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Post by Admin on Mar 3, 2010 16:47:40 GMT
Email: jcatsbdogs@comcast.net
Here is the message:
My wife, Jean Marie Kitowski, is in possesion of a stoneware jug claiming to be the property of Leighton & Son, Manufactoring Chemists, Bankfoot Works, Flappit Springs, Keighley, Yorks. It has the manufactorers genuin 'Stamp' and labeled "Potato White". Can you provide us with any informtion regarding the origine of this item? Thank you.
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Post by Admin on Mar 3, 2010 21:30:22 GMT
Not sure Vale............ I explained that Flappitt Springs still exists...but no longer as a Flay Pit..... did not go into the contents of the bottle.....  Jan to Vale  |
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Post by danewiss on Mar 4, 2010 8:40:00 GMT
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Post by fsharpminor on Mar 4, 2010 9:42:09 GMT
Wearing my professional (industrial chemist) hat, Potato White is a chemical called ascorbic acid. I dont think its used these days.
I have never heard of Leighton & Co before, or any chemical related company in that area other than the now closed Robertshaws Tallow renderers at Sugden end.
As a 'red herring', there also used to be Granville Chemicals in Oakworth (Automotive Chemicals), and Sternol (Worth Village). Both closed now. The only chemical company near to Keighley now is Airedale Chemicals at Crosshills, a succesful and valued customer of mine.
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Post by Andy Wade on Mar 4, 2010 13:31:20 GMT
As a 'red herring', there also used to be Granville Chemicals in Oakworth (Automotive Chemicals). Talking of Granville Chemicals: Attachments:
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Post by barcroftlad on Mar 4, 2010 19:28:28 GMT
Wearing my professional (industrial chemist) hat, Potato White is a chemical called ascorbic acid. I dont think its used these days. I have never heard of Leighton & Co before, or any chemical related company in that area other than the now closed Robertshaws Tallow renderers at Sugden end. As a 'red herring', there also used to be Granville Chemicals in Oakworth (Automotive Chemicals), and Sternol (Worth Village). Both closed now. The only chemical company near to Keighley now is Airedale Chemicals at Crosshills, a succesful and valued customer of mine. We are gettin reet posh now fsharpminor. Tallow renderers no less! It was always Jack Robertshaw's "fat shop" in Cross Roads terms. lol. ;)That's the first time I have ever heard of it referred to by it's correct name. Cheers. |
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Post by barcrofter on Mar 4, 2010 23:12:50 GMT
Bet you can remember the stink too Bill!!!!!
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Post by fsharpminor on Mar 5, 2010 8:28:41 GMT
Wearing my professional (industrial chemist) hat, Potato White is a chemical called ascorbic acid. I dont think its used these days. I have never heard of Leighton & Co before, or any chemical related company in that area other than the now closed Robertshaws Tallow renderers at Sugden end. As a 'red herring', there also used to be Granville Chemicals in Oakworth (Automotive Chemicals), and Sternol (Worth Village). Both closed now. The only chemical company near to Keighley now is Airedale Chemicals at Crosshills, a succesful and valued customer of mine. We are gettin reet posh now fsharpminor. Tallow renderers no less! It was always Jack Robertshaw's "fat shop" in Cross Roads terms. lol. ;)That's the first time I have ever heard of it referred to by it's correct name. Cheers. Yes well all my career (one year to go) I have worked in the chemical industry and my particular expertise is in what are known as oleochemicals, that is chemicals made from natural oils and fats (eg fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty amines, esters, glycerine ,soap and detergents). Stearic Acid, is one of the most important of these. Traditionally this used to be produced from tallow, which is split under steam pressure into the acid and glycerine is a by product. There used to be several UK producers, the best known to Keighley people would be the plant near Hollingworth Lake (Littleborough), demolished about 3 yrs ago. Now nearly all stearic is produced from palm oil in Malaysia and Indonesia. The switch was accelerated when the BSE 'affair' came to prominence. Many end users of stearic acid, (particularly in personal care products) insist on vegetable origin stearic acid. I currently import in excess of 2000t per annum ex Malaysia., as well as other acids made from coconut or palm kernel oil. Sorry to ramble a bit but I thought some of you might find it of interest. |
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Post by barcroftlad on Mar 5, 2010 9:15:25 GMT
Bet you can remember the stink too Bill!!!!! How can I forget it Paul- and the chimney! Jack Robertshaw was a mate of my dad and no doubt your dad too. Cheers.  |
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Post by fsharpminor on Mar 5, 2010 11:09:03 GMT
Indeed Andy ! Do you still have that stuff ? The company moved to Bradford in the (I think early 80's) , and Geoffrey Lord the owner sold the business about then. Geoffrey lived in Station Rd Oakworth, ( big house on left , and then later a bungalow in the grounds of the large house) with his wife Ruth, and daughter Valerie (until she married). I knew the family, they were good singers/musicians, and were involved with Lund Park Methodists where I was organist from 1962-65.
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Post by Andy Wade on Mar 5, 2010 12:48:50 GMT
Fraid not, I spotted the can for sale on Ebay a few years ago and I just saved the picture. I'd forgotten about it until now.
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Post by jbbb1090 on Mar 19, 2010 22:44:58 GMT
Well, Vale, potato white could be potato liquor or white lightening, as those folks in the
Tennessee hill country might say, but that wasn't the question. The 'jug' seems to be old and we were inquiring if anybody might know anything about its history. JB acquired it some years ago at an antique shop and it has just existed around here for the past 30 years, used as a door stop, among other things. It looks 'collectable' but maybe its only value is as a pinata, CRASH!
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Post by Andy Wade on Mar 20, 2010 0:43:08 GMT
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eric
Regular Member
Posts: 145
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Post by eric on Apr 8, 2010 19:27:15 GMT
I was talking to a lady who lives opposite the building at Flappit, and when she moved up to Cullingworth about 1948, Leightons were making Vinegar and as far as she can remember closed around 1969/70ish
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