1919-1926, manufacturer of dyestuffs, United Kingdom

Prior to the outbreak of World War I, the majority of dyes used in Britain came from Germany. When war broke out, the textile industry was at risk, with dye stocks quickly running out. The chemicals used in dyes were also needed for the manufacture of poison gases and explosives. In response to this, the British Government supported a merger of two companies to concentrate production. Levinstein Ltd, a Manchester based textile manufacturer, was opposed to the move so British Dyes Ltd was created in 1915 from the company Read Holiday & Sons. Although Ivan Levinstein had in particular been critical of the situation that had occurred in 1914, he was opposed to the merger, in part, over concerns about the government backing Read’s plans for a new plant at Dalton, near Huddersfield.

In 1919, British Dyes merged with Levinstein Ltd, after the company dropped their earlier opposition. The new firm was renamed British Dyestuffs Corporation. The British Government was the company’s largest shareholder.

Herbert Levinstein became joint managing director, along with Read’s chairman Joseph Turner. Levinstein believed the merger would encourage the government to support a protected British market following the war. However, Levinstein soon fell out with Turner, believing that the government unduly favoured the Dalton plant. Levinstein left the company in 1923, leaving Turner as Managing Director.

Following strong competition from Europe, British Dyestuffs Corporation merged with three other leading British chemical companies in 1926 . British Dystuffs, along with Brunner Mond, Nobel Explosives, and United Alkali formed Imperial Chemical Industries; British Dyestuffs became ICI’s Dyestuffs Division.