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BUCK CONNER Staff Writer |
Smoke Signals Nov./Dec. '10
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A very dear old friend wrote this article in 2003 and never lived long enough to see it put on the Internet. A lesson learned, if you tell someone your going to do something for them for heavens sack don't drag your feet like yours truly. Concho Smith was a historical researcher by trade, had work mostly in the East - New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania for a number of museums as well as State Historical Societies until retiring in 1989. We had camped, partied and hunted together with several other friends for loose to 30 years, one could say we knew each other.
One of Concho's biggest faults was wanting everyone to do "living history" as it was for the time frame whether 1700 or 1850. It didn't matter if one's health issues were involved or today's poor drinking water or anything else that we as a people have screwed up on this planet. I can still remember as if yesterday giving our Captain and several others hell about the way they had setup their camp at an AMM event back in the day. It was always fun to watch who was going to be the next victim of Mr. Smith.
That said here's the mentioned article on Point Blanket by my old friend - Concho Smith. Thank you for your time, enjoy.
BC
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Point Blankets
by Concho Smith |
Here's some interesting information about Earl’s of Witney (Witney Blankets) found in the local newspaper "Witney Report".
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First published on Friday 15 June 2001:
Witney's only remaining blanket factory has announced it is moving from its present site to a smaller factory in the town to secure its future. Established in the 17th century, Early's of Witney is undertaking a programme of changes to modernise the business. It plans to sell its seven-acre site in Burford Road. A joint planning application with All Souls College, Oxford, which owns an adjoining 11 acres of land, to redevelop the site for housing, has been lodged with West Oxfordshire District Council. Early's chairman Robert Chris said: "No loss of jobs is anticipated if the business is successfully reorganised." __________________________________ Published on Wednesday 05 June 2002:
The company which has taken over Early's, Witney's sole surviving blanket makers, has still not found an alternative site, needed to keep the business going. Time is running out for the Derbyshire-based firm, Quiltex. However, the firm's boss says he is keen to keep the manufacture of a once world-famous product in the town. Talks are continuing with Aster Holdings, the owners of the current Burford Road mill, which want to sell the site for housing. An application for redevelopment will be put before West Oxfordshire District Council planners on June 17. Quiltex chairman Alan Lewis said: "We have no alternative sites at this stage. The problem is that to carry on manufacturing you need a purpose-built factory by a river, as this one is by the River Windrush. "We need time to relocate Early's. We want some kind of lease to take over this building, while we continue to look for somewhere else in the area. "Though there is very little unemployment in Witney, there are people who have been here for 30 or 40 years. They have a skill in a specialised trade. They won't get this type of work anywhere else around here. Some provision should be made for them. "So we are trying to say that it is in the local interest to develop the business rather then the site. We are putting forward a business plan for expanding the business. It is not a dead business." Earlier this year Quiltex, which manufacturers quilts and pillows, took over the trading name Early's. The Burford Road factory, now operating on a reduced staff of 72, is still making blankets. Just three weeks ago Robert Chris, chairman of subsidiary companies connected to Early's, revealed that annual sales had dropped from £3.8m to £2.7m. The Burford Road site had been earmarked for housing. But planners and developers are yet to reach agreement over the proportion of social housing. __________________________________ Published on Wednesday 03 July 2002:
Three workers who have worked for blanket makers Early's for a total of 127 years say they are devastated by the closure of the factory. The plant in Witney will shut on July 19. Its 72 workers have been given the chance to relocate to Ilkeston in Derbyshire, but negotiations are still going on. Early's, founded in 1669, is one of the oldest companies in the country. Quiltex took over Early's earlier this year and will now move manufacturing to a factory near its headquarters in Ilkeston after failing to find an alternative site in Witney. Planning permission to turn the site into housing, which is owned by a subsidiary of Early's, was granted last month by West Oxfordshire District Council. Tony Clapton, 64, of Bladon, would have retired in a year's time having served 50 years with Early's. He joined straight from school when he was 15. |
"My
father worked there for 25 years and my uncle for 50 years. I started at
Woodford Mill in a really old part of the factory.
