AUTOTYPE COMPANY, EALING {PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKS}

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 ACC/1079
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: AUTOTYPE COMPANY, EALING {PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKS}
Date(s)	: 1896
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 0.01 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Autotype Company | photographic works x Autotype Fine Art Company

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Autotype Company was founded in Brixton in 1868. The registered office was in the West End of London.

A new company was floated in 1870, also called Autotype Fine Art Company, and the premises moved from Brixton to Ealing. Manufacture of carbon paper continued in Ealing well into the 20th century, though by 1872 Autotype had already diversified in a variety of other photographic processes. By the late 1870s the company had grown to over 70 staff.

From carbon papers, Autotype moved into photogravure and by the first decade of the 20th century photogravure manufacturing represented over 25% of the company turnover.

The period between the two wars was one of intense diversification with photogravure representing nearly 90% of all sales. During the second war, Autotype undertook to do some work for the British government. One of the coating machines was dispatched to Canada for safe keeping, in case the factory in Ealing was bombed.

After 1946 Autotype expanded into the screen market and by the 1950s screen making materials were at the core of Autotype production.

By 1976 the Company moved to larger premises, in order to expand production, and chose a site in Wantage, south of Oxford. The old factory in Ealing was completely destroyed.

On June 14th 2005 Autotype International was acquired by MacDermid Inc. of Denver, Colorado.

Source of information: Company website at http://www.macdermidautotype.com/autotype.nsf/pages/europeaboutHistory

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Plan of the Autotype Company works at Brownlow Road, Ealing Dean, 1896.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

One item

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright rests with the City of London.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Received in 1970 (ACC/1079)

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Celebration of Innovation: A History of Autotype 1868-2005 by Sem Seaborne, Peter Levinsohn and David Godding

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
July to October 2009