150 YEARS OF RUBBER
We are proud to have achieved something in the rubber industry that few manufacturing companies do in any industry, with technologies and markets constantly changing.
Read our detailed historyPre
1865
1865
May
1933
May
1936
Sept
1936
March
1937
June
1951
1952
1957
1972
1979
1981
1985
1988
1990
1991
1993
1998
1999
150
Years
The
Future
PRE 1865
Robert Martin
Robert Martin, father to John Hadlow Martin, was working as a waterproofer in Southampton. He probably used early rubber-proofed products, produced by Robert Mackintosh from 1824 on.
1865
38 BERNARD STREET OPENS
The first Martin's Rubber shop opens at 38 Bernard St, Southampton, owned by John Hadlow Martin. It was listed in the 1887 census as an 'India Rubber dealer and Gutta Percha manufacturer', selling proofing materials, fabrications, gaskets and hoses. JH Martin owned the company and property until 1913.
MAY 1933
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
Nelson Alfred Samler-Brown buys the goodwill of the company. First board meeting is held at Great Pollard St, London.
MAY 1936
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT, AGAIN
Salmer-Brown sells the company to GR Roberts and Geoffrey J Russell. AE Campbell hired as secretary.
SEPT 1936
COMPANY MOVES FROM
BERNARD STREET TO
11 OXFORD STREET,
SOUTHAMPTON
MARCH 1937
12 OXFORD STREET
AE Campbell, company director, considers the acquisition of 12 Oxford Street, Southampton. With 11 Oxford Street already in his possession, he discusses combining the two buildings for trade purposes.
JUNE 1951
BIG PLANS
Directors meet; AE Campbell reports on plans to buy Orchard Place.
1952
NEW FACTORY OPENS AT ORCHARD PLACE
AE Campbell (with his associate, Reg Cave) purchases a plot of land on neighbouring Orchard Place. John Atlee acts as solicitor for the move. Martin's Rubber uses the plot to build a new factory for manufacturing.
1957
BRIAN HOOPER MARRIES
AE CAMPBELL'S DAUGHTER,
PAULINE, AND IS NOW PART
OF THE COMPANY.
1972
ADJOINING WAREHOUSE
BOUGHT BY AE CAMPBELL.
USED TO STORE RUBBER
SHEET AND HOSE STOCK.
1979
FAMILY BUYOUT
Brian Hooper buys out shares held outside of his family. The company becomes a sole family business for the first time since the Martins owned it.
1981
THE HOOPER
FAMILY EVOLUTION…
Brian's son, Paul, becomes part of the Martin's Rubber enterprise.
1985
AS BRIAN MOVES INTO
SEMIRETIREMENT, PAUL
BEGINS MANAGING THE
DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS
OF THE COMPANY
1988
Paul's brother, Adam Hooper, joins the family business
1990
MOVING FORWARD
The company now offers Seal Jet CNC machining. It's MR's first computer and marks a venture into new technology.
1991
AE CAMPBELL, FORMER
COMPANY DIRECTOR,
PASSES AWAY
1993
EXPANSION
The family continues to expand the business, buying the adjoining Toderick Tapp Factory and making it into the Cutting Shop/Seal Machining workshop.
1998
MARTIN'S RUBBER BUYS PEARTREE
PLASTICS, A POLYURETHANE
PRODUCTS SPECIALIST
1999
ADJOINING PUB, 'ZENBAR’. IS
PURCHASED BY MARTIN’S RUBBER
AND BECOMES THE OFFICIAL
COMPANY OFFICE
The family continues to expand the business, buying the adjoining Toderick Tapp Factory and making it into the Cutting Shop/Seal Machining workshop.
150 YEARS
In 2015 the company celebrated 150 years in business, and, while it seems that we have been involved in Rubber products since before 1865, by any standard we are one of the longest established businesses in our industry.
150 AND BEYOND
A focus on materials innovation, and value as experts in rubber manufacture.
