The firm was founded by John James Hardy in 1856 at Bond St. Hartlepool. The company prospered and moved to Throston Bridge in the 1880s. W.H. Hardy (Billy) took over as M.D. on his fathers death and continued in that position until 1937 when he sold the company to T.H. Pailor.

Ald. T.H. Pailor bought the company, limited liability since 1929, and ran it until his death in 1963.

His widow, Marion Isobel Pailor, was M.D. until 1967 when his son, Tom Pailor, took over on her death.

Tom supervised the move to Brenda Road and the company’s transition from brassfounders and finishers to CNC machinists and railways parts suppliers. On his retirement in 2002, his son Andrew Pailor became M.D. – only the sixth person to hold this position in 150 years.

(courtesy of J.J. Hardy's website)

This photograph is of  Vincent Hardy  son of John James hardy appearing  with either an unknown friend or relative. Born 1870 in Hartlepool, he  joined the Royal Navy in 1886 but was bought out of the service before the end of his twelve year enlistment.

Vincent separated from his first wife and started a new family with Annie Foster.

This photograph is  of Vincent Hardy with his second wife Annie Foster . Their sons  Vincent Jnr  and Tommy appear alongside their sister  Minnie.

This photograph is taken in the USA and is of  Vincent Hardy Jnr and Tommy Hardy.Vincent was born in 1899  and Tommy was born 1902.They had a sister Minnie born around 1906 before they emigrated to Cleveland Ohio where another daughter was born in 1908. Vincent Jnr died in San Diego California in 1973.