Around 1825, Thomas Oliver, a member of a well known Bedfordshire farming family started a farm contracting business.  His son James carried on the business from Park Street in Luton, contracting men and steam engines to carry out threshing and ploughing.

It was his son, Archibald Thomas Oliver, who once at the helm decided to acquire even larger premises. These he found at Wandon End, east of Luton in 1875, and it is here that the family company known as A.T. Oliver & Sons Ltd can be found today.

During its growth, the firm has taken on many agencies for British, American and German manufacturers. From 1946 onwards the volume of sales gradually increased, particularly when the quality of both design and materials was greatly improved. 

This has ultimately enabled new branches of the firm to be opened and the labour force increased.