J. H. Fenner and Co
of Chapel Lane, Hull.
of Marfleet, Hull. Telephone: 34606/7/8 (P.B.Ex.) Telegraphic Address: "Fenner, Hull"
1861 Company founded by Joseph Henry Fenner at 21½ Bishop Lane in Hull making straps. Subsequently, the company moved to Marfleet.
1886 Joseph Henry Fenner and his wife died; their eldest son Henry John Fenner was 21 and presumably took over running the leather belting business.
1891 Producer of Leather Belting for use in power transmission, lacing and hoses, including fire hoses.
1894 Antwerp Exhibition. Tanned hides and leather belting up to 24 inch. (Fenner and Company).
1895 Advert.
By 1901 Walter George Fenner was presumably running the business which manufactured leather belting and hoses.
1910 Henry Fenner died; his brother Walter presumably continued to run the business.
WWI : focused on domestic markets
1920s-30s Fenner made many technological developments including textiles used for belting which led to use as reinforcements for rubber products.
1930 Production of woven textile transmission belting
1933 Acquired Henry Cockill Ltd of Hull
1937 Public company incorporated.
1937 Manufacturers of transmission belting. "Antler" Stretchless Leather Belting. "Pyramid" Hair Belting. "Swift" Cotton Belting.
1937 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Patented "Z" Dressed Woven Beltings, First in the world to be impregnated pure rubber. "Rocide" Special Tannage and "Antler" Leather Transmission Beltings. "Fenner" complete "V" Drives. Technical Fabrics and Leathers. (Stand No. D.620)
WWII: Production of fire hose and military webbing; factory badly damaged.
1950 A tragic conveyor belt fire occurred at the Cresswell Colliery in which 80 miners died mainly from toxic fumes. In response, the National Coal Board asked Fenners, because of its expertise in reinforced polymers, to develop a fire resistant belt. That belt and its successor products became a world standard in underground coal mining.
1950s Fenners expanded worldwide establishing companies in Australia, South Africa and India.
1953 Private company.
1954 Name changed to J. H. Fenner and Co (Holdings)
1961 Power transmission engineers and makers of V-Belts and pulleys, complete V-Belt drives; taper-lock bushes, couplings, weld-on hubs, pulleys, sprockets and Fenner roller chain; torque-arm (shaft-mounted) speed reducers; Hainsworth variable speed pulleys and belts; flat beltings; flexible couplings; diamond range of Fenaplast conveyor beltings; anti-vibration mountings; ball and roller bearings. 1,500 employees.
By 1961 J. H. Fenner and Co (Overseas) handled business in several other countries (see advert)