The CRC Press was originally founded as the Chemical Rubber Company (CRC), which supplied laboratory equipment to chemists. In 1913 the CRC offered a short (116-page) manual called the Rubber Handbook as an incentive to purchase one of their products.[1] Since then the Rubber Handbook has evolved into the CRC's flagship book, the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.[1]
In 1973, in light of the success of its publishing ventures, the company changed its name to CRC Press, Inc, and exited the manufacturing business.[1] In 1986 it was bought by the Times Mirror Company; in 1997/98 it became a publicly held company. In 2003, CRC became part of Taylor & Francis, which in 2004 became part of the UK publisher Informa.[1]
