The London Rubber Company

How funny that my past is related to the company that bought condoms to the UK in 1915............

 

My great grandfather, lead by his older brother in the early 1900s invented Galloways Cough Syrup in their shed at the end of the garden. Some years later The London Rubber Company purchased Galloways Cough Syrup which was quite a household name I must add. I am not sure why the purchase was made but I remember my mother having shares in The London Rubber Company AND  I love the link. That being said, I found the history of the London Rubber Company most intriguing.....read on.

History The London Rubber Company was a small company founded in London in 1915 by LA Jackson, a representative of items of hairdressers in a small room behind a tobacconist, selling condoms imported from Germany. The business of condoms began to be important in the early twentieth century London and soon the company began to grow revenues. In 1929 the London Rubber Company registered the Durex brand, an acronym formed from the English phrase Durability, Reliability Excellence (durability, reliability and excellence), conjoined name the qualities that should have a condom. Even today there is the popular belief that the name refers to Durable Durex Latex (latex lasting). In 1932 he opened his first Durex condom factory in Hackney and specialized in the production of latex condoms. This action was eventually consolidated the business, and increased demand led to the London Rubber Company soon became a corporation.With the outbreak of World War II it became increasingly more difficult the provision of condoms from Germany, until he finally broke down completely in 1941. In this situation, the London Rubber Company had to expand to meet the high demand for Durex condoms she received from the armed forces in combat. In 1950 the company became publicly owned. It was then launched, thanks to the injection of capital that this led, a technological innovation that would culminate with the full automation of the manufacturing process of condoms, being a pioneer in this aspect. With this new system could produce a greater amount of Durex condoms in much less time, and also improved the technique of their manufacture, thus enabling a higher quality finished product.Moving in this direction, Durex was the first brand that, in 1953, developed an electronic testing system of condoms, successfully introduced in the manufacturing process thereof. Currently this process is one of the main guarantees of the mark. In 1957, Durex launched in the UK's first lubricated condom in the world. This innovation would be introduced for all brands of condoms. In 1962 the London Rubber opened its first family planning clinic in the UK and Durex condoms became available through the British National Health System. The purchase of Julius Schmid Inc. in 1963 was the gateway to the American market. The following year, Durex managed to pass the British Standard and also launched the Durex Information Service. The LRC also launched the first prophylactic vending machines. The first major contract to supply through this new system would come in 1968, with a brewery.A year later Durex launched the first anatomically shaped condom. The business continued to grow throughout the '70s, to become a regular subject of sale in pubs, stores and supermarkets across the world in the early 80s. This phenomenon was also encouraged by the discovery of AIDS and HIV and that condoms offer protection when it comes to preventing the spread of the disease, which meant, in turn, a considerable increase in sales. In 1982, Durex launched its first advertising campaign using posters with the slogan "Closer Encounters" (closest encounters), two years later won a Cleo Award for Best International Printed Ad, through its ad that showed a pregnant woman. In 1987, Durex brand was first announced condoms on television. In parallel, the British government launched the "Do not die of ignorance" (not die of ignorance).The 90s was full of successes for Durex. In 1994 he released his first campaign for the promotion and sponsorship on an international scale through the MTV Europe, arriving with her more than 49 million young people in 37 countries. The following year launched its website and also their condoms were first distributed with the European Community trademark. In 1996 went on sale the first pack of flavored condoms, Durex Select, the result of intensive research on the habits and behavior of users of condoms. Furthermore, began operating another Web site for professionals and scientific researchers with medical responses frequently updated on contraception and sexual health. Durex marketed in 1997, the first polyurethane condom, Durex Avanti.This was revolutionary because it will solve the problem of many users and also allergic to latex condoms getting thinner than the first and could be used with oil-based lubricants.