Thomas Mitchell and Sons
Thomas Mitchell and Sons Ltd of Edgar Street, Bolton (1838 - 2007), were engineers and machinery merchants of Edgar Street, Bolton.
Established 1838 and continued down through four generations, but due to the changing scene in engineering the family business went into members voluntary liquidation in October 2007.
Engineers and machinery merchants especially selling reconditioned machinery, but latterly had a franchise for pumps and smaller items when the demand for reconditioned items diminished.
In the early 1920's Charles Y. Mitchell and his eldest son Charles A. Mitchell ran the business till the father died in 1927; then his son ran it alone. Some years later, Charles' brother Kenneth joined the business, and later Kenneth's son Philip.
Much of the business had been in the cotton industry - supplying new or reconditioned parts to the mills, and carrying out repairs on site as required in order to keep the mills running, and also trading abroad. In-house engineers worked in the machine shop, the mills and electrical shop.
Because of the size of some items, huge Lancashire boilers were kept on a site near Burnden Park where there was access to the railway for easy transportation. Due to the decline in the cotton industry, together with the market for reconditioned machinery almost ceasing and no young family members wanting to continue or diversify the business, the company went into Members Voluntary Liquidation in October 2007.