The textile industry was flourishing, especially narrow fabrics and ‘smallwares’ - ribbons, tapes, braids. Manchester was the country’s major producer of such wares and the number of manufacturers grew to more than 100. Thomas built up his extraordinary knowledge of narrow weaving as he worked for James Carr & Sons Ltd. Whilst he worked there, he invented a new method of making ladderweb, but over many years he finally became so frustrated by lack of acknowledgement of his invention that he broke away and set up in business on his own.

Thomas’s children George, Annie & Arthur became partners and joined the company. The following year at the age of 73, Thomas died, and George French became the new company head. George's contribution to the company set the pattern in the years ahead. He had a flair for practical invention which bordered on genius and the company developed a unique range of fabric and metal small wares such as, curtain tags, hooks and runway fittings. Later, even machine gun clips were added to the product range. Over the next 30 years, more than 100 patents were taken out by George French; many of them improvements for looms or narrow fabrics.

This tape came complete with drawcords and pockets for hooks. Even today, the same basic principles are used. A natural progression a few years later, was the launch of Rufflette curtain rail and hooks, which the company promoted by being one of the period's leading advertisers. The company’s first advertising agency was appointed in the 30’s and the Rufflette brand name began to achieve real prominence. By now, George French, working mainly behind the scenes, was responsible for new ideas and inventions and had been joined by his adventurous son Roger.

Just as gun belts had led to the original development of Rufflette tapes, so the engineering skills developed in progressing from woven gun belts to metal articulated belts leading to more improvements in the firm’s product range. Increasingly sophisticated curtain fittings, military equipment and an amazingly diverse range of products were now being made. As the demand for military equipment decreased and traditional markets vanished forever, new ones opened up. At home, public pressure for Do It Yourself products pushed sales of Rufflette products to an all-time high. Consumers showed that they wanted brand names they knew and when a leading UK store introduced its own ready-made curtains for the first time, they were to advertise them as having Rufflette tape headings.

Roger French died in 1969 just before his 65th birthday. He was succeeded as chairman by William Wood, who played an important part in the company’s fortunes for years. He too died, just before retirement in 1974 and control of the company passed to Thomas French’s great grandson, Jeremy, who became Chairman and Managing Director. The general running down of the company’s engineering production, the need to modernise weaving equipment and the unsuitability of the original site for modern production techniques finally brought about the closure and sale of the factory on Chester road.

In July 2001 an Austrian company Bandex Narrow Textile Ltd acquired Rufflette Ltd. Bandex has been manufacturing curtain tape since 1955 and the company has grown to be a major player in Europe and the world. The merger of Rufflette Ltd and Bandex enhanced both the companies' product ranges and resources, giving you, the customer, a wider choice of products that are readily available worldwide.