1833 - Joseph Whitworth rented rooms in Manchester and started making tools. 1834 - along with John Wilde, worked on a patent for a knitting machine. 1849 - a 'Bishopp's Disc Steam Engine' was used for driving two Applegarth's printing presses at The Times. 1860s - guns produced under the Whitworth name. 1874 - became Joseph Whitworth and Company Ltd.