Timeline

500 BC.	Ancient Greeks use 'Xylo' prefix to denote objects made of wood.
1813	Birth of Alexander Parkes.
1829	Birth of Levi Parsons Merriam.
1832	Birth of Daniel Spill.
1837	Birth of John Wesley Hyatt.
1838	Xyloidin first produced - in France.
1845	Nitro-Cellulose (Xyloidine) invented - in Germany.
1862	Alexander Parkes first exhibits Parkesine at the International Exhibition.
1864	Agreement to manufacture Parkesine at Daniel Spills factory in Hackney.
1866	Parkesine Company floated with Daniel Spill as the General Manager.
1868	Parkesine Company wound up. Most of the assets bought by Daniel Spill.
1869	Spill registers the Xylonite Company Limited.
1869	Both Spill and Hyatt register basic patents on the same day (June 15th).
1869	Spill registers US patent dealing with use of camphor as a solvent (November 30th)
1870	Spill registers US patent covering entire production process (March 22)
1872	The 'Celluloid Manufacturing Company' formed by the Hyatts.
1876	Daniel Spill leaves for the USA to contest patents with the Hyatts.
1877	The 'British Xylonite Company Limited' formed with Levi Parsons Merriam as managing director. The new company takes over Daniel Spill's patents.
1880	Spill loses case against the Celluloid Company and considers selling 'his' patents.
1880	L.P. Merriam licences use of 'Spill' patents (see 1869/1870) to L.L. Brown.
1881	L.L. Brown Forms the 'American Zylonite Company' with capital of $750,000.
1883	The 'Zylonite Comb & Brush Co'. formed with capital of $100,000.
1883	The 'Zylonite Collar & Cuff Co.' formed.
1883	Marketing of the first products.
1884	Zylonite Novelty Co. formed with capital of $100,000.
1885	American Zylonite Company employs 500 people and is a rival to the Celluloid Manufacturing Company.
1890	American Zylonite Company in serious financial difficulties.
1890	American Zylonite Company bought by the Celluloid Company.
1891	Production ceases and factory closed in January. All equipment moved to Celluloid Company factory in Newark.