The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06
Men Prepare for Rainy Day
By Buying Waterproof Coats
Use of Such Varieties
Ran tbs tured

making of this kind of goods there are now
dozens of companies. each claiming 10 have
a secret process superior TO all others. The
numerous concerns springing up everywhere
show the popularity which waterproof
goods is now attaining.
The thing that all of these companies
are always fighting for" the speaker con-
tinued, lis to get a more perfect process to
make the goods imperVious to water
Some thirty years ago or more ladies' rain
coats were treated with a preparation Of
sugar of lead and alum. This was supposed
to make coat waterproof. but experience
demonstrates that after il was worn once
or twice in storm ii lost all virtues 1t
had received from the chemicals. After
these came the day of the rubber-coated
mackintoshes.
about twenty years ago Briggs Priest
ley, of Bradford, England, began to treat
clothes by new process and he called the
fabrics cravenette. Every fiber in this
cloth was guaranteed to resist water
long any two nbers remained together.
The interstices were declared TO be as free
to the passage of air as they are in any
cloth; so the hygienic laws were not yio-
lated. There was no smell of rubber, no
sickness, and the cloths after waterproofing
looked just the same they did before.
business grew and b. Priestly & Co.
soon drove out thirty-Seven other processes
branch was started in New York, and in
the last half-doZen years the business has
taken a tremendous bound in this country.
The company has works in Manhattan and
factory in Hoboken, recently burned
down.
INCREASING BUSINESS.
One Of the concerns which started up in
December has a very peculiar and attrac-
tive trademark. 1t is Kantwetthro. This
concern announces that it has an English
process of making cloth of all grades and
shades absolutely waterproof Another
New York concern, recently started is in
Producing TO the market new rain cloths,
which are chiefly worsted goods for wom-
ans wear. There are numerous concerns
that have processes for waterproofing
cloths, and they all carrying on an
increasing business in preparing fabrics for
garment manufacturers. Outside of New
York, where the majority of these concerns
are located is the Ashtabula worsted
mills in Ohio which is known as one of the
largest waterproofing establishments and is
about the only one in the West
Are only wooden goods used for these
garments?'
'Woolen goods are most adaptable for
waterproofing, but silks and high-grade
cotton fabrics are also used The daVs of
dull gray rain cloths are over, so far as my
observations go, as the garments are now
made OF all weaves and patterns nd in col
ors as subdued or as bright MY be de-
sired. AS L before mentioned men have
taken TO waterproof garments with much
enthusiasm not only coats OF all kinds but
j understand from travelling men from the
East that yachting suits and even some
business suits are being made of fabrics
that have been dipped in liquid nti-rain
preparations.
LAS far as the cost is concerned a man.
ufacturer once told me that the actual cost
of waterproofng is not more than l or 2
cents yard. The waterproofing concerns
charge according TO their reputation from
to 10 cents yard. Cheap cloths may be
waterproofed as well as the finest worsteds
but if the fabric is too loose the process is
not as successful as in a closer weave.