Originally a wholesale harness and hardware business. During WWII they made grenades. A manufacturer of bicycles and lamps.
In 1956 Ken F Major bought out the canvas goods manufacturing operations of the company.
Colton, Palmer & Preston were taken over by George Wills and Sons Holdings Ltd on 1st January 1965.
Born in 1817, John Colton emigrated to South Australia in 1839. At the age of 25 the Savings Bank of South Australia advanced him £500 [pds], £250 more than their original offer, to buy two acres of land, a seven-roomed stone house, cottage and stables.
He had started his hardware and saddlery business, Colton & Company, in 1842.
Following its success he was appointed Commissioner for Public Works in 1868, made a trustee of the bank's board in 1875, and served in several governments before leading his own ministry from 6th June 1876 to 26th October 1877. He served in opposition in 1880. He again took over as Premier on 16th June 1884 until 16th June 1885, when he introduced tax reforms. He was knighted in 1892 and died in Adelaide in 1902.
A charitable parliamentarian, he was a responsible for passing a Young Person's Protection Bill and his strong social conscience and religious convictions were shared by his wife, Mary.
She was President of the Women's Suffrage League after 1892, her popularity helped make women's suffrage more widely acceptable. Promoting social reforms, she helped found the Adelaide's Children's Hospital and the origins of the Young Women's Christian Association.
Roy Palmer attended East Adelaide School, later becoming Managing Director of Colton, Palmer & Preston.