Stephen Moulton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the American Revolutionary War soldier, see Stephen Moulton (soldier).

Stephen Moulton (7 July 1794 – 26 April 1880) was an Englishman who, as an agent of the American rubber pioneer Charles Goodyear, first brought samples of vulcanized rubber to the United Kingdom.

Biography[]

Moulton, who was born in Whorlton, County Durham, subsequently shared the samples with , who then beat Goodyear to a UK patent for the vulcanization process by a matter of a few weeks in 1843.[1]

After various disputes with Hancock and Goodyear over patents and manufacturing rights, Moulton established his own factory in 1848 at Kingston Mill near Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England. His company, S.Moulton & Co., specialised in rubber applications for engineering industries and in 1855 acquired the Middle Mill adjacent to the existing factory along with the nearby Staverton woollen mill between 1851 and 1860.[2] With the increasing importance of the British railway industry he concentrated on providing rubber suspension systems and components for railway carriages. Moulton's home in Bradford was The Hall, a Jacobean mansion on the eastern edge of the town.

In 1891, eleven years after Moulton's death, his company amalgamated with that of George Spencer in London to become , which in 1956 became part of Avon Rubber.[2]

Family connection[]

Moulton's great-grandson Dr Alex Moulton was himself a pioneer of rubber engineering, being responsible for many innovations including the rubber suspension system he designed for the innovative BMC car, the Mini.

References[]

  1. ^ "George Spencer, Moulton and Co". Graces' Guide. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b Crittall, Elizabeth, ed. (1959). "Victoria County History: Wiltshire: Vol 4 pp220-253 – Other industries". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
Retrieved from ""