Mr. George Matthey, F.R.S., who discovered the method of obtaining pure platinum from the commercial metal by fusing the latter with a large excess of lead, was buried at Eastbourne yesterday.
Source: The Cambria Daily Leader - 20th February 1913
Trev.
Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
GEORGE MATTHEY, F.R.S.
The death of Mr. George Matthey, F.R.S., on February 14, in his eighty-eighth year, removes one who whilst actively engaged in commercial work was at the same time keenly interested in scientific progress.
During the early years of his life Mr. Matthey's time was devoted not only to developing and extending the business in Hatton Garden, but also to a most careful study of platinum and its associated metals, and he devised methods by which these metals could be separated quantitatively from each other on a large scale. These methods were described by him in the Proceedings of the Royal Society for 1879 (vol. xxviii., p. 463).
In 1870 an international metric commission met in Paris. Its object was the construction and verification of a new and uniform series of standards, and upon it served such masters of metallurgical and chemical arts as Deville, Debray, and Stas. Certain members of the commission undertook the work of purifying the platinum and iridium of which the new standards were to be composed.
After much labour had been expended, the alloy consisting of platinum with 10 per cent. of iridium was produced, but on analysis it was found to be impure. At this stage Mr. Matthey was invited by the French Minister of War, at the instigation of several important official bodies, to prepare the necessary quantity of alloy. He at once undertook the work of making the large quantities of platinum and iridium in the highest state of purity, and finally cast the ingots of the alloy in Paris. These ingots were submitted to the most rigid analysis, and proved to be exactly of the composition required.
Mr. Matthey was then invited to construct the bars of the somewhat peculiar cross-section which had been already decided upon. The writer well remembers Mr. Matthey telling him that his friends besought him to have nothing to do with the construction of the bars; he was not, however, a man to be daunted by a difficulty of this sort, and he went into the City and bought a second-hand lathe, and set one of his skilled workmen to produce the bars of the desired cross-section. The bars fulfilled all the conditions that were laid down. Copies of them were supplied to all the larger countries of the world, and they now constitute the standards upon which the metric system rests. Mr. Matthey was appointed a member of the Legion of Honour, and in 1879 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.
Notwithstanding the absorbing character of business affairs and inroads on his leisure necessitated by his deep interest in scientific progress, Mr. Matthey found time to interest himself in educational matters; he played a very active part in the foundation of the City and Guilds Colleges for the advancement of technical education at Finsbury and South Kensington, and served for many years on the executive governing body of those institutions. His wide knowledge of affairs and his keen judgment of men played no small part in determining the signal success of these two colleges from their very inception. The very complete scheme of technical education with which London is provided is in a large measure due to the enthusiastic efforts of Mr. Matthey in association with two other prominent members of the Goldsmiths’ Company, Sir Walter S. Prideaux and the late Sir Frederick Abel.
Mr. Matthey for a very prolonged period served as a warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company, where his counsel and advice were of the greatest assistance on questions relating to assaying and the precious metals. Almost all who work at scientific research are under a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. Matthey and his firm for unvarying kindness in helping them out of many difficulties by placing the resources of their works so freely at their disposal.
Those who had the privilege of counting Mr. Matthey as a friend realise that they have lost a truly delightful companion, remarkable not only for the wide breadth of his sympathies, but also for his genial temperament and abhorrence of all that savoured of sham.
Source: Nature - 20th February 1913
Trev.
The death of Mr. George Matthey, F.R.S., on February 14, in his eighty-eighth year, removes one who whilst actively engaged in commercial work was at the same time keenly interested in scientific progress.
During the early years of his life Mr. Matthey's time was devoted not only to developing and extending the business in Hatton Garden, but also to a most careful study of platinum and its associated metals, and he devised methods by which these metals could be separated quantitatively from each other on a large scale. These methods were described by him in the Proceedings of the Royal Society for 1879 (vol. xxviii., p. 463).
