Richard Johnson, Clapham and Morris Ltd was formed in around 1872 when the iron merchant William Clapham joined Richard Johnson and Morris as a partner. The company's manufacturing interests included reinforced bricks and the clothing of steel-framed and reinforced concrete buildings, and also manufactured wire netting, paper machine wires and miners' safety lamps.

The company initially had premises in Dale Street, Manchester, before moving to Lever Street, Manchester, where the head office and warehouse was located. There were also wire merchants' premises in Stanley Street, Liverpool, and from around 1912, the works was located in Newton Heath, Manchester.

The company became a public limited company in 1891.

By 1914, the business was listed in directories as general hardware, iron and metal merchants. Manufacturing specialities included galvanized wire netting, wire work, wire drawers, brass foundry, high-tension bronzes, safety lamps for miners, woven wire of all kinds, wire, reinforcements for concrete and bricks, tinplates, sheet iron, galvanized corrugated iron, tinned sheets, sheet zinc, copper, spelter, tin lead, hardware and hollow ware.

The company was still in existence in 1961, as metal, electrical and hardware manufacturers and factors employing 560 people.