Historical timeline

In the early 1700s - John and William Salt laid the foundations for 300 years of business.

By 1855 John Salt was firmly established as a surgeons' instrument maker and cutler. William was a cutler and toy maker.

In 1793, the firm passed to Richard Salt.

In the early 1800s the business was moved to bigger premises in Dale End, Birmingham and a second site was opened in Coleshill Street. Richard's wife Sarah took over the business on Richard's death before it was passed on to their son Thomas Partridge.

In 1845 following TP's death in the cholera epidemic, his wife Mary and son Thomas Partridge II moved to Bull Street.

1854 saw Salts become 'Cutlers to Her Majesty'.

In 1863, they were granted a Royal Warrant.

In 1865 TP II published his first book and a year later, his second.

In 1867 Salts became Cutlers to the Emperor of the French and, in the same year, they were given an 'honourable mention' when they exhibited at the Paris Universal Exhibition.

Between 1866 and '67, Salts patented its Orthonemic Truss.

In 1876 they exhibited their 'trusses and other new inventions in aid of medicine and surgery' at the Brussels International Exhibition and soon after ceased production of cutlery to concentrate on medical products.

During the two World Wars, Salts product line had begun to change in response to the millions of injuries sustained by servicemen and by 1941, the company was focussing on the production of artificial limbs.

In 1945, artificial limb production ceased.

1948 saw Salts take its first steps into ostomy care - starting with a few 'handmade bags'.

In 1996 Salt & Son Ltd acquired Eurocare in Horsham, further strengthening Salts' position in the international ostomy market.