BTR originates in 1924, when the B.F.Goodrich Company of the USA formed a UK subsidiary British Goodrich Rubber Co. Ltd. In 1934 Goodrich sold most of its shares in the company, which changed its name to the British Tyre & Rubber Co. Ltd. In 1956 the company changed its name to BTR Limited, when it ceased production of tyres. During the 1960s and 70s BTR underwent reorganisation and acquired and merged with many companies including Permali, Allied Polymer Group and Worcester Controls. By 1982 BTR had acquired a large number of companies in the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Germany. In 1985 BTR acquired Dunlop Aviation Division from Dunlop Rubber Co to form BTR Aerospace Group. In 1999, BTR merged with Siebe, becoming BTR Siebe. The name was later changed to Invensys.

James Lyne Hancock Limited were manufacturers of Vulcanized India Rubber goods, at 266 Goswell Road, London, EC. The company was established by Thomas Hancock in 1821. Between 1842-5 1842/5 the company was re-established when Thomas Hancock's part of the business was split from Charles Macintosh and Co and sold to his nephew, James Lyne Hancock, whilst Thomas remained a director of Charles Macintosh and Co. In the 1870s, JLH made his first round rubber-tyre for the Ariel bicycle of Haynes and Jefferis; this used soft spongy rubber on the underside and toughened rubber on the tread, an idea which has been copied in the tyre trade ever since, even with pneumatic tyres. The factory continued in production until 1939, having been taken over by the British Tyre and Rubber Co Ltd.