A brief note on our very long history as an industry leader
Thomas Damby Cross
Thomas Damby Cross founded his first workshop in Lozells, Birmingham in1870 specialising in supplying the gun trade with high precision parts
1893 production moved to a 3-storey factory. Introduction of bicycle components which included headsets, chainwheels, 5 speed gear blocks and freewheels, the latter are still manufactured to this day.
T D Cross developed into production of a popular range of roller chain sprockets and gearing. The competitive pricing and quality of product soon established the company as a major supplier to both Agricultural and Industrial markets.
1914-15 TDC produced motorcycles. The company was already well known for their production of transmission components, described above. For a short period of time they made machines with 3.5hp own-brand and Precision four-stroke engines.
In 1915 they produced a two-stroke engine to their own design. All were sold under the TDC brand name and were mounted in machine known as the Cyclone was of conventional appearance with an attractive style.
Founded in 1893
The Morse Chain Company was founded in 1893 also for the manufacture of bicycles in Pennsylvania, USA. The company moved into production of inverted tooth chain drives.
Established a manufacturing plant in London in 1907, moving to the new Garden City of Letchworth, Hertfordshire, in 1918. The product range in the UK was developed to include Roller Chain and Sprockets, Couplings, Torque Limiters, Sprag Clutches and Timing Belt Drives, whilst in the USA by acquisition Morse also included the Denver Gearbox range and the Sealmaster Bearing products.
In 1929 Morse Chain became a member of the Borg-Warner Corporation.
1982 Borg-Warner sold its Morse chain business to Morse Flexon, including the plants at Letchworth and Stotfold.
1924 TD Cross
1924 TD Cross became a private Limited Company.
In the1950’s the fourth generation of the Cross family moved the Company to a purpose built factory on a green field site seven miles from the centre of Birmingham and developed into production of a popular range of roller chain sprockets and gearing while still providing components to the bicycle industry. The competitive pricing and quality of product soon established the company as a major supplier to both Agricultural and Industrial markets.
All products were being sold worldwide via a network of agents.
Great Barr Factory
The Cross family were still heavily involved with the business until 1982.
Cross+Morse was established in 1984 through the amalgamation of two long standing and well respected companies in the Power Transmission Industry, T D Cross and Morse Chain.
In 1987 Cross+Morse closed the Letchworth plant and centralised all production at the 10,000 sq metre factory in Great Barr, Birmingham where current production of Roller Chains, Sprockets, Gears, Timing Belt Pulleys, Torque Limiters, Sprag Clutches and other specialised power transmission equipment is undertaken.
In 1996 the Company was bought out by its management team, and rapidly began expanding its manufacturing capability, particularly in the field of special and adapted standard products.
The current Directors David Shadbolt and Mike Scudamore took over the running of the business in 2005 via a management buyout to ensure that Cross+Morse maintains to this day its strong reputation as a provider of complete mechanical Power Transmission Solutions from the heart of England to the world.