Object Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
1998.184.032 |
Object Name |
Boot |
Description |
This is a felt boot inserted into a rubber boot. The felt has reinforcements on the front and back of the ankle. There are two small circular flaps cut into the felt, on either side near the top. The rubber boot has a diamond- shaped pattern on the tread, and a metal buckle on the front. On the heel and along the edge is stamped ''The Northern Rubber Co. Limited, Guelph, Ontario''. On the outer side of the boot is an orange diamond-shaped decoration that says ''Made in Canada Northern Pressure Cure''. It is a right boot. |
Date |
1920 |
Date |
1940 |
Dimensions |
H-42.5 W-11.5 L-30.5 cm |
History |
The Canada Felting Company was founded around 1903 by Alfred Snyder (1864-1929). Alfred purchased the existing St. Jacobs Woolen Mills from Noah W. Gingrich (1842-1914), renaming the business. The company was in operation until 1970, when it was purchased by Pett Machine. The factory building, though renovated, still stands at 1440 King Street in St. Jacobs as of 2022. The Northern Rubber Company was located in Guelph, ON and operated from 1920 until the 1950s. It was bought out by Dominion Rubber. The factory building at the intersection of Alice and Huron Streets still stands as of 2022. There are two distinct classes of felts; woven or ''thread-structure'' felts and ''fibre'' or true felts. In the manufacture of thread-structure felts, appropriate felting wools are spun into woolen yarn possessing the necessary fibre arrangement and twist, and are woven into a cloth of such a character that shrinking or felting could be effected. True felts followed the manufacturing process of mixing, willowing, teasing, scribbling and carding. From the card, the wool is delivered into an endless sheet, upon which the felt is built up, film upon film, until the desired thickness is obtained. Felt had many uses, including boots and slippers. The boots were worn outdoors and indoors, and as inserts for rubber ankle-boots. |
Search Terms |
Canada Felting Company Limited Northern Rubber Company |