| Dr. John Thomas Manufacturing Chemist-Scottish Dyes, Ltd. |
Dr. John Thomas played a leading part in the development of Scottish Dyes, Limited, initiated by Mr. James Morton's attempt to
manufacture in Great Britain the complicated vat dyes of the anthraquinone series previously only manufactured in Germany. Later
he became joint managing director of the Dyestuffs Group of Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited.
Dr. Thomas was born at Harlech, and was proud of the fact that at the age of twelve he worked as assistant to a mineral-water
manufacturer at hours from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Through the interest of his employer and his old schoolmaster he sat for a scholarship
which took him to Barmouth County School. Thence he went successively to Aberystwyth University College and to Trinity College,
Cambridge, with an 1851 Research Scholarship. At Trinity he gained a post-graduate research exhibition, as well as the Gordon
Wigan University prize in chemistry. During this period he published several papers in the Journal of the Chemical Society.
In 1911 Dr. Thomas entered the National Physical Laboratory as a research chemist in the aeronautical section, a position he
relinquished the following year to join the chemical staff of the Nobel Explosives Company at Ardeer. His investigations during the
next few years in the delicate field of explosives outside the accepted range of stability earned the unusual distinction, for an
industrial research worker, of the degree of D.Sc. from the University of Wales. In 1918 he went to Carlisle to lead the band of
chemists which Mr. Morton had already assembled to undertake the experimental manufacture of the fast dyes of the indanthrone
type. For this pioneer work he was eminently fitted. His part in the discovery of Caledon Jade Green, the fastest and best-known
colour of the indanthrone type, as well as in subsequent work on blue dyes of the same series, particularly Caledon Blue RC, gave
him a place among the foremost discoverers and investigators of the industry. Numerous patents bear witness to the fertility and
ingenuity of his mind, and to the development of the Soledon colours and of the new dyes for acetate rayon he made important
contributions.
Dr. Thomas was, however, much more than a chemist, as his rapid advance from chief chemist to the Solway Dyes Company in 1918
to be director of the reconstituted company as Scottish Dyes, Limited, in 1920, and to be managing director in 1923, testifies. In
those pioneer days his energy and enthusiasm kindled a like spirit in his fellow-workers, enabling them to surmount the many
obstacles between a brilliant laboratory discovery and successful manufacture. His memory and mental agility were extraordinary,
and he solved with ease the most diverse problems, whether scientific, administrative, or commercial.
He was a valued member of the Board of the Dyestuffs Group when in 1929 Scottish Dyes, Limited, became part of Imperial Chemical
Industries, Limited. His attractive personality endeared him to all who came in contact with him. He was a fine golfer, and few things
gave him greater pleasure than his election in 1931 to the captaincy of the Royal St. David's Club, Harlech, on whose links he had
once been a caddie.
The British dyestuffs industry lost a pioneer with the untimely death of Dr. Thomas in 1933 at the age of 46. He left a widow and three
children.
Adaption of "Dr. John Thomas, a Pioneer of the Dye Industry", The Times Jan 26, 1933
manufacture in Great Britain the complicated vat dyes of the anthraquinone series previously only manufactured in Germany. Later
he became joint managing director of the Dyestuffs Group of Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited.
Dr. Thomas was born at Harlech, and was proud of the fact that at the age of twelve he worked as assistant to a mineral-water
manufacturer at hours from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Through the interest of his employer and his old schoolmaster he sat for a scholarship
which took him to Barmouth County School. Thence he went successively to Aberystwyth University College and to Trinity College,
Cambridge, with an 1851 Research Scholarship. At Trinity he gained a post-graduate research exhibition, as well as the Gordon
Wigan University prize in chemistry. During this period he published several papers in the Journal of the Chemical Society.
In 1911 Dr. Thomas entered the National Physical Laboratory as a research chemist in the aeronautical section, a position he
relinquished the following year to join the chemical staff of the Nobel Explosives Company at Ardeer. His investigations during the
next few years in the delicate field of explosives outside the accepted range of stability earned the unusual distinction, for an
industrial research worker, of the degree of D.Sc. from the University of Wales. In 1918 he went to Carlisle to lead the band of
chemists which Mr. Morton had already assembled to undertake the experimental manufacture of the fast dyes of the indanthrone
type. For this pioneer work he was eminently fitted. His part in the discovery of Caledon Jade Green, the fastest and best-known
colour of the indanthrone type, as well as in subsequent work on blue dyes of the same series, particularly Caledon Blue RC, gave
him a place among the foremost discoverers and investigators of the industry. Numerous patents bear witness to the fertility and
ingenuity of his mind, and to the development of the Soledon colours and of the new dyes for acetate rayon he made important
contributions.
Dr. Thomas was, however, much more than a chemist, as his rapid advance from chief chemist to the Solway Dyes Company in 1918
to be director of the reconstituted company as Scottish Dyes, Limited, in 1920, and to be managing director in 1923, testifies. In
those pioneer days his energy and enthusiasm kindled a like spirit in his fellow-workers, enabling them to surmount the many
obstacles between a brilliant laboratory discovery and successful manufacture. His memory and mental agility were extraordinary,
and he solved with ease the most diverse problems, whether scientific, administrative, or commercial.
He was a valued member of the Board of the Dyestuffs Group when in 1929 Scottish Dyes, Limited, became part of Imperial Chemical
Industries, Limited. His attractive personality endeared him to all who came in contact with him. He was a fine golfer, and few things
gave him greater pleasure than his election in 1931 to the captaincy of the Royal St. David's Club, Harlech, on whose links he had
once been a caddie.
The British dyestuffs industry lost a pioneer with the untimely death of Dr. Thomas in 1933 at the age of 46. He left a widow and three
children.
Adaption of "Dr. John Thomas, a Pioneer of the Dye Industry", The Times Jan 26, 1933
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| Dr. John Thomas (1886-1933) Photo: BBC |