Vintage pair of large apothecary chemist bottles remnants of labels remaining

Vintage pair of large apothecary/ chemist bottles remnants of labels remaining. Some age related wear, mostly to labels, could be removed. Personally, I love them. The M & B bottle is just hand written on a piece of masking tape. Again, it could be removed, but I love the history.

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Size 30 cm tall 12 cm round

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May sell separately please contact us for pricing etc

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These 2 large bottles, one by hopkin& Williams Ltd, one possibly by Mitchells & Butlers plc (also referred to as "M&B"), run circa 1,784 managed pubs, bars and restaurants throughout the United Kingdom. The company's headquarters are in Birmingham, England. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

Hopkin & Williams was a British company founded in 1850 by John Williams and William King Hopkin to manufacture fine laboratory and photographic chemicals, specializing in harder-to-find chemicals. They became a major player in establishing the "AnalaR" grade standards for high-purity laboratory chemicals, a joint venture with British Drug Houses (BDH).

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Founding and early operations

Establishment: The firm was established in 1850 by John Williams and William King Hopkin.

Location: They started at 10 New Cavendish Street, London, and also had a factory at a former chapel in Cross Street, Hatton Garden.

Specialization: Hopkin & Williams focused on producing specific and "out-of-the-way" chemicals not readily available from other manufacturers.

Significance and legacy

AnalaR standards:

In the post-World War I era, with Germany's dominance in chemical supply diminished, the demand for reliable analytical reagents increased. Hopkin & Williams, along with British Drug Houses (BDH), developed specifications for high-purity chemicals, eventually leading to the creation of the "AnalaR" (Analytical Reagent) grade.

Pioneering standards:

This joint development set the standards for purity in laboratory chemicals in Britain and beyond.

Evolution and eventual absorption

While the direct lineage is not fully detailed in the provided results, the company's contribution to analytical standards was significant. Over time, the chemical reagent industry saw consolidation, and companies like Hopkin & Williams and BDH were involved in mergers or acquisitions.