Founded in 1865 - and a maker of various machine tools including lathes, forging machines, large and smaller multi-function types and piston-ring grinders - Thomas Ryder & Son Ltd was based in Bolton, England. Probably designed during WW2 for the mass production of small parts for the automotive and similar industries, the Verticalauto was, in effect, a vertical lathe equipped with multiple spindles. The machine could be arranged for consecutive operations including turning, boring, facing, multi-drilling, tapping, and milling which, on the largest model enabled work just short of 10 inches in diameter to be machined.
As a further time-saver, automatic loading can be fitted to all models and, in addition, the larger types could be modified to become, in effect, transfer machines where a job passed through a number of machining stages without the need for manual unloading and loading.
Three models were offered, the No.6, No.8 and No.10. The two smaller versions each mounted six spindles and had maximum swings of, respectively, 10.75" and 14.75". Both were large machines: the No. 6 weighed 6.75 tons and was driven by a 15 h.p. motor; the No.8 was almost twice the weight at 12.5 tons and required a 25 h.p. motor. The largest model, the No.10,  could be ordered with six, eight or 10 spindles and was of truly massive proportions and enormous power. With a maximum swing of close to 20 inches when fitted with 6 spindles, it weighed 27.5 tons and was driven by a 60 h.p. motor.
The full specification of all models can be found below.