Dobson Park Industries
1969 William Park and Co (Forgemaster) was merged with Dobson Hardwick, both of whom were substantial makers of roof props for underground mines; the new company Dobson Park Industries would be owned 50:50 by the 2 constituent companies[1]
1969 Formed new subsidiary Gullick Dobson as a major supplier of powered props and other mining equipment[2]
1973 Acquired Powell and Co, of St Helens, makers of waste paper handling machinery, and Markon Engineering, of Oakham, makers of alternators and generators[3]
1974 Acquired Powerlite Group of New South Wales[4]
1975 Had 60 percent of the NCB's business for powered roof supports, which accounted for 60 percent of the NCB's capital spend underground[5]
1983 Fletcher Sutcliffe Wild was sold by Booker to Dobson Park Industries[6]
Diversified into toys
1993 Longwall International was formed by merging the mining equipment interests of the Dobson Park Group with Meco International[7]. Also sold the power tools business, leaving the operations of Dobson Park only half as large as they were in 1991[8]
1995 Acquired by US company Harnischfeger Industries which wanted to merge the company with its Joy Manufacturing subsidiary which made mining equipment[9]