The history of the raincoat

A proposal by H

A number of people have written about the discovery of latex and how its potential was exploited in a huge variety of ways, with a paragraph here and there given over to its use for proofing fabric, and some of that given over to rainwear. The Story of Rubber is one example [which we are turning into an e-text - ed].

There are also various memoires and notes about rainwear over the last fifty or so years, especially the forties and fifties of last century - many on this site. Lorraine tells me that there is also a history of the riding mac in preparation - wonderful, Godspeed!

But that leaves an awful lot about the history of rainwear that is unsung - unrecorded, underdocumented but not at all uninteresting. For one thing, the rubber-proofed raincoat was invented at a very dramatic time. Alongside the lighthouse and the train, the patenting of "mackintosh" (a new way of rubber-proofing cloth) in 1823 reflected a new era of human travel - travel across continents and seas, travel to building projects, travel to the workplace - linked with a new phase of the industrial revolution in Europe.

I think it would be really worthwhile to work on the history of rainwear, throughout the nineteenth century in particular, but coming into the early part of the twentieth century as well. What I propose is that we start by gathering materials. The ones I know about are the "Directories" listing businesses in different towns which were published from time to time in the period and which are usualy available, some of them, in public libraries. We need to trawl through these and make a note of every mention of rainwear! We could be on the look out for other types of record as we go. (Eg Periodical magazines such as Strand.)

Lorraine has agreed to assemble our findings on the site. When we have something substantial to go on we can think how to take a next step...

To make it worthwhile we need to be absolutely careful in the notes that we take, and in referencing them.

Here is something to start:

ITEM 1

From Bury: A Century Ago, 1990, Nelson, Landy Publishing, which reprints in part a book published in 1889 by Historical Publishing Company. It is from the older work that the quotation comes:

E. Redfern, Draper, &c., Silver Street, Bury.

The extensive and important business concern conducted by Mr. E. Redfern, as a draper, hosier, glover, and outfitter, at Silver Street, Bury, occupies a large brick buildin of three stories in height, and containing a frontage of sixty feet in Silver Street, the most central district in the town of Bury. Many years ago there stood on this site a highly popular and celebrated hotel known as The Eagle and Child, which before the era of railway enterprise served as the principal posting-house of Bury. On their occupation by Mr. E. Redfern, the premises were subjected to a very material alteration, a large proportion being entirely rebuillt and the whole converted into the present handsome bazaar-like warehouse, in which an extensive trade in general drapery, toy, and fancy goods is carried on. The shop is seventy-five feet in length, by twenty-five feet wide. At all times an attractive establishment (and made so by reason of the cheapness of the commodities sold here), it is at Christmastide and the new year that "Redfern's " can be seen to the greatest advantage. At that festive season this emporium is truly a scene of busy activity, converted for the time being into a German fair, decorated in all the hues of colour which artistic taste can suggest, and brilliantly lighted by lanterns of delicate shading and material. Thousands of visitors (largely composed of the juvenile community of the district) are to be met with making Christmas purchases in the various departments. This is the only establishment in Bury where the new American cash railway is in use; an invention which greatly facilitates the conveyance of change to and from customers. There are two immense plate-glass windows, through which are displayed a vast assortment of drapery and fancy goods. One room of fifteen feet in length, at the end of the front premises, serves as heavy goods warehouse, and is approached by descending two steps. Here there is kept a large stock of blankets, rugs, carpets, sheeting, qiillts, &c. There is a handsome balcony around the premises, entirely devoted to ladies' and children's outfitting, costumes, mantles, mackintoshes, &c. ...

Bury: A Century Ago, 1990, Nelson, Landy Publishing, which is here reprinting part a book published in 1889 by Historical Publishing Company. Page numbers not given. The section is entitled Bury Industrial Review.

If anyone has any spare time, do consider calling in at the Library, and seeing what you can find ....

H (Hazel)