National Carbon Company

The National Carbon Company was a very important American company that made batteries and lighting products in the early 1900s. It was the first company to make and sell sealed dry cell batteries to many people. These batteries were very useful because they did not spill their chemicals and could be used in many devices.

The company started in 1886 in Cleveland, Ohio, founded by Washington H. Lawrence, who used to work for the Brush Electric Company. Other founders included banker Myron T. Herrick, James Parmelee, and Webb Hayes, the son of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes. Over time, the company grew very fast. By 1889, it had taken over ten other companies, controlling most of the carbon industry in the United States and much of the world.

In 1906, National Carbon invested in a new company called the Eveready Battery Company, and later bought it completely in 1914. Then, in 1917, National Carbon itself was bought by a larger company called Union Carbide. The work done by National Carbon helped make batteries common in homes and businesses, changing how people used electricity every day.

History

The National Carbon Company started in 1886 in Cleveland, Ohio, when a group of investors led by Washington H. Lawrence took over the Boulton Carbon Company. They began making carbon points for arc lighting and later introduced wet cells for batteries.

In 1896, the company launched the first sealed dry cell battery for consumers, called the Columbia. This was a big step because it was the first time anyone made and sold these kinds of batteries on a large scale. The company continued to grow, merging with other companies and later being bought by Union Carbide in 1917. Over time, parts of the company split off to become new businesses making things like capacitors, carbon fibers, and batteries.

Legacy

The American Chemical Society recognized the creation of the Columbia dry cell battery as an important historic achievement in chemistry in 2005. The National Carbon Company made this battery in 1896, and it was the first sealed dry cell battery made for many people to use. This battery was better than older ones because it didn’t need much care, didn’t spill, and was cheap. It became very popular in phones and cars, and it helped start the modern battery industry.