Poilite asbestos-cement boards : advert issued by Bell's United Asbestos Co. Ltd. in The Book of Little Houses & How to Build Them ; The Rolls House Publishing Co Ltd., London, 1922
An interesting book produced in 1922 at a time when the post-WW1 slogan "Homes for Heroes" was still valid and many schemes for the more economic construction of houses, either by size, scale or construction methodolgy were being proposed. This was also the time when many municipal authorities were first seriously involved in the provision of social or council housing. This book, with a foreword by Sir Charles Ruthen, Director-General of Housing in the Ministry of Health, has a series of articles both on types and plans of 'modern cottages' but also looks at various contemporary construction methodology including 'modern methods of building' that involved either a decree of prefabrication or the use of 'labour' and cost saving materials such as concrete blocks. and the production of concrete. Many of these methods, similar to those considered in similar post-WW2 years, where not widely adopted and properties using such novel methods often displayed defects. In many ways the 'traditional' construction methods of brick and wet trades won out.
The book also has many pages of adverts for builders and suppliers, many of which allude to the construction methods discussed in the articles. In 1922 asbestos was being touted as one of the wonder materials of the age - fireproof, damp and rot proof and lightweight, in the form of asbestos cement sheets that could be pre-formed by moulding or cut to shape it was seen as both an external and internal material. The advert was issued by Bell's United Asbestos Co Ltd who described themselves as the 'pioneers of the world's asbestos industry', a claim that I suspect rankled with industry giant's Turner Bros of Rochdale as Bell had been an early partner with Samuel Turner in around 1880 when the spinning of asbestos fibre was being 'perfected'.
Bell set his own company up in 1888 and merged with the United Company in 1909 before the concern and product range was acquired by Turner's in 1928 - the 'Poilite' brand name was used for many years. At the time of acquisition Bell's had factories in Harefield, Erith and Widnes.
Poilite asbestos-cement boards : advert issued by Bell's United Asbestos Co. Ltd. in The Book of Little Houses & How to Build Them ; The Rolls House Publishing Co Ltd., London, 1922
An interesting book produced in 1922 at a time when the post-WW1 slogan "Homes for Heroes" was still valid and many schemes for the more economic construction of houses, either by size, scale or construction methodolgy were being proposed. This was also the time when many municipal authorities were first seriously involved in the provision of social or council housing. This book, with a foreword by Sir Charles Ruthen, Director-General of Housing in the Ministry of Health, has a series of articles both on types and plans of 'modern cottages' but also looks at various contemporary construction methodology including 'modern methods of building' that involved either a decree of prefabrication or the use of 'labour' and cost saving materials such as concrete blocks. and the production of concrete. Many of these methods, similar to those considered in similar post-WW2 years, where not widely adopted and properties using such novel methods often displayed defects. In many ways the 'traditional' construction methods of brick and wet trades won out.
The book also has many pages of adverts for builders and suppliers, many of which allude to the construction methods discussed in the articles. In 1922 asbestos was being touted as one of the wonder materials of the age - fireproof, damp and rot proof and lightweight, in the form of asbestos cement sheets that could be pre-formed by moulding or cut to shape it was seen as both an external and internal material. The advert was issued by Bell's United Asbestos Co Ltd who described themselves as the 'pioneers of the world's asbestos industry', a claim that I suspect rankled with industry giant's Turner Bros of Rochdale as Bell had been an early partner with Samuel Turner in around 1880 when the spinning of asbestos fibre was being 'perfected'.
Bell set his own company up in 1888 and merged with the United Company in 1909 before the concern and product range was acquired by Turner's in 1928 - the 'Poilite' brand name was used for many years. At the time of acquisition Bell's had factories in Harefield, Erith and Widnes.