All About Inventions and Discoveries
The Romance of modern scientific and mechanical Achievements

The Story of Coal-Gas 59 ment young—afterwards Dr.—W. H. Perkin, F.R.S., created a new industry, the limits of which now, as in those early days, it is impossible to foresee. It was an invention which was destined to create a new line of investigation and research, to build up an industry as important, far-reaching, and wealthy as that of the gas itself, and which was predestined to exert a far-reaching influence upon several other industries, more particularly the textile trades. Perkin’s discovery provoked a situation which it is difficult to parallel in the romance of human endeavour. A demand for the dye arose instantly, with the result that the young inventor, at the age of nineteen, found himself as a manufacturer and pioneer of a new industry. Like the fathers of gas- lighting, he was compelled to undertake considerable research work, there being no previous experience to guide him. Perkin’s business flourished amazingly ; but unfortunately for the fortunes of Britain, when he retired from activity he left no one to continue his line of labour. On the other hand, the Germans, recognising the far-reaching importance of the aniline dyes, took up the threads of investigation and experi- ment. Their scientists threw themselves into the new treasureland with whole-hearted zest, receiving every encouragement and reward, whereas British scientific minds appeared to allow the matter to drift, or at least regarded it with an air of indifference. Under these circumstances it was not long before other artificial dyes derived from coal tar were dis- covered and made their presence felt in the com- mercial world. Hard on the heels of mauve came magenta, followed in turn by an array of blues, the