W B Lake began in the bicycle business in 1892 and was shortly joined by E F Elliott. They ran their business from the Albion Works in Rayne Road, Braintree, making cycle tools and accessories. They expanded from a few men to over a hundred in the space of fifteen years or so moving into castings with their own foundry. They continued to expand during the First World War, supplying parts to various government departments. The business continued through the Second World War when they made components for tanks, warships and other military vehicles. With the coming of North Sea oil they supplied parts for oil rigs, but then they were taken over and closed. They made a few locomotives.