After being in partnership with A G Thornton from 1878 at 8 Albert Square, Manchester, Joseph Halden set up his own firm at the same address when Thornton left. The firm were important manufacturers of both drawing and surveying instruments and had works at various addresses around Manchester with branches in many other cities. They were taken over by the Ozalid group in 1969.
Round pattern set, probably dating from before the First World War. The instruments are of the pattern patented by Riefler and would probably have been imported from Germany.