British Northrop 001

Early Northrop automatic loom. Although this loom was much more expensive than the Lancashire Loom, the days of the 'Four Loom Weaver' are now numbered.rnThe British Northrop Loom Company was formed in 1902 to sell the automatic loom, under licence from the American Draper Corporation. Shortly afterwards, the Company began the manufacture of a modified version and moved to a site on what became Philips Road. For decades the Company thrived, but inevitable competition took its toll and, despite attempts to diversify, the business slowly declined and production ceased in the late 1970s. A fire in 1982 destroyed the lower building.