The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-10-17
MAKING CLOTH FROM TWINE.

| MAKING CLOTH FROM IhlNh.
German Experiment toSecure Warmth
and Cheapness.
! A few years ago some one who
knew how great was the warmth that
might be secured from few news
! papers employed as bed covering in
winter tried the experiment of fold
ing the same material under ordinary
clothing in the daytime. Then came
into use a flexible but heavy paper Of
special kind for coat Innings and
undergarments. The paper was
called fibre chamois, because, while
! it was made out of cheap fibre, it
| was soft and flexible and looked a lit
tie like chamois skin. Much more re-
Gently the attempt has been made in
! Germany to produce garments from
wood or paper fibre, not by cutting
cut large sheets and sewing them at
the edges, but by spinning it into
thread and weaving it into cloth.
This plan differs from the one fol-
lowed in manufacturing certain I'M
itation of silk, and is apparently
cheaper. When ribbons are made by
the so-called Chardonnet process
wood is sufficiently dissolved by chem
icals to become like thick mucilage.
The substance can then be drawn out
into extremely fine and rather tough
threads and worked up into cloth
which glistens as silk does. The pro-
duct of the latest experiment is ap-
parently not lustrous, and the threads
are composed of paper which has not
been treated with fluids which alter
its appearance or character. Xylolin,
as the article is called, can be
bleached SO as to look like cotton or
linen, but, while not so elastic, it rs
said to be less expensive. It can, Of
course, be dyed, and by using threads
of different colors pretty patterns are
cbtainable. Warmth rather than
great durability is it's chief recon-
mendation, apparently, though as it
does not attract moths it might make
good substitute for wool.
The attempt to manufacture cloth
out of paper twine is said to have
l'een made repeatedly in the United
States. Seve1al patents for the pur-
pose were taken out years ago, but
for some reason it was not found ad-
visable to operate under them. Now
that the inventors rights have ex-
pired, it is said that the idea is re-
ceiving a trial in this country. Ap-
parentIy, though, the principal exper-
iment with xylo1in is being made in
Germany. According to recent con-
sular report the yarn can be woven
into almost any fabric, such as dress
materials, tents, bathing suits, imita-
ton Panama hats, carpets and grain
bags. Since Xylolin is odorless it may
make excellent bags for sugar, coffee
and salt.
Tapestries, not printed, but woven
in colors, as we'll as toweling Of xylo-
lin, are alike being produced. Not
only can the yarn be used in coarser
fabrics, but it has also been tried sue
cessfully in handmade cushion laces.
The yarn can be readily used in knit
ting and pleating. Woven xylolin
treated with a waterproof dressing
does not seem to crack by wrinkling
or friction, to the injury of the water
resisting coat. One would imagine
that a fabric of paper yarn would
readily ignite and that lighted
match falling on paper rug could
be exceptionally dangerous. 1t is as
serted, however, that burning
match stem will do more damage to
a WOODEN or jute rug and be more
| likely to lead TO disastrous conse-
! quences. While not uninfammable.
an ordinary rug of paper yarn will
burn scarcely easier than a wooden
floor
Some criticism has been offered
about paper cloth, with an inclination
to compare it to sheet paper or rub
| ber, whereas even underclothing
! made of paper yarn has been found
| by experience to be satisfactory. Mod
ern authorities on hygienic clothing
decry the wearing of garments that
are so woven as to permit only very
slow exchange of the toxic emana-
tions of the body with the outer air.
Accordingly, advocates of xylolin
hope for a wider use of woven or
knit paper cloth garments, not only
among people who cannot afford to
buy more expensive clothing, but also
among well-to-do classes, because the
paper material is cleanly and readily
laundered. Even caustic soap, in
stead of injuring it, is said to make
the fabric softer.