Notebooks and Samples Relating to the Chemical Dyeing Industry

A series of notebooks, most of which contain fabric or thread samples representing both natural and synthetic fibres. Many contain notes recording the proportions of chemical dyes used to attain colours. One describes the preparation of the textiles prior to dyeing and afterwards. Other volumes contained printed samples of patterns, which may have been collated once the owner of the ledgers had started work, again with proportions of chemical dyes used during the process. There are a number of company names mentioned, along with two samples for a Friedlinde di Colbertaldo design order for Heals of London.

The archive also includes a copy of The First John Mercer Lecture entitled "Science in an Old Industry" by McCullough and Hibbert, published by the Society of Dyers and Colourists (1944) and an article about dyeing produced by the Swiss company Sandoz (1931). There are also some loose papers with attached fabric samples and an organisation chart for Barracks Fabric Printing Co Ltd.