Object Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
1998.184.009 |
Object Name |
Boot |
Description |
This is a black felt left-footed boot with a felt sole. There are eight black metal eyelets, four on each side, and eight black metal hooks, four on each side, and black laces. Inside is a rust-coloured stiff paper boot last. One the right side of the last is a maker's stamp. It reads ''Excel Shoe Former Pat. Nov. 30, 97 Lynn Mass.'' On the other side of the last are stamped the following letters and numbers: ''378'', ''8'', ''E'', and ''I628''. Attached to the boot is a round paper tag with a metal rim that reads ''470''.'' |
Date |
1930 |
Date |
1960 |
Dimensions |
H-24 W-7 L-29 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. 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 |