"There were 400 workers and a good, friendly atmosphere and a canteen serving really good meals. "We are all very sad to see it go as so many of us have worked here for so long. It is very sad day too for Witney as a whole. Blanket making has been such a part of the town for centuries." John Brooks, 63, of Westfield Road, Witney, has been with the company for 41 years. He said: "Now I will be seeing it all knocked down. It is most distressing. I still can't believe the factory is shutting for good. We are all feeling very low." __________________________________ Sue Downes can see Early's factory from her home in Crawley Road, Witney. "In November I would have worked there 37 years. I, like everyone else, was devastated when we got the news. My parents worked there in their time." None of the three have decided on their future yet. __________________________________ Published on Saturday 20 July 2002:
The last blanket has been sewn at Early's in Witney, ending 333 years of tradition. Many of the remaining 72 staff at the New Witney Mill factory in Burford Road were in tears as they came to work on Friday, July 19, for the last time. Sheila Baker, manager of Early's Shop, said: "It's so sad. I can't tell you how I'll feel by one o'clock. "I'm already really upset." John Brooks, 63, who works in the wages office, said: "I have worked here for 41 years, man and boy, so this has been a terrible day. It's a family break-up." But while staff look for new jobs, they also face the worry that the company's pension fund could be in difficulties. Earlier this week, workers received letters advising them the £4m invested in the pension fund may not be enough to pay their pensions in full. Mr Brooks said: "Staff have been given letters which said that the pension fund is worth £4m, but that is still half a million pounds short, and the company does not know how long the money will last. It's extremely worrying. "The irony is that sales have been terrific over the past six months." The company, founded in 1669, became the last remaining blanket factory in Witney as the rise in popularity of duvets hit the blanket industry. In May, it was revealed that annual sales had dropped, and large debts forced the company into voluntary liquidation. Last month, West Oxfordshire District Council granted permission for the site to be redeveloped for housing. __________________________________ Published on Monday 04 November 2002:
An exhibition looking back on Witney's long history in the blanket trade starts on November 4. It is being held in the wake of the closure of Early's factory in Burford Road, which signalled the end of more than 300 years of blanket manufacture in the town. Photographs and artefacts feature in the display, at the Visitor Information Centre in Market Square from 10am to 4.30pm until Saturday. It is going on show during November 4 to 9 at from the industry have been contributed by local businesses, residents and the Witney museum. Tony Walker, the district council's cabinet member for culture, said; "It is being held to celebrate the blanket trade as this is a significant part of the town's history." |
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In researching the history of point blankets and some insight into how the point measurements appear in the trade ledgers don't necessarily describe the same size blanket one would find today with the same point markings. I'm still trying to understand the topic, but close as we can figure -- the value of wool blankets was measured by their weight during the fur trade, rather than being measured by area ( i.e.. 72'' x 90'') as done today. Today, when you purchase according to point bars you buy point bars and area dimensions-- not historically equivalents of blanket sizing. The trade ledgers indicate if just looking for point bars that would have been on a trapper's blankets, you would purchase 2 1/2 or 3 point bars. This becomes more complicated when you study some of the primary historical sources, (such as Osborne Russell's personal purchases) the 2 1/2 and 3 point blankets could be purchased as a "pair". This means one large blanket still woven together as it was shipped from the factory. A 2 1/2 point pair could be completely different dimension and a much larger area single blanket than one would picture using today's point-bar designation. Ledgers don't show trappers purchasing 5 or 6 point blankets, if the trapper purchase a blanket pair he could have had a very large blanket that was proportional much longer and narrower than today's 5 or 6 point blankets. Many of the early suppliers East of the Mississippi considered the 3 point blanket (3 1/2 point - available today) as a standard stock item for trade stores in white with black "strips", white with blue "strips", white with grey-pale blue "strips" (these are really rare and issued for only a few years around 1800), 4 points were special order, white with black "shoots" were special order also, per Charles Hanson. The 3 1/2 point blankets are now getting hard to find today, most use a 4 point for capotes, etc., plus today we are larger in size than our forefathers. But the smaller blanket is something handy in camp or on the trail as a rap or just extra padding. Years ago Charles Hanson displayed a "triple" which is very rare at the museum, said it was only the second or third time he had ever seen one, thought it maybe the end of a "run" of a batch of wool. NOTE: Other uses of these blankets.
Here's how the trade began with these enterprising gentlemen. Radisson and Grosseilliers (both born in France) were among the first men to successfully reach the Hudson's Bay where they discovered that the majority of furs came from the northern forests. The newly discovered bay gave the easiest port access to this rich fur area. They traveled to France to obtain support in a major trading venture out of the bay. When no interest was shown in France, Grosseilliers and Radisson traveled to London to secure financial support. In 1667 Prince Rupert (cousin of Charles II) showed an interest in the venture. In the next two years ships were dispatched for Hudson's Bay. A 1725 invoice listing merchandise for a trade company in Green Bay listed 2-point blankets, and a 1766 invoice from a Philadelphia company listed 4-point, 3-point and 2 1/2-point watch coats. It is generally accepted that the practice of hand-weaving points into blankets for the Hudson's Bay Company, started in 1780 with Thomas Empson, who was the principal supplier of blankets for the HBC. Point blankets are seen in most of the surviving inventories and invoices from the North West Company, Hudson's Bay Company and many of the Rocky Mountain fur trading companies. Early's of Witney was founded in 1669 and is still in production. They have been providing high quality wool blankets for the Indian trade from the late 17th or early 18th century. Receiving their first contract to provide blankets to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1805. Only difference between an Early's of Witney and a HBC blanket is the label. Early's of Witney blankets are twill woven of 100% virgin wool with an extra weight of yarn, referred to as "Kersey twill". The wool fibers of these blankets are teased to produce an extra thick nap, then hand-finished.
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See Ya Later, Concho Smith |
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