This article by Simon Edwards was originally printed in Classic Motor Monthly Tim Payne, running a company with 85 years experience in the engine reconditioning business. Francis James Payne was an Oxford blacksmith who started a business in 1914 not too far from the premises of another Oxford resident, a Bill Morris, later to become Lord Nuffield. F.J. Payne concentrated firstly on repairing horse drawn coaches and then motor vehicles.   The business progressed as a motor vehicle repairer until the outbreak of the second world war, by which time Francis's son John had completed his engineering apprenticeship at the Oxford company of Allens, associated with Grove Cranes, famous for the Allen twin wheel powered grass scythe. It wasn't all harmony between father and son but young John, building up the business to a complete machining capability and a sound reputation for quality work, was able to influence a change of emphasis towards specialist engine reconditioning in all of its aspects, away from general while repairs. Post 1945, an urge to further diversify led John Payne and a friend Tony Morgan into the developing world of plastic moulding and the unique design and construction of John's first moulding machine in the mid fifties. With the sale of Payne and Morgan to a large multi-national, FJ Payne, recognised as innovators and market leaders in their field, continued to supply specialist moulding machines to the industry, until a point where standard production moulding machines became dominant. more