Volume 2
HIGH POIN1 WEAVING CO. and HILLCRES T THROWING CO., Iligli Point, N. C„ October, 1945
Number 9
LABORATORY AIDS CO. IN QUALITY CONTROL
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Carrying out tlic function of the Laboratory are several departments, a staff of
trained technicians and many different types of testing and research apparatus.
1. E. }. JASKWHICH makes moisture content analysis by Xylol distillation to de
termine how nuich water there is in a given solution.
2. DR. UPSHUR counts the turns per inch at a twist tester to check actual twist
against prescribed twist. DifFercnee in actual twist and theoretical by as much as
one turn could cost the company losses amounting to many thousands of dollars
a year.
3. GLKN BAKER (left) and N. B. Waters, head of Rechccking, couiparc finished
samples which represent “Bur-Mil” Quality Control goods as it appears on dress
goods coimters and on the garment-makers cutting tables.
4. SARAH ELIZABETH PEELE operates miniature laboratory model slasher to test
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for size, take-up and weavability of warp yarns. Sl(nv speed air dries yarn on the
take-up reel eliminating need for dry cans. In the background is a lal>oratory dry
cleaning machine.
OR. H'r'I'LE'I'ON UPSHUR, head of the Yarn and Fabrics I^iboratory, checks
moisture content of rayon staple by use of the Electronic 'I'extile Phychrometcr,
discussing results with Amos Griffin, assistant director of Quality Control. In the
background can be seen pull-downs hanging on a conditioning rack in an air con
ditioning room i)rior to being tested for size take-up.
HELEN BROWN HARRIS and Ernst Berliner test finished fabrics. Mrs. Harris
is at the washwheel used for checking fabric shrinkage to laundering, and Mr.
Berliner is preparing a specinian for testing in the Launderometer which will de
termine color fastness to laundering.
Chemist Has Played
Development of Synthetic Yarns
Leading Role in
A chemist in a \vea\'ing plant? In*
the old days that would have been
like a gasoline salesman in a livery
stable.
There just wasn’t a plaec for either
forty years ago but that was before the
time of Henry Ford and a French
chemist named Count Hilaire de
Chardonnet who after years of experi
mentation developed a practical for
mula for converting wood pulp into a
viscous liquid which when congealed
made a fiber suitable for weaving. In
1891 he began production on a com
mercial scale, but it w'as about 1920
before any practical use was put to
the amazing knowledge that clothing
and textile furnishings could be pro
duced from wood pidp, cotton linters,
and chemicals.
Core of the Industry
But the germ of an idea grew and
today at the lieart and core of the
man-made textile industry is the
cliemist who together with the throw
ster, the weaver and the finisher is re
sponsible for the great strides forward
that ha\’C put rayon in the place of
the second most common clothing
fiber in the world today. '^I’liis position
was first reached in 1938 and has been
maintained ever since, with the excep
tion of 1941 when it was slightly suc
ceeded by wool. The man-made fiber
rayon got where it is because its qual
ity could be controlled (made accord
ing to predetermined standards in
c\ery stage of its mamifacture) and it
could be made at a cost to compete
fa\’oral)ly with the long-established
natural fibers. The first rayon sold in'
quantity in the United States cost
$6.00 per pound and now sells at SS
cents per pound. That this story will
be repeated in the newer yarns like
nylon, aralae, stronger rayons and
others prolxibly not even yet devel
oped is a fair certainty. The chemist,
tlie manufacturer and the customer
are an unbeatable comljination when
it comes to researching in new fiber,
converting them into fabrics that
serve a distinct purpose, so that mar
ket demand, technical efficiency and
increased production will bring the
price down within the reach of more
and more people.
Continued Research
Located in Greensboro is the “liur-
Mil” Laboratory wliose purpose it is
to increase manufacturing efficiency
and decrease manufacturing defects in
the Company’s man-made fabrics, a
jol) performed by a staff of cliemists,
clotii graders and analysts and men
who do research in improving the
quality of the goods produced and in
developing new fabrics and finishes.
In this work the Lalioratory staff
works closely with the yarn producers,
the Company’s maiuifacturinc units,
dyers and finishers, and with the New
York sales ofHces to get the right yarn
for the specific fabric tliat tlie New
York office savs thev can sell i^rofit-
ably.
(Continued on Page 3)