A Man, a Mill,
and a Lot of Metal Powder
In 1945, the war had just ended and Britain was rebuilding. Ronald Britton – along with his wife Mrs B.C. Britton as co-director – saw an opportunity. The manufacturing industries powering the country’s recovery all needed the same thing: aluminium pastes, bronze powders, and metallic printing inks.
They set up in modest premises on Lever Street, Manchester. The early product range was eclectic – aluminium flake, bronze powders, lead, zinc, antimony, even tinsel powders (yes, glitter). Printing inks were manufactured by Ronald’s brothers AGW and FR Britton down in London. It was a proper family operation.
By 1946 they’d already outgrown Lever Street, moving to larger premises at 37 Brown Street that could handle both office and warehouse – and they acquired a mill in Kettleshulme, Cheshire for dyeing bronze powders and manufacturing metallic pastes. They even had a side business screen-printing metallic colours onto dress fabrics. Busy times.
Still in Rochdale.
Still Answering
the Phone.
After Lever Street, Brown Street, Kettleshulme, Alderley Edge, Deansgate, and a few more stops – we’ve landed at Buckley Road, Rochdale. Right in the heart of Greater Manchester, close to the industries we've always served, with stock on site and a team that picks up when you call.
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