Frederick Edward Walton

 

 

Walton was born in 1834, near Halifax. His father James Walton was a successful inventor and business owner from Haughton Dale near Manchester, where he owned the Haughton Dale Mill, which supplied wire for James's successful carding business. Frederick was educated at Horton School, in Bradford and at the Wakefield Proprietary School.

 

In 1855, Frederick joined his father James and brother William in the family wire cardmaking business of Walton and Sons, in Haughton Dale. He spent much of his time working on new techniques for the business. In 1856, he was granted his first patent for wire brushes with ornamental backings. In 1857, he discovered how to solidify linseed oil, which was to lead to his most famous invention. However he also disagreed with his father about the value of his experimentation. Later in 1857, they dissolved the partnership and Frederick moved to Hammersmith, where he set up his own company to continue his work.

 

In 1860 Frederick Walton patented a process

for making linoleum, the first widely used

smooth-surfaced floor covering.

 

In 1860, he established an experimental factory in Chiswick where he worked on oxidisation of linseed oil, for which he was granted a patent in 1860. He experimented with the oxidized oil as a replacement for rubber. He discovered that combining the oil with cork and colouring agents produced a useful material for floor covering, and in 1863 patented this new material. Walton called this new cloth “linoleum". He moved his factory to Staines, and in 1864, formed the Linoleum Manufacturing Company which, by 1869, was exporting to Europe and the United States.

 

In the 1870s, Walton partnered with carpet manufacturer John Crossley to form the American Linoleum Company. They set up a factory at

Linoleumville, New York to manufacture linoleum. Walton spent two years in America setting up the factory and starting the business, before returning to the United Kingdom. The America company was highly successful and profitable.

 

Walton obtained further patents for processes related to the production of linoleum. In 1863, he patented a method of passing sheets of coloured linoleum through rollers to emboss a pattern on them. In 1882, he patented machinery to make inlaid mosaic floor coverings. He also invented a number of related products, most notably Lincrusta, an embossed wall- covering based on linoleum, launched in 1877. In all he obtained over 100 patents.

 

In 1922, Walton moved to France where he wrote a book entitled 'The infancy and Development of Linoleum Floorcloth' and pursued his hobbies of poetry reading and watercolour painting. He was killed in a car accident in Nice on the 16 May 1928 at the grand age of 94 years.

 

By the 1950's, linoleum was an international sensation and a staple in homes, schools, hospitals, factories and shops across the globe. It was waterproof, flexible, easy to install and came in an endless array of colours and patterns.

 

Regardless of Walton’s failure to trademark his invention, lino flooring is still one of the best options for anyone looking for a versatile floor covering for their home. Just be sure to think of Walton whilst you’re enjoying your new floor.

 

 

Walton -  Linoleum shop

Linoleum is the only resilient flooring made of renewable raw materials. It is made without artificial chemicals from linseed oil, resins, cork and wood flour, limestone flour and pigments.