John Oakey
Encyclopedia
John Oakey was an English inventor and founder of John Oakey & Sons Ltd. a manufacturer of sandpaper
and polishing materials.
Oakey was apprenticed to a piano maker where he learnt to make sandpaper by glueing sand or powdered glass onto paper. He developed a better process suitable for mass-production and set up in business at Walworth, London
in 1833, before moving his business to Wellington Mill at Westminster Bridge Road. He subsequently developed many wet and dry sand and emery paper
s, and a range of polishing compounds including lead blacking
, Wellington Knife Polish, Silversmith's Soap and Plate Powder, and furniture polishes
.
Advertisements for "Oakey's Knife Polish" were a common feature on buses and trams in the early twentieth century.
He died in 1887 and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery
. His business passed to his sons, Joseph and John, who took it public in 1893.
Sandpaper
Sandpaper, also known as glasspaper, is a heavy paper with abrasive material attached to its surface.Sandpaper is part of the "coated abrasives" family of abrasive products. It is used to remove small amounts of material from surfaces, either to make them smoother , to remove a layer of material...
and polishing materials.
Oakey was apprenticed to a piano maker where he learnt to make sandpaper by glueing sand or powdered glass onto paper. He developed a better process suitable for mass-production and set up in business at Walworth, London
Walworth, London
Walworth is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Southwark. Walworth probably derives its name from the Old English "Wealhworth" which meant Welsh farm. It is located south east of Charing Cross and near to Camberwell and Elephant and Castle.The major streets in Walworth are the Old...
in 1833, before moving his business to Wellington Mill at Westminster Bridge Road. He subsequently developed many wet and dry sand and emery paper
Emery paper
Emery paper is a type of paper that can be used for sanding down hard and rough surfaces.It can also be used for resistant technology purposes to give a smooth, shiny finish to manufactured products and is often used in the finishing of high-end watch movements.Similar to sandpaper, it is made by...
s, and a range of polishing compounds including lead blacking
Shoe polish
Shoe polish , usually a waxy paste or a cream, is a consumer product used to polish, shine, waterproof, and restore the appearance of leather shoes or boots, thereby extending the footwear's life...
, Wellington Knife Polish, Silversmith's Soap and Plate Powder, and furniture polishes
Wood finishing
Wood finishing refers to the process of embellishing and/or protecting the surface of a wooden material. The process starts with surface preparation, either by sanding by hand , scraping, or planing. Imperfections or nail holes on the surface may be filled using wood putty or pores may be filled...
.
Advertisements for "Oakey's Knife Polish" were a common feature on buses and trams in the early twentieth century.
He died in 1887 and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
. His business passed to his sons, Joseph and John, who took it public in 1893.
External links
- Wellington Mill (Lambeth landmark)
- Friends of West Norwood Cemetery