They formed the company Read and Campbell Ltd. in 1881 and registered a design in Great Britain in the same year to cover "the arrangement for piercing capsules" to expel water, carbon tetrachloride etc.
The contents were, amongst other things, saponin, derived from the roots of soapwort, sodium bicarbonate, extract of vegetable syrup from quillaia and liquorice.
At this time the 'Waterloo' copper-bodied extinguisher was introduced-it was claimed that the copper did not discolour the water, and prevented staining of tapestries and oil painting in art galleries and Museums.
An article in the 'Evening Chronicle' appeared in 1928 stated that it was a legal necessity for motorists to have their garages equipped with fire extinguishers or to empty their petrol tanks each time they put their cars away.
In 1929 the Duke of York's household was protected by Read and Campbell extinguishers and precise instructions on fire drill procedure were printed.
In the same year the Athenaeum Club, the National Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum were equipped with Read and Campbell extinguishers.