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MFI 70s furniture

Arsenetatters
Arsenetatters Posts: 5,979
in Not Sports Related
What was the name of the cheap, white, modular flat packed stuff that MFI made in the 70s? 
Been trying to think of the name for the last couple of days and it’s driving me mad.
Have asked friends but so far ‘Formica’, g-plan, f-plan are the suggestions but don’t sound right. I’m sure it began with an M.
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Comments

  • stockportugaladdick
    stockportugaladdick Posts: 1,141
    Hygena?
  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,979
    stockportaddick said:
    Hygena?
    I remember the name but I think it was a make of furniture that MFI sold rather than their own brand.
  • Raith_C_Chattonell
    Raith_C_Chattonell Posts: 5,693
    Conti board, melamine? 
  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,618
    Schrieber?
  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,979
    DaveMehmet said:
    Schrieber?
    I think they were the ‘posh end’ furniture that did bedrooms?
  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,979
    Raith_C_Chattonell said:
    Conti board, melamine? 
    Doesn’t ring a bell
    this could drive me mad!
  • Hal1x
    Hal1x Posts: 4,265
    edited October 2024
    Nigel?

    The Nigels are mostly white, tacky and fake, and also available in lurid colours.
  • fenaddick
    fenaddick Posts: 11,354
    Can’t help other than to rule out G-Plan furniture which is lovely stuff that definitely isn’t cheap!
  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,979
    Raith_C_Chattonell said:
    Conti board, melamine? 
    Mr Tatters thinks melamine is possible
  • MrOneLung
    MrOneLung Posts: 26,884
    From wiki

    Its products were mainly targeted to value oriented customers with the "Hygena" brand, and those on a higher income with the "Schreiber" brand. MFI was also one of the largest suppliers of installed appliances in the United Kingdom with its own brand "Diplomat". In the early 1990s it also introduced the "Pronto" brand for its budget self assembly furniture which was aimed directly at IKEA.

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  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,979
    MrOneLung said:
    From wiki

    Its products were mainly targeted to value oriented customers with the "Hygena" brand, and those on a higher income with the "Schreiber" brand. MFI was also one of the largest suppliers of installed appliances in the United Kingdom with its own brand "Diplomat". In the early 1990s it also introduced the "Pronto" brand for its budget self assembly furniture which was aimed directly at IKEA.
    Thank you! Hygena it is then. It still doesn’t sound quite right to me so I’m wondering if I’m trying to remember a name my Dad used instead of the actual one. 
  • Baldybonce
    Baldybonce Posts: 9,660
    True story time,

    Many years ago my brother and myself went to clean the carpets of a lady's flat in Beckenham. As we moved a chest of MFI drawers in the bedroom the bottom drawer collapsed (as they did) .  It was the lady's 'Toy' drawer.
    We did the carpet, moved the chest of drawers back and balanced the bottom drawer back in place. We did laugh.
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,054
    The Hyena brand was laughable. 
  • PopIcon
    PopIcon Posts: 5,970
    Baldybonce said:
    True story time,

    Many years ago my brother and myself went to clean the carpets of a lady's flat in Beckenham. As we moved a chest of MFI drawers in the bedroom the bottom drawer collapsed (as they did) .  It was the lady's 'Toy' drawer.
    We did the carpet, moved the chest of drawers back and balanced the bottom drawer back in place. We did laugh.
    Was it full of Cabbage Patch Dolls or was she more into My Little Pony?
  • Baldybonce
    Baldybonce Posts: 9,660
    PopIcon said:
    Baldybonce said:
    True story time,

    Many years ago my brother and myself went to clean the carpets of a lady's flat in Beckenham. As we moved a chest of MFI drawers in the bedroom the bottom drawer collapsed (as they did) .  It was the lady's 'Toy' drawer.
    We did the carpet, moved the chest of drawers back and balanced the bottom drawer back in place. We did laugh.
    Was it full of Cabbage Patch Dolls or was she more into My Little Pony?
    More stallion than pony.
  • Bedsaddick
    Bedsaddick Posts: 24,769
    As stand up comedian Mike Reid once said “MFI stands for Made for Fucking Idiots . “
  • Raith_C_Chattonell
    Raith_C_Chattonell Posts: 5,693
    I think it was also known as suppository furniture - cos you put it up yourself.



