14 Facts About Dunlop Rubber

Dunlop Rubber failed to adapt to evolving market conditions in the 1970s, despite having recognised by the mid-1960s the potential drop in demand as the more durable radial tyres swept through the market.

Between 1904 and 1909, the French Dunlop Rubber subsidiary lost a total of £200,000, as European rivals such as Michelin of France and Continental of Germany overtook it in the motor tyre market.

Dunlop Rubber purchased certain of its assets including goodwill and trading rights, and in exchange the tyre company shareholders now owned three-quarters of Dunlop Rubber.

Dunlop Rubber was saved by the intervention of Frederick Szarvasy of the British Foreign and Colonial Corporation.

Dunlop Rubber opened acquisition discussions with Slazenger in 1927, but without success.

Related searches

In 1930, Dunlop Rubber was the eighth largest public company in Britain by market value.

Dunlop Rubber built manufacturing facilities in Ireland, South Africa and India during the 1930s.

In 1932 the Dunlop Rubber bridge was built over the Circuit De La Sarthe, home to the Le Mans 24-hour race.

In 1948 Dunlop Rubber invented the self-sealing tyre, which reduced the risk from blowouts.

In July 1956, the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission published a further document with implications for Dunlop products entitled Report on the Supply of Certain Rubber Footwear, which covered rubber boots of all kinds including wellingtons and overboots.

In 1958, Dunlop acquired British rival John Bull Rubber which included Metalastic.

Dunlop Rubber lost market share to manufacturers marketing steel-belted tyres, such as Michelin.

In 1968, Dunlop Rubber acquired George Angus Ltd of Newcastle upon Tyne, a world leader in the supply of fire hoses and fire fighting equipment.

In 1971, Dunlop Rubber merged with Pirelli of Italy to form the world's third-largest tyre company after Goodyear and Firestone.