Keasbey and Mattison Company
Encyclopedia
Keasbey and Mattison Company was a manufacturing company that produced asbestos and related building products before being purchased by Turner & Newall
in 1934. The company was founded in 1873 by Henry G. Keasbey, a businessman, and Dr. Richard V. Mattison, a chemist/pharmacist. The company originally manufactured and marketed patent medicine
s before focusing on asbestos and related building products.
, in 1881. Working in a company laboratory, Mattison discovered that milk of magnesia would adhere to a hot metal pipe, and when mixed asbestos
and other heat-resistant products, could be turned into an insulation material for steam pipes. Asbestos and related building products soon became the focus of the company.
Keasbey and Mattison became the dominant employer of the town of Ambler and had a major impact on it. Mattison built an estate he named Lindenwold, which had a design based on Windsor Castle
. He also built many homes for the company's workers and executives. He founded a library and built an opera house, offices and shops.
The company bought the historical Hope Lodge property from Mary Wentz in 1921 for $40,000. They intended to extend an already functioning limestone
quarry.
In 1934, the company was sold to English company Turner & Newall
. T&N operated the plant until 1962. In that same year, the property was purchased by CertainTeed Corporation
and Nicolet Industries and divided in two. Both companies produced asbestos products and auto parts at this location.
Turner & Newall
Turner & Newall was a leading manufacturing business based in Manchester, United Kingdom. At its peak, it was a constituent of the FT30 index of leading companies on the London Stock Exchange.-1871-1920:...
in 1934. The company was founded in 1873 by Henry G. Keasbey, a businessman, and Dr. Richard V. Mattison, a chemist/pharmacist. The company originally manufactured and marketed patent medicine
Patent medicine
Patent medicine refers to medical compounds of questionable effectiveness sold under a variety of names and labels. The term "patent medicine" is somewhat of a misnomer because, in most cases, although many of the products were trademarked, they were never patented...
s before focusing on asbestos and related building products.
History
Mattison moved the company from Philadelphia to Ambler, PennsylvaniaAmbler, Pennsylvania
Ambler is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in the United States, approximately 16 miles north of Philadelphia.- Village of Wissahickon:...
, in 1881. Working in a company laboratory, Mattison discovered that milk of magnesia would adhere to a hot metal pipe, and when mixed asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
and other heat-resistant products, could be turned into an insulation material for steam pipes. Asbestos and related building products soon became the focus of the company.
Keasbey and Mattison became the dominant employer of the town of Ambler and had a major impact on it. Mattison built an estate he named Lindenwold, which had a design based on Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. He also built many homes for the company's workers and executives. He founded a library and built an opera house, offices and shops.
The company bought the historical Hope Lodge property from Mary Wentz in 1921 for $40,000. They intended to extend an already functioning limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
quarry.
In 1934, the company was sold to English company Turner & Newall
Turner & Newall
Turner & Newall was a leading manufacturing business based in Manchester, United Kingdom. At its peak, it was a constituent of the FT30 index of leading companies on the London Stock Exchange.-1871-1920:...
. T&N operated the plant until 1962. In that same year, the property was purchased by CertainTeed Corporation
CertainTeed
CertainTeed Corporation is a North American manufacturer of building materials for both commercial and residential construction. It is the largest manufacturer of building materials in North America and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA of France...
and Nicolet Industries and divided in two. Both companies produced asbestos products and auto parts at this location.