    .... here all week  :)
  • blackpool72
    blackpool72 Posts: 23,704
    Arsenetatters said:
    MrOneLung said:
    From wiki

    Its products were mainly targeted to value oriented customers with the "Hygena" brand, and those on a higher income with the "Schreiber" brand. MFI was also one of the largest suppliers of installed appliances in the United Kingdom with its own brand "Diplomat". In the early 1990s it also introduced the "Pronto" brand for its budget self assembly furniture which was aimed directly at IKEA.
    Thank you! Hygena it is then. It still doesn’t sound quite right to me so I’m wondering if I’m trying to remember a name my Dad used instead of the actual one. 
    When putting their flat packs together there was plenty of names I called them.
    Just about every job I done using their shite had bits missing or damaged. 
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,345
    edited October 2024
    Arsenetatters said:
    What was the name of the cheap, white, modular flat packed stuff that MFI made in the 70s? 
    Been trying to think of the name for the last couple of days and it’s driving me mad.
    Have asked friends but so far ‘Formica’, g-plan, f-plan are the suggestions but don’t sound right. I’m sure it began with an M.
    MFI Essentials was a range focused on budget-friendly, basic furniture pieces aimed at customers looking for affordable solutions. 
    MFI Select was a step up from the Essentials line, offering more stylish and mid-tier priced furniture, catering to those seeking better quality but still at a reasonable price. 
    SpaceMaker was a line of bedroom furniture that focused on maximising storage and making the best use of available space. It often featured modular wardrobes and bedroom storage units. 

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  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,979
    The more I think about it the more I'm leaning towards it being a made up name by my Dad. I spent years believing there was a tyre repair place (Crayford?) called Leo Wankers.
  • SuedeAdidas
    SuedeAdidas Posts: 7,751
    Arsenetatters said:
    The more I think about it the more I'm leaning towards it being a made up name by my Dad. I spent years believing there was a tyre repair place (Crayford?) called Leo Wankers.

  • SoundAsa£
    SoundAsa£ Posts: 22,495
    edited October 2024
    I remember when Tescos took over MFI….. a few weeks after, I bought a frozen chicken from Tescos, when I defrosted it the leg fell off.
  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,979
    SoundAsa£ said:
    I remember when Tescos took over MFI….. a few weeks after, I bought a frozen chicken from Tescos, when I defrosted it the leg fell off.
    Don’t start me on chickens with one leg unless you want photos 
  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,979
    Peggy
  • charltonkeston
    charltonkeston Posts: 7,371
    I don't think MFI were that bad for the money. It weren't their thought the average customer couldn't follow the Airfix  style instructions and improvise where necessary.
    Lashings of No Nails and extra fixings is all it took. 
  • Raith_C_Chattonell
    Raith_C_Chattonell Posts: 5,693
    With the aid of a roof rack attached to my old Vauxhall Viva I brought home a whole kitchen!

    I'm glad the old bill didn't spot me - it would've broken the weigh bridge at the local dump.  :|
  • Lincsaddick
    Lincsaddick Posts: 32,378
    old John Cooper Clarke joke .. 'he was drunk and swaying about like an MFI wardrobe'
  • lolwray
    lolwray Posts: 4,907
    Raith_C_Chattonell said:
    With the aid of a roof rack attached to my old Vauxhall Viva I brought home a whole kitchen!

    I'm glad the old bill didn't spot me - it would've broken the weigh bridge at the local dump.  :|
    Same here ..obviously not in your vauxhall viva but a mk3 cortina..how we got 35 miles down the A2 I ll never know ..
  • red10
    red10 Posts: 835
    Had an expensive wooden  sofa frame, Ercol I believe, was only the frame but was tied on to the roof of my ford capri using the door handles. Had to tie it on the drivers side after I had got in !! Priceless.

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