In 1870 an international metric commission met in Paris. Its object was the construction and verification of a new and uniform series of standards, and upon it served such masters of metallurgical and chemical arts as Deville, Debray, and Stas. Certain members of the commission undertook the work of purifying the platinum and iridium of which the new standards were to be composed.
After much labour had been expended, the alloy consisting of platinum with 10 per cent. of iridium was produced, but on analysis it was found to be impure. At this stage Mr. Matthey was invited by the French Minister of War, at the instigation of several important official bodies, to prepare the necessary quantity of alloy. He at once undertook the work of making the large quantities of platinum and iridium in the highest state of purity, and finally cast the ingots of the alloy in Paris. These ingots were submitted to the most rigid analysis, and proved to be exactly of the composition required.
Mr. Matthey was then invited to construct the bars of the somewhat peculiar cross-section which had been already decided upon. The writer well remembers Mr. Matthey telling him that his friends besought him to have nothing to do with the construction of the bars; he was not, however, a man to be daunted by a difficulty of this sort, and he went into the City and bought a second-hand lathe, and set one of his skilled workmen to produce the bars of the desired cross-section. The bars fulfilled all the conditions that were laid down. Copies of them were supplied to all the larger countries of the world, and they now constitute the standards upon which the metric system rests. Mr. Matthey was appointed a member of the Legion of Honour, and in 1879 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.
Notwithstanding the absorbing character of business affairs and inroads on his leisure necessitated by his deep interest in scientific progress, Mr. Matthey found time to interest himself in educational matters; he played a very active part in the foundation of the City and Guilds Colleges for the advancement of technical education at Finsbury and South Kensington, and served for many years on the executive governing body of those institutions. His wide knowledge of affairs and his keen judgment of men played no small part in determining the signal success of these two colleges from their very inception. The very complete scheme of technical education with which London is provided is in a large measure due to the enthusiastic efforts of Mr. Matthey in association with two other prominent members of the Goldsmiths’ Company, Sir Walter S. Prideaux and the late Sir Frederick Abel.
Mr. Matthey for a very prolonged period served as a warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company, where his counsel and advice were of the greatest assistance on questions relating to assaying and the precious metals. Almost all who work at scientific research are under a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. Matthey and his firm for unvarying kindness in helping them out of many difficulties by placing the resources of their works so freely at their disposal.
Those who had the privilege of counting Mr. Matthey as a friend realise that they have lost a truly delightful companion, remarkable not only for the wide breadth of his sympathies, but also for his genial temperament and abhorrence of all that savoured of sham.
Source: Nature - 20th February 1913
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
EDWARD GARDNER
BALLOT FOR THE ELECTION OF FELLOWS - Thursday, May 3rd, 1906
CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION AT THE NEXT BALLOT
The following Candidates have been proposed for election. A ballot will be held on Thursday, May 3rd, 1906:
Gardner, Edward,
70, Parliament Hill Mansions, Highgate Road, N.W. Analytical Chemist and Metallurgist. I was educated at Tonbridge School and Finsbury Technical College. Since 1895, I have been with Messrs. Johnson and Matthey, Hatton Garden, as Chemist and Analyst.
George Matthey. R. Meldola.
John S. Sellon. C. H. Desch.
Francis H. Carr.
Source: Proceedings of the Chemical Society - 12th April 1906
A ballot for the election of Fellows was held, and the following were subsequently declared duly elected:
Edward Gardner.
Source: Proceedings of the Chemical Society - 14th May 1906
Trev.
BALLOT FOR THE ELECTION OF FELLOWS - Thursday, May 3rd, 1906
CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION AT THE NEXT BALLOT
The following Candidates have been proposed for election. A ballot will be held on Thursday, May 3rd, 1906:
Gardner, Edward,
70, Parliament Hill Mansions, Highgate Road, N.W. Analytical Chemist and Metallurgist. I was educated at Tonbridge School and Finsbury Technical College. Since 1895, I have been with Messrs. Johnson and Matthey, Hatton Garden, as Chemist and Analyst.
George Matthey. R. Meldola.
