Dupont_Viscoloid_Company
Dupont Viscoloid Company
Former plastics manufacturer
The Dupont Viscoloid Company, Inc. is a former plastics manufacturer based in Leominster, Massachusetts.[1]
| Industry | plastics |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1901 |
| Defunct | November 1977 |
| Headquarters | Leominster, Massachusetts United States |
Key people | Bernard W. Doyle |
| Products | hair combs, brushes, mirrors, toilet articles, hair ornaments, toys and novelties. |
The company was founded by Alexander Paton, Ludwig Stross and Bernard W. Doyle in 1901 as the Sterling Comb Company.[1] In 1912, the three men consolidated a number of smaller plastics manufactures under the name Viscoloid Company.[1] The company pioneered the use of pyroxylin plastic in hair combs, toilet articles, and a number of different products. In 1914, the Viscoloid Company began marketing pyroxylin plastic toys.[2] The toy industry quickly became the company's most profitable, and the Viscoloid was soon the leading pyroxylin plastic toy manufacturer in America.[2] By 1923, Bernard Doyle had taken over the company and "The Viscoloid" spanned 106 buildings and was the largest employer in Leominster.[1][3] In 1925, the company was sold to the Dupont Company of Leominster and was renamed the Dupont Viscoloid Company, Inc.[3] The company would continually be a giant in the plastics industry until closing in November 1977.[2]
- Leominster Historical Commission Book Committee; Tremblay, Gilbert P. (2006). "Business and Industry". Combing through Leominster's History. Office of the Mayor. pp. 145–174.
- Lauer, Keith; Robinson, Julie (January 17, 2013). "The History of Celluloid". plastics.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012.
- Hazzard, Thomas; Sanabria, Diane (1999). "Business and Industry". Leominster. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 9–32.