H.H. Napier had no training in carpentry, but in 1965 he began a wood-turning business called Glenfield Industries in Takapuna on Auckland's North Shore. Two years later he said he had made more than 400 wheels and was beginning to export them to the United States. His upright wheel cost 27 pounds 10 shillings, and a saxony style was two pounds cheaper.
In a trade directory dated 1968-69 he advertised Glenfield Industries as "Manufacturers of looms, upright spinning wheels, potters wheels and quality turnings. The most modern antiques available." Had he perhaps stopped making the saxony style by then, finding it less popular and harder to export? His business may to have closed by 1970 as there are no entries for Glenfield Industries in directories after 1969.
The identification of wheels as being by Napier is based almost entirely on the photograph at right and its accompanying article. No wheels bearing his name are known. However, the one pictured at left which is precisely the same (apart from the crude replacement front maiden) bears the remains of a gummed paper label which reads 'Airest "Mayflower" Colonial Selection'. It is securely dated to 1971 or most likely earlier. An upright wheel that is surely a Napier was apparently labelled 'Airest Mayflower by Glenfield Industries' so it seems likely that the missing corner of this wheel's label would have borne the words Glenfield Industries also.
Airest Industries Ltd 'Manufacturers of "Mayflower" Colonial Furniture' (and several other lines) appear in Auckland directories from 1962 to at least 1977. Was Airest marketing Mr Napier's wheels among their other products? Was he making them under contract to Airest?