John S. Sellon. C. H. Desch.
Francis H. Carr.
Source: Proceedings of the Chemical Society - 12th April 1906
A ballot for the election of Fellows was held, and the following were subsequently declared duly elected:
Edward Gardner.
Source: Proceedings of the Chemical Society - 14th May 1906
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson Matthey & Co. Ltd. - London - 1921
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson Matthey & Co. Ltd. - London - 1923
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
The Gold Fields and Johnson, Matthey
The announcement is made in London that the Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa has secured a substantial financial interest in Messrs. Johnson, Matthey & Co. by the acquisition of a block of shares forming part of the estate of the late Mr. John S. Sellon, formerly chairman of the latter company. The Gold Fields will be represented on the Board by Lord Brabourne. The well-known firm of Johnson, Matthey & Co. was registered under the Limited Liability Acts in April, 1891, and took over the business of' assayers, gold and platinum refiners, and bullion merchants of the same name. The authorised capital is £900,000, in shares of £5, half ordinary and half five per cent, cumulative preference, with a priority also as to capital. All the ordinary capital and £300,000 of the preference have been issued and paid up. There is also an amount of £315,932 of four per cent, mortgage debenture stock, part of an authorised issue of £500,000. The company being a private concern accounts are not published.
Source: The South African Mining Journal - 17th August 1918
Trev.
The announcement is made in London that the Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa has secured a substantial financial interest in Messrs. Johnson, Matthey & Co. by the acquisition of a block of shares forming part of the estate of the late Mr. John S. Sellon, formerly chairman of the latter company. The Gold Fields will be represented on the Board by Lord Brabourne. The well-known firm of Johnson, Matthey & Co. was registered under the Limited Liability Acts in April, 1891, and took over the business of' assayers, gold and platinum refiners, and bullion merchants of the same name. The authorised capital is £900,000, in shares of £5, half ordinary and half five per cent, cumulative preference, with a priority also as to capital. All the ordinary capital and £300,000 of the preference have been issued and paid up. There is also an amount of £315,932 of four per cent, mortgage debenture stock, part of an authorised issue of £500,000. The company being a private concern accounts are not published.
Source: The South African Mining Journal - 17th August 1918
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson Matthey (Platinum Marketing Division) - London - 1987
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson Matthey & Co. Ltd. - London - 1929
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
MINES OF WEALTH UNDER FOUNDATIONS IN LONDON
Tons of Radium to Be Had For Digging in Dust Heaps Beneath Buildings and Streets
THROWN AWAY AS REFUSE
Pitchblende, Which Chemists Sent to the Dump, Full of the Costliest Mineral
London, Jan. 9. The possibility Is suggested that London may become the center of a peculiar mining industry. There are houses somewhere within the metropolitan area whose foundations are embedded In a precious substance, which, if it could be recovered, would be worth more than a whole street of houses. The very roads along which London's unwitting millions hurry about their daily business lie on artificial beds of radium, put down many years before the nature or value of the element was discovered.
Sir William Ramsay is authority for the statement that a London firm of analytical chemists has thrown away for many years the by-products obtainable from pitchblende in the process of extracting radium. It is in pitchblende that radium is now found, and these hundreds of tons of discarded refuse contained in varying quantities the element which in a fluctuating market is worth at least £200 ($1,000) a grain. One piece of pure radium weighing an ounce would, if obtainable, be worth £750,000 ($3,750,000) The firm which thus unknowingly has flung probably many great fortunes to the wind is Johnson, Matthey & Co., Limited, of Hatton Garden, but, as one of the principals remarked the other day, radium had not been discovered at that time. "As a matter of fact,'' he added, "we actually paid, I believe, three shillings and sixpence a ton to have the stuff carried away in dust carts. It was used for leveling and laying out roads In the city and for filling in the foundations of houses.
