The History Of The Wellington Rubber Boot Company
It all started with the famous boot of course. However, the company’s expansion curve did not stop with this one product. From Wellington boots, it went on to manufacture a whole host of rubber products as well as rubber related items. These included assorted rubber products such as automobile tires, combs, hot water bottles, golf balls, conveyor belts and even rubber flooring to name a few. But nothing sold nearly as well as the Wellington rubber boot, the flagship product of the rubber boot manufacturer.
Initially the Wellington rubber boot was produced in limited numbers, as there was limited understanding of the benefits inherent in owning a pair of rubber boots, but production received a dramatic boost with the onset of World War I, as the North British Rubber Company was asked by the United Kingdom War Office to produce a sturdy boot that was suitable for the squalid conditions in the flooded trenches on the battlefields of France and Belgium. The plant ran around the clock, day and night to manufacture enough quantities of these rubber trench boots to supply the British army. In total, nearly 1.2 million pairs were made to cope with the British army's needs. What was once considered a fashionable boot was now a functional military necessity in a world of war.
The Wellington Rubber Boot Company made another important contribution to the British army during World War II. At the onset of war in 1939, nearly 80% of the entire Wellington Rubber Boot Company output consisted of war materials, destined for the fight against Germany and Axis forces. The amount of material produced was immense, including ground sheets, bomb covers, life belts, gas masks and the ubiquitous Wellington boots. Although trench warfare was not a concern in World War II the Wellington still played a significant role. Allied forces assigned the difficult task of clearing Holland of the Axis forces had to work in terrible flooded conditions. Once again the company had to supply thigh boots and Wellingtons.
The Wellington suddenly became overwhelmingly popular among young men, women and children for wear in wet or inclement weather, a common risk in much of Europe. It also helped during war time when things were hard to come by to have a pair of boots that were long lasting.
The company bought the manufacturing facilities in Dumfriesshire in the mid 40s and this expanded its Scottish manufacturing capabilities. This was where the Arrold Johnston was being produced but the site had been shut down. This helped them manage their expansion and demand.
It’s been a long and successful road for this company. Starting way back when as a functional pair of boots, it has kept pace with the times and has grown far beyond its shores to take the world by storm.
