Robin,
 
Linoleum was manufactured in 1873 by the American Linoleum Manufacturing Co.
Richmond, Staten Island, N.Y.  A fully automatic linoleum machine was installed
>by Congoleum-Nairn, Inc. at its Kearny, N.J. plant in 1911.  Embossed inlaid
linoleum was introduced in 1925 by the Armstrong Cork & Insulation Co. of
Lancaster, Pa.
 
This info from Kane's Famous First Facts, which sites a publication by
Frederick Walton, "The Infancy and Development of Linoleum Floorcloth," which I
haven't seen.
 
I can't help with how quickly the stuff became popular.
 
 
Jim Murphy
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