Joseph Gleave started the company in 1833, trading as Wooden Plane Manufacturers and Dealers of Tools and Sheffield Cutlery.

Following the introduction of the metal based plane, Gleave diversified offering a diverse range of tools including joiner's tools and garden tools.

After the war Gleave participated in the Lend Lease programme set up by the USA for the UK and rest of Europe to replenish goods after the war.

Gleave diversified again and became manufacturers of the Longford Grinder. The Longford Grinder was one of the first motorised wetstone grinding machines

Gleave presented the Longford Grinder at educational exhibitions and began to build a reputation for high quality tools and machinery. Gleave supplied the grinder & a range of tools into the education sector

In 1966 Gleave made a strategic decision to expand the business and opened a warehouse at Longford Trading Estate. The extra capacity enabled Gleave to stock both hand and machine tools to meet increasing demands from industry.

Following the expansion Gleave wanted to develop a strong customer base in industrial sectors and so began to forge relationships with local companies such as Parkinson Cowan, ICI and British Aerospace.

After winning a national ICI contract Gleave started to target national organisations namely the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) and the Ministry of Defence and was successful winning a contract to supply the Royal Air force.

In 1975 Gleave moved to 995 Chester Road, Stretford; Manchester. This move enabled further expansion of the machine tools side of the business.

The Depression hit the UK in the 1980's determined to survive and prosper Gleave looked further a field and won tenders to provide industrial supplies to educational and vocational institutions in Middle East, Far East, Africa and the Caribbean.

In the Public Sector Gleave begins to supply all three Ministry of Defence services; Land Air & Sea with specific supplies of tools and other products

In the Private Sector businesses start to centralise purchasing operations and Gleave became one of the leading suppliers of industrial supplies a position it still holds today.

In 2000 Gleave was appointed Industrial Prime Vendor to the Ministry of Defence supplying a diverse range of tools abrasives, pneumatics electric tools, tapes and sealants.

Expansion continued and Gleave embarked on a major building programme to develop a new Head Office and purpose built Distribution Centre which was completed in May 2003.

Today Gleave employs over 70 people, supplying a wide range of sectors including telecommunications, utilities and defence.