Introduced in 1972 at the Machine Tool International Exhibition at the Olympia Halls in London, the Models 2S and 3S and their other variants, were the last milling machines to be developed by Adcock & Shipley. Based in Leicester, Adcock & Shipley was founded in 1914 and concentrated at first on drilling machines including single-spindle bench and floor-standing belt and geared-head workshop and multi-spindle production and radial arm types.  By the 1930s a comprehensive range of horizontal and vertical milling machines had been developed, these being illustrated, together with a wide range of accessories and optional extras in catalogues of 100 and more pages. Some specialised items were also offered including lens grinding and glass-working machines, thread millers, internal thread and nut cutters, and the development of one-off items for a customer's special requirements.
Acquired by the American Bridgeport Company in 1968, a number of Adcock & Shipley machines for export were branded with that name - the British branch also manufacturing for several years the long-lived and very successful Bridgeport ram-head miller.