of Bergers, Baird, Buck, Bougksk, Fletcher, Cray, Janes, Morgan, Siddolsdell, Shacklady, Stone and 7/heclwiighto t* Xt was dear that Cottinghem could soo very good prospects for Berger in the British and European markets if they wore given the . advantages of .American technical know-how, and Jaaerieen business methods; and consequently he revitalised tho Company by introducing into the organisation, several oaperts from the Sherwin Williams Ccsrpany, who remained until just before the First 3brld ar<> The names of these non appear in Appendix % Walter Cottingham was to remain Chairman until 1930, with James Garocn, Managing Director and eventually Vice-Chaisman until his death in 1925o Garoca was succeeded as Managing Director, by Sherwin Cottin^ham, am of Walter, who held the position until 1929<> WoHo Cottinghsaa was succeeded as Chairman by Sir Herbert Henbling, who hosjcvcr died ehortly after hio appointacat in 19520 From this tin until 194S Lord Greenwood was Ohaiman supported by Shsarwin Cottiagfeass (Vice-Chairman until 1935) and Percy Murray (died 1934) and Frederick AU.en (reared 1939) as Joint Managing Director*, 'W,,H0F Starkey (works N15894.01 007-SWP-53107 2 Manager. 4 years with fee Company) and P.V.C* Grigsby (Publicity Manager, 27 years service) became directors in 1535o Mre0 Vera Cotttnghaa and M&0 Doacea (a Director of Berger, South ifsica) were aloo elected to the Board0 On Frederick Allen's retirement, ctarkey and Grigsby acted as Joint Managing Directors for a few years before the advent of W0Jo Darby in 194-2 Meantime W.S,, Cotiinghazs had died in 1956, ani after Mrs Vers. Cottfegfes had remarried, her nm te^band, Thomas MXley, then Chairman of Lilley and Skinner, w elected to the Berger Beard in 194O0 :I:m Lilley was looted Chairman of Berger after th death of Lord Greenwood in 194So Wo Jo Darby2 e tenure of office terminated in 1255, when he ms succeeded as Group Managing Director, by W.J. Vines, an Australian, feo for 6 years had be Managing Director of iae Victorias Company cad since 1952 an escut:ly director of fee Australian droqp Company Pijsaenfe <r--rrr triVaMgaw.iCnijq* Colour manufacture continued .to tje.jaii jSssxjrtaat part of Hcmerfea prediction until th late thirties when 2.700,000 lbs were produced in 1939s mainly chrome greets and yellows; the so-called Consul colours ^ospho-EOl^Ms=tungstic lakes for printing inks; holAo Red, Permanent Red Ee and maroons; feich had replaced th carmines and vermilion during th, 05 s and early 30 s; Haase. Yellow and some Chinese and Prussian Blueso Those colours were to be made until almost fee closing of the Ifesaertca Factory, when the new old fashioned plant available was no longer able to produce economically, and arrangements were cade for fee Bergor pigp^ts to be produced In the future by the Gornbrcok Chemical Company Production of Baris Green and Ivory Black had both ceased by 1930o The Paris Green Department mo destroyed by fire in 1916, although feat in itself did not stop production .of this. roaterial Thus 1 %B am fee .home company no longer* making pijgnsnts after continuously producing Prussian Blue end a wide variety of other colours for nearly 190 years 007-SWP-53108 Ia the *bo v to Ga&dweH Heath the nature of tans9 kegs sad drums was also abandoned for economc reasons hut the B?iatj^^_DTOgx_t5eat tras modernised and enlarged end regains a thriving efficient unit employing sc&c 40 woc&srs today? Proia the available figures of dry colour sales between 1915 and 1944s it is clear that msudism pre-auction ms fra 191.6 .&> 1920 nfeen sales for these fire years reached 3e 3o 6% 4 and 3 million pounds weighfe Frcsa 1920 sales fell steadily to 1 million pounds in i$k% then recovered ceaewhat until by 1939 2 Dii3Ji.cns wer recorded thereafter falling again to If a&llicus shortly before the shutdown* It say be noted that the 1939 figure was artifically increased by the inclusion of pigments (earth colours and Berger produced Pigaont Green) for us in a o&ius silicate solution for the camouflaging of aircraft hangars,? Varnishes Since fee installation c fceir varnish kitchens Berger had sad natural gisa varalakes at Homerton and had acquired considerable know how in 1h esterification of resin or colophony* and in the far sore critical process of "running" Gong copal end the