Albany Coal Tar Dye and Chemical Company
ColorantsHistory.Org
Reproduction of article "Albany Coal Tar Dye and Chemical Company", Albany Illustrated, The Argus Co., Albany, 1893, pp. 56-57:
Of the many important benefits conferred upon humanity by chemical research, one of the most valuable, from a commercial point of
view, is the production from coal tar of varied and beautiful aniline dyes, now so universally employed in the arts. Among the first to
engage in this now great industry were the predecessors of the Albany Coal Tar Dye and Chemical Company, which was organized to
carry on the business May 1, 1889. This extensive works of the company front on Broadway, Vine and Church Streets, and with the
appurtenances cover about two acres of ground. The buildings are many and are of brick, one, two, three and four stories high, and the
equipment is of the best class, including every device and appliance required in the business, the plant representing an investment of
$150,000. The dyes are made by the latest and most improved processes, and are pronounced of the highest grade in use among
progressive manufacturers of cotton, woolen and other textile fabrics in all parts of the United States, and are rapidly growing in favor.
One of the most important products of the company is the new dye, Azamine, which dyes cotton a permanent brilliant scarlet without the
use of a mordant. Chemists for generations have labored in the development of coal tar dyes, and it is but recently that a chemist
discovered a dye which has the property of dyeing cotton directly on the fiber. This was a most important discovery, and many chemists
of Europe at once sought to discover other coal tar dyes possessing the same property, but with little success, none being equal in
Azamine, for which this company owns the patent. The company are the exclusive manufacturers of nigrosene in the United States; and
their laundry blue is used by many of the largest laundries in the country. A leading specialty is the well known paper-blue, a grade of
dye unsurpassed, if equaled, by similar goods produced elsewhere. Acme brown, chrysoidines, cardinals, indulines, and orange dyes
are also made here.
Although but three years in existence, this company stands first among manufacturers of its kind, owning and controlling many products
of its own discovery and patenting, and and besides these products the concern is also engaged in the manufacture of all basic and
ordinary aniline dyes.
There is no company whose officers are better known or who are in better standing in financial circles than those of this company. Mr.
John L. Riker, of New York, is President; Rupert G. Williams of London, Eng., Vice-President, and William J. Matheson, of New York,
Secretary and Treasurer. The firm of William J. Matheson & Co. (limited), are the general agents for this company, with offices in New
York, Philadelphia, Boston and Providence.
Of the many important benefits conferred upon humanity by chemical research, one of the most valuable, from a commercial point of
view, is the production from coal tar of varied and beautiful aniline dyes, now so universally employed in the arts. Among the first to
engage in this now great industry were the predecessors of the Albany Coal Tar Dye and Chemical Company, which was organized to
carry on the business May 1, 1889. This extensive works of the company front on Broadway, Vine and Church Streets, and with the
appurtenances cover about two acres of ground. The buildings are many and are of brick, one, two, three and four stories high, and the
equipment is of the best class, including every device and appliance required in the business, the plant representing an investment of
$150,000. The dyes are made by the latest and most improved processes, and are pronounced of the highest grade in use among
progressive manufacturers of cotton, woolen and other textile fabrics in all parts of the United States, and are rapidly growing in favor.
One of the most important products of the company is the new dye, Azamine, which dyes cotton a permanent brilliant scarlet without the
use of a mordant. Chemists for generations have labored in the development of coal tar dyes, and it is but recently that a chemist
discovered a dye which has the property of dyeing cotton directly on the fiber. This was a most important discovery, and many chemists
of Europe at once sought to discover other coal tar dyes possessing the same property, but with little success, none being equal in
Azamine, for which this company owns the patent. The company are the exclusive manufacturers of nigrosene in the United States; and
their laundry blue is used by many of the largest laundries in the country. A leading specialty is the well known paper-blue, a grade of
dye unsurpassed, if equaled, by similar goods produced elsewhere. Acme brown, chrysoidines, cardinals, indulines, and orange dyes
are also made here.
Although but three years in existence, this company stands first among manufacturers of its kind, owning and controlling many products
of its own discovery and patenting, and and besides these products the concern is also engaged in the manufacture of all basic and
ordinary aniline dyes.
There is no company whose officers are better known or who are in better standing in financial circles than those of this company. Mr.
John L. Riker, of New York, is President; Rupert G. Williams of London, Eng., Vice-President, and William J. Matheson, of New York,
Secretary and Treasurer. The firm of William J. Matheson & Co. (limited), are the general agents for this company, with offices in New
York, Philadelphia, Boston and Providence.
Albany Coal Tar Dye and Chemical Works, 1893. Click to Enlarge.
| Ad for the Albany Coal Tar Dye and Chemical Company Source: Albany Illustrated, 1893 |
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Note from ColorantsHistory.Org: The Albany Coal Tar Dye and Chemical Company went out of business after only a few years of
operation. William J. Matheson transferred some dye manufacturing to Brooklyn but that operation closed down as well. He would
become president of the largest dye manufacturer, National Aniline and Chemical Company, in 1918.
operation. William J. Matheson transferred some dye manufacturing to Brooklyn but that operation closed down as well. He would
become president of the largest dye manufacturer, National Aniline and Chemical Company, in 1918.
| The predecessor company of the Albany Coal Tar Dye and Chemical Co. was the Albany Aniline and Chemical Co.. The smokestack in the center of the image denotes the location of the dye manufacturing works. Image: Map of Albany by Beck and Pauli, 1879, Library of Congress |