Lancaster & Tonge was a maker of stationary engines. The business began in 1879 when Henry Lancaster and Richard Christmas Fletcher Tonge, Engineer of Manchester went into partnership in Pendelton, employing four hands. Following the death of Henry Lancaster, Richard CF Tonge, Richard Tonge of Manchester, a Merchant; Joseph Butterworth, Engineer of Lancaster works, Manager; and Harry Entwisle, Cashier of the Lancaster works; Richard Brutton, Chartered Accountant; Frederick Swallow, Merchant of Glasgow formed the limited company of Lancaster and Tonge Ltd on the 16 September 1895. In the 1890s the company listed its specialist products as “Lancaster” Steam Traps, “Lancaster” Spiral Spring Pistons, “Lancaster” Serpent Coil, “Lancaster” Vibration and Sight-Feed Lubricators, “Lancaster” Malleable Iron Union, “Lancaster” Adjustable Bearings, and “Lancaster” Condenser and Feed-Water Heater.' The company boasted of paying its one hundred employees well and of being an early adopter of the 53 hour working week. The company continued to trade as Lancaster and Tonge Ltd with a change of name to Molehill Investment Co Ltd in November 1970. Lancaster & Tonge entered voluntary liquidation in 2021 and the company was formally dissolved in 2022.