1734
William Addis (1) born.
1780
William Addis founded the company.
William Addis was the inventor of the toothbrush. He developed the first prototype from bone and horsehair for his personal use.
Realising the commercial potential of this everyday item production soon began in premises at Whitechapel, east London.
1787
William Addis (2) born.
1796
Production moved to larger premises and staff increased to meet demand with rent costing £34 per year.
1808
William Addis (1) died at the age of 74. His son William Addis (2), aged 21, continued to manage ADDIS as he had when his father had retired from business years previously.
1840
ADDIS moves to larger premises in Radnor Street, Hoxton.
1845
ADDIS relocated to Herbert Street, Hoxton employing 60 staff.
Brushes hand produced from bone and ivory with hair or bristle filaments. The bones used to make the brush backs and handles we ox thigh and buttock bones which had been boiled to remove fat and grease. The ends of the bones were cut off and sold to button-makers as only the mid-sections were used by brush-makers.
Fifty-three processes went into the making of an ADDIS toothbrush and the filling was mostly done by women working in their own homes.
1860s
ADDIS became one of the first manufacturers in the UK to use an automated manufacturing system.
1869
First ADDIS toothbrush handle to be made by machine.
1873
William Addis (2) dies leaving his business to his son William (3).
ADDIS producing 29 different brands of toothbrush.
1880s
ADDIS began exporting products abroad to the U.S.
1890
William Addis (3) dies leaving his business to his three sons.
1893
Robert Addis (1) commences production at the London Brush Works.
1913
ADDIS start exporting brushes all over the world, but mainly to the British Empire, and now employed 84 people.
1914
First World War
ADDIS supplies troops with toothbrushes creating a national ‘habit’ of teeth cleaning.
1919
Purchase of production premises in Hertford. The factory was ready to start production in early 1920.
1920
ADDIS supplies Boots with a straight handle, good value toothbrush to retail at 1s (5p).
1923
Addis fits out Queen Mary's famous dolls-house with miniature brushes which can still be seen at Windsor Castle.
1926
ADDIS producing 1.8M toothbrushes per year.
1927
First plastic handle toothbrushes (celluloid). Brushes filled with bristle mechanically.
1939
Second World War.
1,000,000 brushes supplied to the armed forces. 650 people employed.
First injection moulding machines purchased.
1940
The first nylon toothbrushes with plastic handles and plastic bristles are launched under the WISDOM brand.
1947
Last bone handled toothbrushes produced.
1955
Introduction of plastic into manufacturing lead to the launch of ADDIS kitchen plastics and brushware ranges.
1959
The company's first TV advertising campaign commences.
1964
Upper Bank Works (on the outskirts of Swansea) is purchased - production begins in September 1965
1969
First sales of WISDOM to grocery multiples.
1980
ADDIS celebrated its bicentennial under the chairmanship of Robert Addis – the 10th generation son after founder William Addis (1).
1994
Addis Housewares is founded as an autonomous sister company within the Addis Group Ltd.
1996
The Company, privately owned for 216 years over 10 generations, is sold to its management in a management buy out (MBO). WISDOM brand sold.
1997
Addis takes over Jani-Jack Limited and forms the Addis Commercial Division, servicing the needs of institutional catering and related markets (B2B, professional end users)
1999
Merger with EMSA Werke Addis Group Ltd. becomes a subsidiary of EMSA Holding AG
2003
Commercial manufacturing/ fabrication sold.
2006
Re-location of offices, mop assembly and warehouse/ distribution to Bridgend
