Whatman plc: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Paul Sandby - A View of Vinters at Boxley, Kent, with Mr. Whatman's Turkey Paper Mills - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|''Mr. Whatman's Turkey Paper Mills'' by [[Paul Sandby]] (1794)]]

The papermaker [[James Whatman (papermaker)|James Whatman]] the Elder (1702–1759) founded the Whatman papermaking enterprise in 1740 in [[Maidstone]], [[Kent]], England. He made revolutionary advances to the craft in England and is credited<ref name=bywho/> as the inventor of [[wove paper]] (or Vélin), an innovation used for high-quality art and printing. His son, James Whatman the Younger (1741–1798), further developed the company's techniques.<ref name="Roberts">{{cite book |last1= Roberts |first1= Matt T. |last2= Etherington |first2= Don |title= Bookbinding and the conservation of books: A dictionary of descriptive terminology |url= https://archive.org/details/bookbindingconse0000robe |publisher= U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn= 978-0-8444-0366-3 |chapter= Whatman, James (1741–1798) |date= 2011-11-19 |access-date= 2016-09-02 |url-access= registration}}</ref> At a time when the craft was based in smaller [[paper mill]]s, Whatman innovations led to the large-scale and widespread industrialisation of paper manufacturing.

[[John Baskerville]] (1707-17751707–1775), who needed paper that would take a light impression of the printing plate, approached Whatman; the resultant paper was used for the edition of [[Virgil]]'s poetry, embellished with Baskerville's typography and designs.<ref name="Roberts"/> The earliest examples of wove paper, bearing his [[watermark]], appeared after 1740.<ref name="NGA">{{cite web |url= http://nga.gov.au/Conservation/Watermarks/listing.cfm |title= Watermark and countermark library |year= 2010 |work= Conservation |publisher= [[National Gallery of Australia]] |access-date=2010-11-29 |archive-date=2010-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129061440/http://nga.gov.au/Conservation/Watermarks/listing.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Whatman [[business]] is credited with the invention of the wove wire mesh used to mould and align pulp fibres.<ref name=bywho>{{Cite ODNB |title=Whatman, James (1702–1759), paper maker |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-40776 |access-date=2020-08-30 |year=2004 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/40776 |last1=Baker |first1=Anne Pimlott}}</ref> This is the principal method used in the mass production of most modern paper. The Whatmans held a part interest in the establishment at Turkey Mill, near Maidstone, after 1740;<ref name=EarlyYears/> this was wholly acquired through the elder Whatman's marriage to Ann Harris.<ref name=bywho/>

"Handmade" paper bearing the Whatman's mark continued in production for special editions and art books<ref name="Roberts" /> until 2002.<ref name=Chalmers>{{cite journal |first= Mark |last=Chalmers Chalmers|title= Whatman -– Springfield Paper Mill, Maidstone |journal= Archive |issue= 91 |date= September 2016 |pages=52–65 52–65|publisher= Lightmoor Press |___location= Witney}}</ref>

===Acquisition===

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==Key products and technologies==

[[File:Whatman 3-Piece Filter Funnel 4-7 cm .jpg|thumb|Whatman 3-piece [[filter funnel]]]]

The Whatman product range covers

* Laboratory filtration products: filter papers, membrane filters, syringe filters, syringeless filters, microbiology, microplates, and capsule filters

* Sample collection cards and kits: FTA, FTA Elute, and 903 ranges

* Blotting: blotting membranes, blotting papers, and equipment

* Components for lateral flow and flow-through assays: membranes for immunoassays, conjugate release, blood separators, absorbents, and sample pads

* General laboratory accessories: extraction thimbles, weighing papers, test and chromatography papers, lens-cleaning tissue, and Benchkote papers

==References==

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Whatman Plc}}

[[Category:Former General Electric subsidiaries]]

[[Category:Paper products]]

[[Category:Filters]]

[[Category:1740 establishments in England]]