For twenty-five years the firm was engaged in extracting oxide uranium from pitchblende. Oxide was used mainly to color expensive glassware, to which it gave a yellowish green fluorescent appearance. The use of uranium for this purpose has been long discontinued in favor of cheaper methods. Much of the pitchblende worked upon by Johnson, Matthey & Co. was obtained from the identical mines at Joachimsthal, Austria, which now produce the finest radium.
Source: The Sunday Journal - 10th January 1904
Trev.
Tons of Radium to Be Had For Digging in Dust Heaps Beneath Buildings and Streets
THROWN AWAY AS REFUSE
Pitchblende, Which Chemists Sent to the Dump, Full of the Costliest Mineral
London, Jan. 9. The possibility Is suggested that London may become the center of a peculiar mining industry. There are houses somewhere within the metropolitan area whose foundations are embedded In a precious substance, which, if it could be recovered, would be worth more than a whole street of houses. The very roads along which London's unwitting millions hurry about their daily business lie on artificial beds of radium, put down many years before the nature or value of the element was discovered.
Sir William Ramsay is authority for the statement that a London firm of analytical chemists has thrown away for many years the by-products obtainable from pitchblende in the process of extracting radium. It is in pitchblende that radium is now found, and these hundreds of tons of discarded refuse contained in varying quantities the element which in a fluctuating market is worth at least £200 ($1,000) a grain. One piece of pure radium weighing an ounce would, if obtainable, be worth £750,000 ($3,750,000) The firm which thus unknowingly has flung probably many great fortunes to the wind is Johnson, Matthey & Co., Limited, of Hatton Garden, but, as one of the principals remarked the other day, radium had not been discovered at that time. "As a matter of fact,'' he added, "we actually paid, I believe, three shillings and sixpence a ton to have the stuff carried away in dust carts. It was used for leveling and laying out roads In the city and for filling in the foundations of houses.
For twenty-five years the firm was engaged in extracting oxide uranium from pitchblende. Oxide was used mainly to color expensive glassware, to which it gave a yellowish green fluorescent appearance. The use of uranium for this purpose has been long discontinued in favor of cheaper methods. Much of the pitchblende worked upon by Johnson, Matthey & Co. was obtained from the identical mines at Joachimsthal, Austria, which now produce the finest radium.
Source: The Sunday Journal - 10th January 1904
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson Matthey & Co. Ltd. - London - 1913
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson Matthey PLC - London - 1987
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson, Matthey, & Co. Ltd. - London - 1908
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson, Matthey & Company, Inc. - New York - 1923
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
An amalgamation of Johnson, Matthey & Co. Ltd., London, with Messrs. Garrett & Davidson Pty. Ltd.., Of Sydney, was announced at the annual meeting of Johnson, Matthey in London. Mr H. W. P. Matthey, chairman, said Garrett and Davidson refined and prepared the precious metals and
their alloys for a variety of industries. Johnson, Matthey hoped to be able to contribute its resources and experience to enable them to give a greater service to Australian manufacturers. The name of the new company was Garrett, Davidson, and Matthey Pty. Ltd.
Source: The Argus - 20th July 1948
Trev.
their alloys for a variety of industries. Johnson, Matthey hoped to be able to contribute its resources and experience to enable them to give a greater service to Australian manufacturers. The name of the new company was Garrett, Davidson, and Matthey Pty. Ltd.
Source: The Argus - 20th July 1948
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
The German Emperor has recently conferred the great Prussian gold medal for art and science upon Mr. George Matthey, F.R.S., of the well-known firm of refiners in Hatton Garden, in recognition of his services in the interests of science.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th January 1882
Trev.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th January 1882
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson Matthey & Co. Ltd. - London - 1920
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson Matthey & Mallory Limited - Toronto - 1951
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson Matthey & Mallory Limited - Toronto - 1947
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson Matthey & Company (Canada) Limited - Montreal and Toronto - 1944
Trev.
Re: Information Regarding Johnson Matthey & Co.
Johnson Matthey & Company, Inc. - New York - 1923
Johnson Matthey & Co. Ltd. - London - 1923
Trev.
Return to “Contributors' Notes”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests