Peradon, a billiards cue manufacturer, was founded in 1885 by Leopold George Peradon. Leopold started by making hand-spliced cues and later introduced machine spliced cues. His two sons joined the business and worked in France to gain further experience before returning to the UK. In the early 20th century, the first cue lathe was invented, increasing output. A second factory was opened in France but was shut down during World War I. During the war, Peradon made sticks for signaling flags for the Ministry of Munitions. In the 1930s, the demand for billiard cues increased and Peradon began exporting. The business acquired three other cue-making companies and became the only surviving manufacturer of billiard cues in the British Commonwealth. In 1966, the company was moved to Andover, Hampshire. In 1976, Peradon merged with E.L. Fletcher & Son, which had been manufacturing special wafers for fixing leather tips since 1920.