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You are here: Home / CURIOSITIES / 1918 Red Cross and British Dog Wool Assn. spin Chow fur for war effort

1918 Red Cross and British Dog Wool Assn. spin Chow fur for war effort

CHOW HAIR SPINNING COLLAGE 1918

Thank you Janet Couzens for bringing the photograph in the above collage I made to my attention as I already had the article and video (below) and now we have a priceless image to illustrate this unique war effort of using Chow and other dog wool to help provide warm and insulating clothing for the soldiers .  You can see in the photo the Chow photo on the wall, as well as the word CHOW on the largest spinning wheel in the center

 

BRITISH DOG WOOL APPEAL FOR FUR
This antique poster from the same era appeals dog owners to donate fur combings for the war effort

BELOW FIND A WONDERFUL ARTICLE ABOUT THE DOG WOOL EFFORT

The British Red Cross and Order of St. John Central Workrooms were housed at Burlington House, home of the Royal Academy during the war.  Taking over seven of its galleries, the headquarters accommodated over four years of war, more than twelve hundred voluntary workers, none giving less than four half days weekly.  These workers, sewing to a standard pattern, produced an incredible 73,216 garments and 700,102 bandages for distribution to the sick and wounded.  Employees of neighbouring firms would meet at the workrooms in the evening to knit ‘comforts’ for the troops, there was a coordinated registration of home workers and sewing patterns were even designed, reproduced and sold via Burlington House.

When the difficulty of obtaining wool became a serious problem, a new industry was started at the headquarters – spinning dog’s hair into yarn.  The four ladies pictured at their spinning wheels here under the auspices of none other than the British Dog Wool Association, are working with hair from Pekingese, Chow, collie and Pomeranian breeds.  We can also identify a Borzoi in the pictures displayed on the back wall – presumably another breed prized for its soft, silky hair.

How the recipients felt about receiving a scarf of pure Pomeranian, or socks made from Samoyed wool, we can only guess at – and hope they didn’t have an allergy to dog hair!  SOURCE

 

 

While this old newsreel from the British Pathe is not from the same era, it shows a chow being carded for its wool

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I do my best to be as accurate as possible in my research, however many times written history finds a way to "morph" over time. I love your comments and appreciate all feedback, additions and corrections my readers have to offer to help make this a well rounded and accurate archive.

All research, images and content in this website are Copyright © 2011-2022 Sandra Miller at ChowTales.com except where noted. Use of materials from this site for educational purposes may be obtained by contacting Sandra Miller by email studio at sandramiller.com


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