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Mannequin for Assessing Thermal Properties of Clothing
I was introduced to the copper mannequin located at the Army testing laboratory located at Natick, MA. in 1968. Since then I have become aware of copper mannequins located in several other locations in the USA as well as Canada. Then there is the plastic mannequin located at the REI testing facility in Seattle, WA. [...]
Made In America?
Will made in America products soon be available at retail stores in the near future? Probably not anytime soon! Why one would ask, because although retailers are asked daily by potential customers for American made products and here I will quote a sleeping bag buyer at a major internet retailer “show me what is not [...]
The Perpetuation of Significantly Erroneous Information
Since I have been in the textile business, 1961, I have seen a variety of fabric treatments enter into the market place primarily to enhance warmth or repel rain. In the 1960’s one company was weaving aluminum thread into the lining fabric to enhance warmth. One manufacturer used aluminum dust applied to lining fabric to [...]
Sleeping Bags Must Be Big Business
I have been associated with the sleeping bag business since about 1970. During the years since I have seen either companies endeavor to make sleeping bags to go along with their other products, outerwear or tents or backpacks or some companies were started just to make sleeping bags and in both cases the failure rate [...]
“Development of Synthetic Down Alternative”? Really
In April 1984 a report was issued called “Development of Synthetic Down Alternative” written by employees of Albany International Research Company for the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, MA. The report is 197 pages long. Without going into unnecessary detail having read the report all that I found of value was; if [...]
A New Use for an Old Technology
Sometime back when DuPont Corporation still manufactured polyester fiber they developed small balls of polyester similar to cotton balls and placed it in pillow ticking for pillows. They called this fiberfill product “cluster fiber”. Since it was never introduced to the outerwear market as an insulating medium I was not aware of its existence. I [...]
A New Use for an Old Technology; Thermoball Insulation
Sometime back when DuPont Corporation still manufactured polyester fiber they developed small balls of polyester similar to cotton balls and placed it in pillow ticking for pillows. They called this fiberfill product “cluster fiber”. Since it was never introduced to the outerwear market as an insulating medium I was not aware of its existence. I [...]
The Importance of Insulation to Large Corporations and The U.S. Military
“TEMPERATURE ADAPTIVE INSULATION” is the title of a sources sought notice put out by Department of the Army; Natick Laboratories, Natick, MA. The purpose is to see if industry is working on the making of an insulation that could be used in a single garment that will replace the multiple layers of garments currently utilized. [...]
Failure Of A Copy Twice By The Same Company
The “Spring 2005” newsletter details an imitation sleeping bag manufactured in China that simulated a Lamilite laminated sleeping bag made by Wiggy’s. While the marketing company, Mountain Hardwear (MH), gave the Chinese factory the materials and manufacturing method the end result was a sleeping bag that looked like a Wiggy’s bag but that is as [...]
Sleeping Bags and The Military
Recently I attended the SHOT show. The SHOT show is all about the shooting sports industry. About 5 or 6 years ago the emphasis of the show changed from the civilian market to the tactical market; i.e. the military and police agencies. One of the observations I made was the number of companies exhibiting sleeping [...]