Founded in 1927 by Sicilian immigrant Peter Mule (changed to Mole), who previously worked for General Electric. The company invented the Fresnel Solar Spot unit in 1935 and manufactured searchlights during the Second World War. The company is now a stage lighting instrument and motion picture lighting manufacturer still based in California and their lighting is considered a staple of motion picture and television lighting in the movie industry.

They opened a factory in England in 1936, named Mole-Richardson (England) Limited.