Question ---- I’ve no doubt that both carriers came into contact with each other in the Manchester area so which was considered the better carrier ----Ripponden or Bridges ( It’s best by road and better by Bridges ! 
) As I remember Bridges were a regular sight in the Kendal and Furness areas in the heyday of the carriers and IIRC the Barrow in Furness van or vans collected their van Lads in Ulverston each morning for a busy day in the Borough which I suppose made sense as the mate would probably know his way around the area rather than bring a lad from Preston but then again Harold Bridges was a canny operator so he wouldn’t reckon to pay a mate , sat on his arse, all the way from Preston to Barrow and back when he could pay a local for half the hours ! Tight Wad ! 
Cheers Bewick.