Berger, Jenson and Nicholson (Firm) : Berger, Jenson and Nicholson Ltd. began as a family paint business by Lewis Steingenberger. He arrived in London from Frankfurt in 1760 as a 19-year-old colour chemist to manufacture Prussian Blue, using the name of Lewis Berger. Lewis Berger's business expanded rapidly and in 1780 he moved from Shadwell, East London, to new premises at Homerton. He was at that time offering about twelve dry pigment colours and within ten years had seven more and was also selling such goods as black lead, sulphur, sealing wax and mustard. A City office was established in Well Court in about 1785. Later on, three of Berger's sons entered the business. Lewis ran the Well Court office until his death in 1800.
In 1879, the firm turned into a limited company as Lewis Berger and Sons Ltd., but the company was badly managed and the shareholders continually complained about the company's financial affairs. Trade expanded to America, Australia and India. In 1905, the company was sold to Cottingham of Sherwin Williams Co. of America, Paint Manufactures. W.H. Cottingham of Montreal was Berger's agent in Canada and was largely responsible for the close contact between Berger and Sherwin Williams. Cottingham became President of the Sherwin-Williams Co. and in 1905, became chairman of the Berger board of Directors.
Shortly after the company became incorporated in May 1879, it suffered very heavy losses in connection with a Canadian agency which has been recently opened. In consequence of these losses amounting in round figures to £40,000, the whole of the original board of directors resigned. They also proposed to write off 30% from their respective holdings in the company so as in some way to meet the losses which has been incurred subsequently.
In 1960 the company merged with Jenson and Nicholson Ltd., to form Berger, Jenson and Nicholson Ltd. Jenson and Nicholson had been established in 1821 as coach paint manufacturers and they had several overseas subsidiaries.
In 1970, Berger, Jenson and Nicholson were taken over by Hoechst AG of Frankfurt. They became the holding company of the whole Berger group which now manufactured and distributed paint, resins, wood preservatives, industrial sealants, household chemicals, and wallcoverings. In 1977, there were 35 companies and divisions running 46 factories in 25 countries, employing 10,000 people.
In 1988, Berger, Jenson and Nicholson was sold by Hoechst AG to Williams holdings and Jenson and Nicholson was re-established as a private company based at Dagenham (UK).
