Founded in 1888 by Edgar Pickard and John Edward Thornton in Manchester but moved to Altricham, Cheshire in 1891. The company became limited in January 1897, after which Pickard died and Thornton left the company. In 1921 the company merged with others to form Amalgamated Photographic Manufacturers. The company went into liquidation in 1939, though the name continued to be used until around 1959, although they continued repairing cameras for a short time after this date.