Midgley & Sutcliffe was founded in 1889 at the West End Tool Works in Bradford, West Yorkshire, west of Leeds. They almost immediately began making milling machines, which became a specialty, along with radial drilling machines, though they also made drill presses, lathes, slotters, punches, benders and shears. Their later milling machines used the "Richmond" brand, presumably named after Richmond Road, their street address in Bradford.

In 1933 the business was put up for sale and was acquired by machine-tool dealer F. Haithwaite & Co., Ltd. In 1936 Midgley & Sutcliffe was relocated to the Hillidge Works in Hunslet, south of Leeds. In 1947 the business was incorporated as a private limited company, Midgley & Sutcliffe, Ltd. In 1953 F. Haithwaite died, and a couple of years later the business was acquired by George Cohen, Sons & Co. of Stanningley, located midway between Bradford and Leeds.

Information Sources

• 1953-04-03 Machinery.

  Mr. F. Haithwaite.—As briefly announced in Machinery, 82/606-27/3/53, Mr. F. Haithwaite, chairman of Midgley & Sutcliffe, Ltd., Hillidge Works, Hunslet, Leeds, 10, died recently. Born in Nidderdale in 1880, he first worked in the mechanics shop of a twine-mill. Later, when his family moved to Manchester, he was employed by Beyer, Peacock & Co., Ltd., and Later by the Unbreakable Pulley Co., and became works manager for the latter firm. About 1909, he went to the U.S.A. and gained valuable experience in the shops of Cadillac and Westinghouse, among others. On his return to England he married and moved to Leeds, where he was employed as assistant works manager by George Mann & Co., Ltd. In 1913, he started in business on his " own account as a machine- tool and small tool dealer, under the title of F. Haithwaite & Co., Ltd. When the old - established Bradford business of Midgley & Sutcliffe came on the market in 1933, it was purchased by F. Haithwaite & Co., Ltd. under whom it was continued at Bradford for the next three years. Subsequently the business was transferred to the present address at Leeds, and in 1947 the private limited company of Midgley & Sutcliffe, Ltd., was formed with Mr. Haithwaite as chairman, a position which he held until his death. During the closing years of his life he was mainly occupied with farming in the Yorkshire dales.

• lathes.co.uk page on Richmond milling machines.
• Grace's Guide page on Midgley & Sutcliffe.