Fafnir Bearings Ltd, Wolverhampton
- Ref No: D-EXP/P/I33/10
- Repository: Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies
- Date: 28 Sep 1979
- Artist: Bagnall; David (fl. 1972 - 1994)
- Additional Information: Tony Hampton on a numerical control lathe.
- Admin History: The Fischer Bearings Co. Ltd. (originally a subsidiary of Kugelfischer AG), came to Wolverhampton in 1936 when it was acquired by Mr. Frank Farrer of Villiers Engineering Ltd. The company occupied most of the old Sunbeam factory in Upper Villiers and Sunbeam Street, Blakenhall, as Sunbeam had just ceased production in that part of the building. Between the factory in Blakenhall (better known as the "FBC"), and the shadow factory in Hednesford, they were responsible for a considerable proportion of Britain's ball bearing manufacture during the early war years, including bearings for the Spitfire aircraft, the first fighter jet, the Gloster Meteor, and the world's first 1000-mile-an-hour aircraft, the Fairey Delta. In May, 1940, it was taken into custody as an enemy property, and quickly sold to the experienced bearing makers the British Tunken Group (a subsidiary of the U. S. based Timken Roller Bearing Company). In 1959, they were acquired by another U. S. company, Fafnir Bearings Company, and changed their name to Fafnir Bearings Ltd. (they were founded in 1911, in response to the increasing demands for ball bearings from the newly emerging motor car industry, and at that time were the largest independent American bearing firm). In 1963, due to increased production, the company expanded into Northern Ireland by building a new factory there. In 1967, the company merged with Textron Incorporated of Providence, Rhode Island, creating roughly four divisions of manufacture: aerospace, consumer products (e.g. zips and fasteners), industrial and metal products. Due to fierce competition from abroad however, the branch in Hednesford was forced to close. The Wolverhampton plant still houses what is now Timken UK Ltd.
- Extent: 1 item
- Level: Item
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- Access Status: Open
- For more information contact: Wolverhampton Archives
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