Abstract: A blank consisting of a spirally wound fiber for use in the manufacture of a fiber reinforced article of composite material is made by winding the fiber onto a helical track on the surface of a frusto-conical spindle, covering the wound fiber with a thermoplastic binder which sets to form a frusto-conical shell encasing the fiber, removing the shell from the spindle and placing the shell with its base on a plate, and heating the shell starting from its base so as to soften it and cause it to progressively collapse onto the plate to form a disc comprising a spirally wound fiber. If necessary the collapse of the shell may be assisted by pressing on the shell in a direction towards the plate.