Founded by Samuel Lees the company was inherited by his second son Asa Lees. He turned from exporting fustian power looms to manufacturing textile spinning machinery. The company thrived for a number of years however, during the recession of the Thirties various textile machinery companies merged to form the Textile Machinery Makers Limited. They continued to trade under their own name until 1970 when they became of one company called Platt UK Ltd.