subsequent esterification and oiling out process for the production of good varnishes or paint vehicles,? Before the introduction of accurate temperature control it was a matter of fin ^adgpteat on the part of the varnish maker to decide when the Congo gum was properly "run" so that subsequent treatment would result in star bright good drying varnisfaeso Consequently the art of varnish making ms one passed a fresss father to eo snd'Bsrger were successful in keeping in their spicy a succession f experts in this fieldo Varnish pots were movable open topped cylindrical kettles of 100 ~ 120 gallons capacity heated over coke os* gas fires0 A loos cover was often fitted with moans to oawiuct away the products of combustion to absorption chambers precautions rendered obligatory by the early foctoxy acts and the need to avoid ccs&plaints by local health authorities Ss&li fires were quit frequent in the varnish, kitchen particularly from the inflammable volatile decomposition products eg run Goag jpaio Litis varnishes war deliberately allowed to feisra n the surface for a few asssats = such treatssat feeing considered necessary to giv certain desirable properties Towards the d cf the 1920' & American Qhd Slooteio Ctespany developed the oil-modified a2kyd resins for use in paint, and these were also made by the Gfesrwin^JSillicjas Coapany, with, ite Berger had sintaiasd a close technical liaisea, sine the time of WHo Cottxnffmnv & first &ssciatiB with the Opapoay L,E Wakcfcrds then manage? of the Cellulose Department, made his first visit to the States in 1932 end brought bads from Shervdn Wi3.li.ams, ,a rang of alkyd resin fewsmilsviens, and it fell to the lot of Hs A,, Kewnhaia, them a young Berger afeesaist, to develop end adapt these formulations for works production as suitable media for Berger enamels*. Shi work resulted in Air-Baying and Storing Semitone Coach Finishes (1933) and Pompeian Super Synthetic Decorating QaesseX l933)o For many years alkyd resins were mad in 100 galla pots, with manual hand stirring, - and' it mo not mtil 1 %$ that the first 2 tea properly equipped modern alkyd kettle was acquired and installed at HcsaerteSo A 1 C.G00 gallon g*s-running kettle feed also been installed in 1 SlA- #doh contributed mush to more efficient and economical processing cf natural resins She ma^ar inventions arising out of the G-raup Research Laboralary which was inaugurated at Homertcn in 1942 wore isidcufetedly those leading te the use of styrene modified oils and styressated aikyd rosins as paint vehicles? Bulk promotion was to start 1b the factory in 1946 in a 15 GOO gallon unit, later to be implemented by a 2 000 gallon vessel Shis work was to form th basis of Styrene Copolymers Limited who started oprations in 1350g and mho were producing 1,7GO ton of solid copolymers t$p 1 $gs for the paint industry of great Britain. and Europe* In this same year Styrene Copolymer also produced as much straight alkyd resin, and their prsducticsn of all resins has continned to grow at a healthy rate since that tisaOo ife first Bergemaster Gloss Paint sold by Borges? for some years aft? the war was based on a styrenated oil varnish, which, proved a useful medium, in view of ife shortage of linseed oil and ghthalic 007-SWP-53110 anhydride ta those days.-. Later- tbs pre-deet was upgraded by replacing tfc styrenated oil, by a styren&teS alfcfdc She latter was representative f a lass & materials also useful as media for, industrial, paints' sold as Polybem 111 (metee^ paints) and Folftcen 333 (motor car finishing enamels)e These new paint vehicles were to became of considerable technical importance is both Europe end ikaerioa, and many other resin and paint companies arc now manufesoturfeg stash materials for themselves Berger filed many patent specifications is Great Britain and overseas, which in the course of time were license, to other paint and varnish manufacturers . A reminder of the only serious damage suffered by the Homortcn Factory * on September 0th2J 154G, will not be out of place* As the result of a direct hit on the Varnish Department and the consequent fire, some 100,000 gallons of varnish ms lost, end the working of the department* and to a lesser esient operation in. the Dry Colour and Keg and Drum Departeents were mere or less seriously af?ectd0 Paints