Thomas Ratcliffe and Co
Blanket and cloth Manufacturers, of Moderna Mills, Mytholmroyd, near Halifax, Yorks. Telephone: Mytholmroyd 175. Cables: "Moderna"
1872 Business founded by Thomas Ratcliffe.[1]
1916 Incorporated as a private company
1947 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of "Moderna" Lambswool Blankets, guaranteed 5 years Mothproof, Fadeless, Unshrinkable, Odourless. Coloured, White or Bordered. Retail and Export only. High-class Woollen and Mixture Cloths for women's and children's outerwear. Makers-up only. (Earls Court, Ground Floor, Stand No.266) [2]
1951 Public company incorporated
c.1968 Name changed to Moderna Moderna Ltd.[3]
1969 Introduced Warp Knitting machines.[4]
1970 Introduced Continental down-filled quilt.[5]
1972 Acquired Smith's Blankets (Witney) Ltd from Bodycote.[6]
1973 Name changed to Moderna (Witney);[7] Smiths Blankets returned to profit.[8]
1974 Changed from wool to acrylic fibre. Went into loss.[9] Agreed bid by Bond Worth Holdings.[10]
1976 Acquired by Sona Consultants who planned to close the old mill at Mytholmroyd and use another building to house modern and reconditioned production equipment[11] but were unable to gain the funds they needed.