William Reginald Ridings was born in Chorlton-upon-Medlock in 1871. A prolific inventor of electrical and mechanical components for electric arc lamps, motor cars and other devices, Ridings established a number of companies to capitalise on his inventions. One of his earliest companies was the Ridings Arc Lamp Co Ltd, based in Liverpool. He also owned a motor car repair service and dealership which operated from various premises in Hulme, Manchester.

Ridings worked for The British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co Ltd for a few years prior 1913, where he worked on improvements to the Bremer arc lamp. In 1913, British Westinghouse granted Ridings a licence to manufacture the Bremer arc lamp.