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 taken in 1982 is of Josephine Navy Hardy and Eva Fraser(nee Carling) both sister were widowed when this photograph was taken in 1982.

For most of her married life Eva lived in Raby Gardens and died in 2001 in Seaton Carew.

This photograph is of Josephine Navy Hardy (nee Carling) and her sister Eve harriet Carling.

Both sisters worked in Hartlepool Laundry where Eve met her husband Edward Fraser.

In this photograph of 1929 Josephine is with her husband Adam Scott Hardy.

Eve is the second from the right.

This photograph is of Josephine when she was May Queen, possibly Hartlepool Carnival  after WW1?

In this photograph  is  a young Josephine Navy Hardy( named Carling )when born  in 1907, 

This is Josephine Navy Hardy's (born Carling 1907-1991) passport photograph , taken in 1952.