The History of Thomas Robinson & Son

Thomas Robinson & Son was based in the town of Rochdale, historically part of Lancashire and now located in Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom.

Origins & Early Expansion (1813–1850s)
The business traces back to William Robinson, a timber merchant active by 1813 

Around 1835, William partnered with his brother Thomas Robinson, but after William’s death in 1836, Thomas took over alone .

In 1838, Thomas brought in his son (also Thomas), forming Thomas Robinson & Son and operating initially from Drake Street before relocating to larger premises on Water Street by 1846.

Innovating in Woodworking Machinery (1850s–1870s)
After the younger Thomas left in 1846, the business was taken over by John Robinson, who injected innovation and foresight 

Under his leadership, the firm relocated around 1854 to a new site on Fishwick Street near Rochdale railway station—now housing a sawmill, foundry, and fitting shop.

By 1861, the company employed ~250 men, rising to around 600 by 1871; John’s sons also joined, marking a generational continuation 

Diversification & Milling Technology (1860s–1900)
Initially focused on woodworking machinery—circular saws, planers, mortisers—the company exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1862 

Over time, they expanded into roller-milling equipment, fabricating entire milling plants, rolls, dryers, centrifugals, and grain-conditioning systems 

Awards and accolades followed: Paris (1889) and Antwerp (1894) expos earned gold medals and Grand Prix diplomas.

By 1894, their Fishwick Street works covered ~7 acres, employing ~1,200 staff 

Evolving Company Structure (1890–1930s)
Incorporated as a private limited company in 1890, then as a public limited company in 1893 

The younger generation—James Salkeld, Philip Henry, and Thomas Nield—took leadership roles; James died in 1892, and Thomas became chairman 

Catalogs from the early 1900s include both woodworking and flour milling machinery, with trade literature preserved in the Smithsonian archives 

Later Transformations (1980s–1990s)
In 1988, Thomas Robinson & Son merged with Henry Simon Ltd, forming Robinson Milling Systems 

This new entity was acquired by Satake in 1991 

Meanwhile, the broader Thomas Robinson Group (based in Rochdale) diversified into food, packaging, and woodworking machinery throughout the 1980s, before ultimately being sold in 1992 

Summary
Thomas Robinson & Son evolved from a timber-focused sawmill into a global innovator in woodworking and milling machinery, recognized domestically and internationally. Its legacy includes pioneering roller-milling machines, cross-generational leadership, and eventual integration into larger industrial conglomerates like Satake.