Wigan Album

Why was it, that such a robust firm, failed to exist? It seemed to have a good market base.

Albert; Using Google:-
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=132-ddypw&cid=0#0
Extract:-
"PARK WEBB LTD
This firm of forgemasters started as the Wigan Slitting Mill, founded by William Parks in 1787. There were a number of changes of name before the firm became William Park and Company in 1824. It merged with Joseph Webb and Sons Limited of Bury in 1968, becoming Park Webb Limited. As such it became a member of the Dobson Park Industries group in 1969 but was wound up in 1979, with John Folkes Hefo Limited of Stourbridge in the West Midlands taking over the outstanding orders.
The works were originally situated at School Common, Wigan, but were moved to Clarington Forge in 1889. Further expansion took place in 1944 with the purchase of the Ince Forge Company. With the company coming to an end in 1979, this site was taken over by Gullick Dobson, which is also part of the Dobson Park group.
The company has long been involved in the manufacture of edge tools and in 1930 it formed a separate company, English Tools Limited. Other edge tool companies were absorbed, for example, A. and F. Parkes of Birmingham (see D/DY PW/F2) and in 1979 the title of the company was changed to Bulldog Tools Limited, which continues to trade under the Dobson Park umbrella."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulldog_Tools
Extract:-
"Bulldog tools was founded by William & Henry Parkes, established in 1780 at the Clarington Forge site in Wigan. Bulldog Tools is one of the oldest businesses still existing in the Wigan area today, still producing products on the same factory site as originally intended. Today it is owned by the Rollins Group based in Harlow in Essex who acquired Bulldog Tools in 2004."

Thank you Ernest. A very detailed, and educational analysis, of the of the company's, history, and where it is today.

To cut a long story short (unlike Ernest) cheap rubbish from abroad like most other things.