Hobourn-F. N. F.
of Burton-on-Trent.
1935 Courtaulds took an interest in Morton Sundour Fabrics Ltd., with which it had been collaborating in the development of a new process through a jointly-owned private company.[1][2]
1935 Private company, presumably F. N. F. Machinery Manufacturing or F.N.F. Ltd
WWII Development was delayed by the war[3]
1944 A new warp knitting machine was released, based on extensive experiments carried out by the late Sir James Morton and perfected by F.N.F., Ltd., a company jointly operated by Courtaulds, Ltd., and Morton Sundour Fabrics, Ltd.[4]
1952 Courtaulds continued to re-equip its knitting plants with high speed F. N. F. machinery[5]
1956 "The early experimental machine was called the Flying Needle Frame from whence came the initial letters F.N.F. and the wings in the company's badge were symbolic of the high speed and ..."[6]
1958 Hobourn Aero Components acquired a substantial shareholding in F. N. F. Machinery Manufacturing from Courtaulds[7]
1960 Name changed, presumably to Hobourn-F. N. F.
1960 "Best year ever for F.N.F. The machine does, in fact, live up to the description, Flying Needle Frame, from which the company derives its name."[8]
1961 Manufacturers of F.N.F. warp knitting machines, warpers, and ancillary equipment. General precision engineering to the aircraft and motor trades, contractors to H.M. Government departments, manufacturers of special purpose machinery, dropper pinning machines, tow to top machines, and specialised manufacturers of tubular needles. 600 employees. [9]