Textile Machinery Makers Ltd was registered in 1931 when Platt Brothers provided the office space and Bullough became chairman of a cartel of British textile machine manufacturing companies. They faced a problem of massive overcapacity. They chose to maintain prices, close four of their sites and to acquire control of their competitors. This was achieved by 1938. In 1933, Platts bought a controlling share of Tweedales and Smalley, putting three if its directors onto the Tweedales board, markets were then amicable divided. Next Taylor, Lang & Co Ltd. of Stalybridge was acquired.
[3]
The capital of the member firms was reduced by 81%.
There was an attempt to unify the design of the machines of member companies, particularly the ring frames of Platts and Howard & Bullough. No attempt was made to diversify into different sectors.[3]
_-_no_key.png){kind=small}