The Allen & Hanburys Ltd., is a distinguished pharmaceutical, baby food and medical devices company. It was founded in 1715 by Silvanus Bevan, a Welsh apothecary and Quaker, as Plough Court Pharmacy at Plough Court, Lombard Street, London. Later Allen and Hanbury families expanded its operations and in the beginning of 20th century it was leading manufacturer of infant foods, malt preparations, and medicated pastilles. Later it focused on research, analytical control, and the production of galenical preparations, pills, tablets, and surgical instruments, including stainless steel operating tables and baby scales. In 1958, Allen & Hanburys was acquired by Glaxo Laboratories Ltd., which later became part of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The Allen & Hanburys name continued as GSK's specialist respiratory division until it was phased out in 2013.

The company Hawksley and Sons was founded in 1869 by Charles Hawksley, in Oxford Street London. The talented founder invented Haemocytometer of his own design. The firm became was one of the of the founding members of the British Surgical Trade Association (today BHTA). It was focused on the Blood counting chambers, and early Blood Pressure devices. William Baum took over the company in 1916. In the post-war years the firm started to produce centrifuges.