1835-1933, boilermaker and engineer, Manchester. Engineering firm Galloway, Bowman and Glasgow was established in Lancashire in 1790 by William Galloway. The business had an iron foundry, and also manufactured mill wheels. In 1836, following the death of William Galloway, his sons William and John Galloway left the company and established their own firm, W. and J. Galloway at Knott Mill Ironworks. The company became W. and J. Galloway and sons in 1856, and became a private company, Galloways Ltd in 1889. In 1899 Galloways became a private limited company. The business became one of the leading suppliers of steam boilers to mills and factories in the Manchester area, but the firm manufactured a range of other metal goods. These included rivets, screw jacks, pipes, axels and wagons for railways and planing machinery. In 1848 the company patented their double-fire flue boiler, known as the Galloway Boiler. This would become the firm's best-known product. By the 1850s and 1860s the firm had a diverse international business. This included the supply of gunpowder mills and steam engines to powder mills in Constantinople, steam engines and gearings for Russian cotton mills around St. Petersburg area, and machinery for Indian-based cotton mills. The company was also engaged in civil engineering projects, notably building a viaduct for the Ulverston and Lancaster Railway in 1855-1857 and Southport Pier in 1859-1860. In 1856 Charles and John Galloway, became partners in the family business. Charles would become its Chairman in 1889. At its peak, Galloways employed more than 1,000 people. Galloways ceased trading and went into receivership in 1932. The firm's records, drawings and patterns were purchased by Hick, Hargreaves & Co. of Bolton in 1933.

Yates & Thom of Blackburn was established in 1890 as a manufacturer of engines for mills, collieries and waterworks. The company was a partnership between William Yates and William Thom. Yates had set up his original business, William Yates (of Blackburn) at Canal Foundry, Blackburn, in 1826. He was joined in partnership by John Yates in around 1848, and the company name changed to W and J Yates. At some point, John Yates left the partnership, and Frederick Yates and Sydney Robert Yates joined. William Thom became a partner in around 1878. W and J Yates was dissolved in 1890 and William Yates continued in business with William Thom under the new company name Yates & Thom. Around 1901, Yates & Thom supplied six twin cylinder vertical engines driving 1500 kW alternators to Stuart Street Power Station, Manchester. The company also supplied compound engines, Lancashire boilers and winding engines. In 1928, Yates & Thom Ltd was acquired by Joseph Foster & Sons. The company became known as Foster, Yates & Thom.

The engineering company John and Edward Wood, sometimes J and E Wood, was an engineering company based at Victoria Foundry, Bolton. Brothers John and Edward Wood took over the running of predecessor company Knight and Wood in the 1860s, changing the company name. The company manufactured stationary steam engines, supplied to mills around the north west of England, and later also produced mill gearing and superheaters. The company closed in 1912.

Henry Pilling (MBE) was born in Bolton, 1867, the son of William Pilling, millwright. He was apprenticed to John Musgrave and Sons Ltd, Bolton and went to work for the National Boiler and General Insurance Co Ltd, Manchester. He worked for a short period with the Blackburn firm of Yates and Thom Ltd before he was appointed General Manager of Galloways Ltd. Whilst at Galloways, as well as being involved with the design and production of engines, he was also involved with various professional bodies. In 1916 he became a member of the executive committee of the Manchester and District Engineering Employers’ Federation before becoming President in 1928. He was also elected President of the Manchester Association of Engineers, 1920-1921, and was awarded an M.B.E.. He died in 1931.