Samples of dyed fabrics from John Spiller's collection

Samples of dyed fabrics from John Spiller's collection, of Brooke, Simpson & Spiller

John Spiller (1833–1921) was a chemist from London, England, whose career focused on developing dyes and photographic techniques. In 1868 he joined his brother's firm which became Brooke, Simpson & Spiller. The company produced dyes from 1868 to 1905, with a focus on aniline dyes, early synthetic dyes derived from coal tar. In 1874, it acquired the Greenford Works of Perkin and Sons, the inventor and manufacturer of the first commercial synthetic dye, Mauveine. Brooke, Simpson & Spiller also patented several dyes, including Spiller's purple no.1, invented by Spiller himself. As a chemist he experimented to develop dyes that could be manufactured by his firm. These samples come from his own collection.