 The firm was started as millwrights and implement manufacturers 'Burton & Proctor' by James Toyne Proctor and Theophilus Burton in Lincoln in 1840.Joseph Ruston became a partner in the company in 1857 by buying Burton's share and the company changed name to Ruston, Proctor & Co. and grew to become a major agricultural engineering firm.In 1865 Ruston became the sole proprietor and in 1899 the firm became a limited company with a workforce of over 1000.