The tfoaous Berger fJPs^'ient5 gloss paint was first introduced in 1 2Q6 and such finely ground paints were to replace the older method of achieving masSsasa gloss by applying a final coat of varaisho Fine grinding was carried cut, *sp till the middle of the 3? s by a battery of cone sill, where production frem each mill'ms casly 1-| - 2 gullet per hor0 Ovesfeesting of a mill in ih effort to -obtain the madam degree of gpSnd, would occasionally cause the inflammable 'solsmt vapours to tabs fre> " a .hassrd a longer to be met, after ftt iastrodi^tiisi of the Koenock Mills, the Sorraace Super Grinder and, in the 1st 30* ss of the Ball Millo Prior i Pcs^eiaa, B*.pc Decorators Oil Paint had been popular since 1505, and Matoae, registered in 1508, ms one of the first, '"wetedge*5 flat oil earned Bos* interior use supplied in heavy liquid foBo Matroll oil bound water paints were introduced in 1$2Q, and its production oa c%e*rusBs*a increased i considerable volumes up to the late 30s sc By 153 s less than seven different ranges of gloss paint 'we produced, * Bospeiaa, farad ak Gloss, Hard. Gloss, B0P0J> '>Mte lead 007-SWP-531.il " JUJl1.............. > "... ...... ...., ............. i" -6 Faist sad Stempeies Super SjsitisstiCc Pespe&asi itself based principally on linseed stand oil and s5so oxide* Included traits* blade and 55 colours oa the- shad- card* uiaslst Pcsspe&an Super Sjsitketie*which dried more quickly ana had superior durability outside* Tsao based m & newly developed oil modified elbyd resin$ and titanium diasddOo The ether gloss paints saeatimedg varied price and/ea? performance by virtu f the gresess ef a hard natural ccpal* or bsceaaa of variation in gigaeat content* ranging frees pare white lead to pure sine oxide* end different s&stures of the two In former tiaras it was also unusual to fmmslate ready mixed oil points with, considerable proportions of e-st^ders such as baryte* Siting or china ci&y* partly because of the fact that such paints were sold by woighto Faint production figures from 1215 to 1243 for "fee Great Britain . Factory show steadily increasing figures From 146*000 gallons plus $00*000 IbSo to 1*300*000 gallons plus 200*000 bbs*,* approximately equivalent to a rise fress a half million gallons to 2f- million gaHc-ns0 /ill past paints sad. water paints ere included,, She steady rise was interrupted at two points* - by the First World War and by the depression the early thirties The vsry high production figures for 1243 and for the Second Berli car generally* resulted fromth large quantities of Eisoaf'lag paints produced* based on bituminous sulsion r later cm nsol grease mslsicmo Factory buildings* aircraft* ships* end arsy vehicles used usssasus quantities* end a so called hedge paint* was used to disguise- the appearance of air fields when viewed frees the. ar0 A 30*008 g&llm'order for anti-gas gilat for assay vehicle was delivered in IJ&Qg end a ecnoidarablc properties of it left on ike beaches of Baskirko A large order is 1345 was for the painting of ground sheets* for use as identification ieatiss to assist, aircraft operations,-. leBo Walsoford^ who. started with th Company in was mash cffi&cesacd with the davolojsaeni and production of cellulose finishes during the 205so \"cHoP<j Star&ey visited Sherwia S'ilXiams in 122 * and rtaed with forsuiatiems for & thraa-oalXea Pyroxcslliris motor 007-SWP-53112 as* W*J& Smtb ms also closely associated with the teehnisal derelesacsts of ellulos fresn 19260 She first- brushing cellulose (las) fcr s is the hraae* was launched shortly 'before 192? ssaes. this lacquer was advertised is a two page spread of the Daily Mail f September 23rS at 2sc 6d per ^at, and Is* P? haSf8B!2Ksr dry* and the aaas of 1g000 stockists is Groat Britain,, tias Irish Free State* and the Chasms! Isles* Srcsz mere it could bo purchased? convulsive urgency of modem advertising was astiolpated with the rhetorical* filhy should^01 it b this afternoon? Yon coaid get your tin today* K0 Fs'om. very mail beginnings* Unless production has rised to 3G0*G9D gsUccs by 1936 aft? ten years of operating the deparhaento ggggj* lalfll the valuation of fined assets (buildings* plant EsssMaesy* furniture* veM-cies* etc) of tit Groat Britain factory and offices was 1^*000* f&oa which it rose to <15%.