Vickers-Armstrongs (Aviation) Ltd emerged from the reorganisation of Vickers (Aviation) Ltd and Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers) Ltd in 1938. Within the new company, both the Vickers works and the Supermarine works continued to brand their products under their original names. The parent company, Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd, was formed by the merger of Vickers Limited and Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Company in 1927. Vickers Limited had established its Aviation Department in 1911. In 1928, the Aviation Department was reconstituted as Vickers (Aviation) Limited. Around the same time, Vickers (Aviation) Limited acquired the Supermarine Aviation Works, which built the Spitfire fighter plane, renaming them the Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers) Ltd. In 1960 Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd was one of the companies involved in the formation of British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) formed as a result of the merger of Vickers-Armstrong (Aviation) Ltd, Bristol Aviation, English Electric and Hunting. The Vickers brand name was eventually dropped by BAC in 1965.

Stewart Bale Ltd was a family business specialising in industrial and commercial photography from c1911 to c1980. The company was based in Liverpool, with an additional London office operating between 1949 and 1970. The photographers had particular strengths in capturing architecture, shipping, shops, industry, and transport. Herbert Stewart Bale founded the company in 1911, originally as an advertising and printing business. He realised that there was a demand for high quality images in the Liverpool area, and brought in his photographer son Edward Stewart Bale to help meet it. Edward had an excellent reputation as a photographer and ensured the company's success. Many of the company's negatives are today in the collections of National Museums Liverpool.