David Bridge & Co was established in 1896, when David Bridge formed a partnership with his son Robert to manufacture Heywood & Bridge's patent friction clutch from their Gravel Ironworks site in Adelphi, Salford. David Bridge first set up in business in around 1891, operating as David Bridge, Engineer from the Salford site. On forming the partnership with his son, he handed over development of the company to Robert. Robert Bridge oversaw the introduction of the manufacture of other types of machinery, becoming known as engineers, millwrights and rubber machinists. In 1900, the company moved to Castleton Iron Works and Mayfield Iron Works, Castleton, Rochdale. From 1907, David Bridge & Co supplied machinery for the rubber plantation industry, and eventually manufactured all kinds of millwrights', hydraulic rubber, cable, and general engineering machinery. The company incorporated as David Bridge & Co Ltd in 1909. By 1922, its specialities included friction clutches and millgearing, rubber machinery for plantations and factories, hydraulic machinery, and high density horizontal baling presses. The company is known to have still been in existence in 1960, when it advertised its clutches in the Mechanical World Year Book.