*GOO by i$2$0 a new evalUBt&m in 1935* after the estensicn t the warekous (1928) ana the building of the new office and laboratory block in-193k (Location 100) end tfess* alterations to the Ilouerton site raised the figure to 25100o Shi Is incited th cost of the elltalbs unit, at Gha&welX Heath which was rested after a serious fire in the cellnloas departeent cut lIcsisrtQzi in 1935* and tsas.'built m part of the 12 acre site divided by Freshwater Road* acquired for ftrSurc factory stensionsfi Ah average esnenditar of scss <108OOQ per year raised ths valuation to 360*000 in 1g46,, A new v&Suat&DSi in 1S4?e'-produced a figure of &6&3 $ COG probably dun- a2aost' entirety to the change in money mines* rather than i the purchase of new buildings r planto Shis year saw the 'start of the erection of the ts s&llioa gallons per year' production unit at CSsadwel! Heath* which was csspletcd in 1949 'an which year the fisea assets cf the Great Britain Gcs^my were 9?3CS> Sts estcsasdLen. of overseas ecsspassS. is \?X3. illustrated by the fast that the Group Company including Great Britain and all its overseas associated companies* .show* an increase in fdsed assets fras 2*419*000 007-SWP-53113 8 CO in 1 *.433 <5 $ with a total figure of not assets for 1959 of 7200G09 't%9 saw the CQffig?Xetica ? tk ^sillies gallon unit at Brisbane* a plant for productiesa of isetalXi load at Ric^imsworth and the merger with African' Bsploslves and Ofeeadcal Industries Ltdo in South Africa By 1550 th Siyreae Oopolyacrs plant at Sale Cheshire* arising from toe development work of the Eoserten Research .Laboratory during the preceding eight years* was IraiM end in operation; *-- this was a ^int venture e Berger and Petrochemical I&!2itccl& She foundation stone of Serges* Bouse 3 Berkeley Square was also laid in this year 2n 1953 a new plant was opened in Adelaide* Australia* and th following year the ereoticn of plants in Victoria and Western Australia ms begun* Ev*o years later Berger acquired a majority interest in Hew World Paints* Jamaicaj; end in 195$ a new synthetic resin plant ms Built at Ghadwell Heathf th Melbourne plant was estended* and additional aanufacturing unit were erected in Lsmcestcn Sasaania* Townsville* Berth Queensland* and Aukload* Hew SeaXoadc By 1558e the further development of the Gh&dwell Heath sito ms nearing completion* with a mechanised warehouse capable of storing 350^ gallons of paint* a three storey office* end laboratory block 210 feet in Xesgthg a sodom oantem and welfare building* and & new power house* In Secssber 195S* the removal from Bcmertcn ms complete* SbadweXX to Qhs&wei! in 185 years with fell Street* later Lone and Well Court in between* and vm are still is Freshwater Lone! Staff It Isas already been recorded that kQO people were engaged at the Hqserton werks in l910o In the following year there occurred a workmen e strike which so. far as is known was the only serious industrial dispute in the Ckspanyto historyo Xt essss that- the rates of pay in 1911 wr fro Ijdo to ?dc per hour depending .on the type of work Soae0 Poi2s??5&g the strike those earning fro 44, to 5d0 were to recsiv. $d -par hour in the future* end toss on the 64> to 6& rate ver to receive 74, per hour O&raen wetre to receive le per. week increase bringing toss up to Union Rate sine all w$r Xte&qa incsberSo _Wmslm was*' to 007-SWP-53114 receive a & per hour rise bringing thos* up to 2|do Qvertiae w to be pal#, at tSs aisd a qusrtcro For the general marker the saasgesaisit were rat prepared to record the Srade Unions By 193f the factory uarkars alone sKsabercd sea 35* feed increased is i$kk> to 43k* safeseqismtly felling to 410 at the present tiae vh@2 the aesr C&s &j s IX Heath unit allows for isore offioisat paiat grc&ustioao S&e losing dsa'of Buy Colour* and Safe Can* Keg end Brraa Bepart&sats has satamlly also out tea the labour rqatossieatss even though paint product!os. ssay be greatr<> Basic wages 5a 1<&4 varied frsax 4o 5 0o to <S4e 10o 0o pcs? WSifeo She ratio of factory TOrker to ncaproduotiv wads? has naturally changed over the past fifty years* the pattern <^* preduotios typo of paint raa&e* and type of equipaont used. h&v gradually reduced this ratio so that at present there are rather fesser workers eagaged on actual production than a othsr services^ Fe Armltage - 1g$1 007-SWP-53115