John Oakey
From Piano Makers Apprentice to Great Britain’s Leading Manufacturer of Abrasives & Polishes - the English inventor John Oakey was born in 1814.
Apprenticed to a piano manufacturer, one of his tasks was to prepare sanded paper to rub down the wood and coatings. Taking pages from old ledgers, he would coat them in glue, subsequently sifting sand or powdered glass over them.
After acquiring a detailed understanding of the processes that made these compounds bond firmly, he founded John Oakey & Sons Limited in 1833, with the aim of mechanising the production of abrasives.
Operations Begin in London
Initially the business operated from Francis Street (now Crampton Street) in Walworth, London, an area that is now part of the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark. However, success soon prompted moving to a larger, purpose built factory on Blackfriars Road, Lambeth.
- 1858
Oakey also produced black lead for the household market and introduced Wellington Knife Polish in 1858. This was a great success, generating many imitators. Advertisements for Oakey’s “Wellington” Knife Polish were on buses and trams well into the twentieth century.
- 1872
The Wellington Works, named after the company’s distinctive Duke of Wellington Trade Mark, needed to expand again. Oakey acquired additional land on Westminster Bridge Road, previously held by the Royal Female Orphan Asylum.
- 1874
An even larger factory and mills were erected to the design of Messrs Parr & Strong at a cost of almost £15,000. The building subsequently became known as Wellington Mills.
- 1887
John Oakey died and was buried at West Norwood, now one of London’s Magnificent Seven Cemeteries.
- 1893
The business passed to his sons, who converted it to a public company on 21st April 1893.
Simplifying the Process
Originally, the process of making glass paper and emery cloth was carried out by hand, requiring a five-year apprenticeship. Paper was carefully and evenly pasted with hot animal glue and then allowed to cool slightly so that it became tacky.
At precisely the right moment the abrasive powder was sprinkled on, taking care to get an even coating. The coated paper was then reheated to soften the glue, allowing the abrasive to sink, creating an even stronger bond. After cooling, the paper was cut to size by hand.
Over time Oakey mechanised this process, using machines that he invented and patented. Mechanisation enabled larger sizes of paper and cloth to be handled and rolls of 50 yards by 48 Inches were commonly. Waterproof papers and cloths required a slightly different process, which he kept secret for many years.
Sandpaper Was Just the Start!
At its height, the company manufactured papers and cloths using many different abrasive compounds including:
- Corundum (Aluminium Oxide)
- Flint and Quartz (Silica & Silicon Dioxide)
- Garnet
- Glass
- Carborundum (Silicon Carbide)
- Wellingtonite (Aluminium Oxide)
- Emory
- Pumice
Following the launch of Wellington Knife Polish in 1858, Silversmith’s Soap, Plate Powder and Furniture Polish were also introduced during the Victorian era, followed by Liquid Metal Polish, Liquid Silver Polish, Floor Polish, Stove Polish and Furniture Cream.
Why Oakey is Still Great Today
A Leading Manufacturer
Oakey’s products were used in most industries from furniture, metal and stonework to leather production and telescope lens manufacturing. Oakey abrasives remain the first choice of skilled workers in the painting and decorating markets to this day.
In 2026, Oakey launched a new generation of sanding sheets and rolls with a minimum of 27% recycled materials.
Products
Oakey has a wide range of hand sanding products, from sanding rolls and sponges to steel wool.
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