In 1903 one of the leading manufacturers of enclosed fuses was having trouble with their soldering due to the variation in the quality of the particular grade of soldering flux which they were using. The M W Dunton Company of Providence, RI, learning of this, made up a soldering paste with the sole object of helping the other fellow. This paste gave such satisfaction that the name “Nokorode” was adopted and it was put on the market in the expectation that there were other people who might also be interested in securing a soldering paste that was identically the same all the time. The results was that the sales of Nokoride increased rapidly from the first and have doubled every year for fourteen years. ¹

On May 23rd, 1903 M W Dunton & Co filed for a label with the U S Patent office for “Nokorode”, the name chosen for their new solder paste. It was registered on June 16th of the same year under number 10,101. ²

Providence Journal
June 18, 1903

In 1906 the company was located at 65 Atlantic Avenue, Providence, R. I. It is unclear if this was their origional location in 1903. ³

Electrical Review June 12, 1906

Electrical Review June 12, 1906

Electrical Review June 12, 1906

Electrical Review June 12, 1906

Electrical Review June 12, 1906

In 1907 the M W Dunton Company, Providence, RI was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000 to succeed to the business of M W Dunton & Co, The new firm will devote its entire attention to insulating materials. The management is unchanged. ⁴

Insulating materials is exactly what course the company took as it was listed as being a manufacturer of uncoated armature tapes and sleevings, red rope, paper, press board, Nokorode soldering paste and Black Diamond friction tape in 1909. ⁵

In June of 1916, M W Dunton filed a tradmark in Providence for two products, Kerosene Torch and Rubber Gloves. This is the first document that gives us a name that goes with the company, Frank Chapman

Providence Journal
June 17, 1916

Electrical Experimenter
August 1918

On October 17th, 1916, M W Dunton filed a tradmark for the preperation in stoping leaks in automobile radiators. ¹⁶



Business must have been booming because in 1920, the M W Dunton Company, now at 150 Niagra Street ⁶ Providence, RI moved into a new factory at 670 Eddy Street, Providence, RI that had five times the space it formally had. ⁷

Click to enlarge
The American Telephone Journal, Februaary 1921.

In 1921, Dunton's new plant was saved from a fire that broke out in the building next door. ¹⁰

In 1922, M W Dunton was appointed to the Memberhip Committee of the Providence Association of Credit Men. ¹¹ Also in 1922 we find that Frank Chapmen is the Treasurer of the company ¹²

On June 26, 1923, the trademark "Nokorode" was registered. ¹⁸

In 1931, M W Dunton is part of an effort to explain Canadian tariffs and their effect on Providence Businesses. ¹³

On June 1st 1931, there was a fire reported in the factory at 670 Eddy Street. ¹⁴

In 1932 Duntons renewed two trademarks for their friction tape. ¹⁵

On October 17th, 1936, M W Dunton renewed a tradmark for the preperation in stoping leaks in automobile radiators. ¹⁶

In 1938 we fomnd a card pf thanks from the employees to Ernest V Halligan. Not sure if he is the manager or owner at this point. ¹⁷

June 26th, 1943 saw the renewal of the companies famous tradmark, "Nokorode". ¹⁸

There was a transfer of a lot and guildings from Withington Company to M. W. Dunton on December 28, 1950, for a prices listed as $10. Very strange. ¹⁹

Then on February 13, 1946 there is found what looks like a lease of zome property at 147 Public Street from Arthur B Rawcliffe with option for a renewal in one year. ²⁰

In 1951 Dunton's is petitioned and granted full disability compensation by John H Fortier ²¹

Also in 1951 Dunton's sells its 670 Eddy Street factory to General Fabrics Company. The firm has been there for 30 years and recently moved to 7 Goff Street. ²²

1951 saw the death of Dunton's long time treasurer and manager. ²³

The technical director in 1957 is metallurgist and Warwick Veterans Memorial High School science department head, Joseph H Rohloff. ²⁴

In 1959, Duntons employs about 50 people and is leasing 15,000 square feet in the former Nicholsen File Plant. ²⁵

As part of a 2.61 million dollar government to a variety of Rhode Island state businesses, Dunton's wins a $10,261 contract for solder. ²⁶ And then in 1961, as part of a 2 million dollar contract given to 25 firms in Rhode Island, Dunton's wins another $14,872 fpr solder and flux. ²⁷

Government contracts seem to not keep the business solvent because starting on Novemebr 8, 1961 we see Duntons going into receivership due to a law suit by Allied Printing Company. ²⁸, ²⁹, ³⁰, ³¹, ³², ³³

In 1998 the company was bought by RectorSeal which still sells Nokorode solder paste ⁹ to this day. ⁸