J Halden & Co Manchester and London

Joseph Halden and Co was an important Manchester firm of drawing and surveying instrument makers.
In the early 1870's Halden worked a s a stationer in Liverpool prior to starting partnership with A G Thornton in 1878. The business was a wholesale drawing material import venture at 8 Albert Square in Manchester.
However a rift developed between the two men and after a couple of years Thornton moved to his own premises on Deansgate.
In 1907 Halden became a Limited Company and continued to expand until it was taken over by the Ozalid Group in 1969.

The maker's label shows that this instrument was made April 3, 1903 and it is in pristine condition.

The last photo shows the workers at the Halden premises at the end of the 19th century. Some of these workers probably manufactured this level