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Photo by Jim Heffner THE GRANDFATHER OF DOUBLE KNITS — That's the title con- ferred on Robert Friedl many years ago because of his double-knit expertise. Friedl, the Austrian consul in North and South Carolina is a textile expert and a local historian. He is the president of Robela Knit Shop, Inc. housed in a historical building on Alsace St. : jor A A Industrial Edition October 25 -& 26, 2000 Robela Knits in Mount Holly is owned by an Austrian consul BY JIM HEFFNER Staff Reporter Many would be surprised to know that one of the highest ranking officials of the Austrian government lives in Mount Holly. Some would be surprised to learn, also, that the official Austrian consulate for North and South Carolina is located in Mount Holly. The consul is Robert Friedl and the consulate is located in his Robela Knit Shop, the old Mount Holly Cotton Mill on Alsace St. Friedl is a remarkable man, one who has spent his entire life in the textile industry. A man who has soaked up every scrap of information available on the operation and maintenance of knitting equipment. He is a ver- itable encyclopedia of textile in- dustry knowledge. "I've been in the textiles busi- ness all my life," Friedl said. Born and reared in Vienna, Friedl attended the HTL School, a university in Vienna noted for its textiles curriculum. During World War II HTL was bombed and reduced to rubble. After the war, Friedl do. "I dug the machinery out of the rubble and set them up again," he said. "The school was able to reopen.” The Nazis occupied Vienna during the war and Friedl's family suffered through many years of despair. His grand- mother was the only family member that was harmed. "She was run over and killed by a Russian tank," he said. "We don't know if it was an acci- dent." Friedl moved to New York to work for Bernhard Altman at Altman's House of Cashmere. Altman owned a large herd of cashmere goats and a fleet of ships. He was the first man to spin cashmere in Europe. From those beginnings, Friedl built an impeccable reputation. Textile manufacturers from sev- eral continents, including Europe, South and Central America and the United States clamored for his expertise. Friedl set up plants and trained workers for manufac- turers such as Burlington Industries, Millikin, M. Lowenstein, Hanes, Wamsutta, went back to see what he could Massachusetts Mohair and Neisler Mills in Kings moun- tain. | He rubbed shoulders and be- came friends with some of the most influential textile mag- nates in the world, including Roger Millikin of Deering- Millikin in South Carolina and Frank Hanes of Hanes Hosiery in Winston-Salem. "I installed the first double- knit machines for Roger Millikin in Spartanburg in 1961," Friedl said,” and I set up Hanes! first plant in Winston Salem." : Fried] became so knowledge- able of the double-knit technol- ogy that many people in the in- dustry still refer to him as the "Grandfather of Double Knits." "I installed the first double- knit machine in the United States,” he said. "That was in Massachusetts." : He also personally made the first swimsuit worn by Esther Williams in the movies. Friedl came to the Mount Holly area in 1959, but contin- ued to travel, setting up plants See Robela, Page 3 erminal rucking Concord, North Carolina Since 1942 58 Years of Service To The Textile Industry In North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia Our Drivers Are The Best in The Business Serving Another Best in The Business. Textiles. We Are Glad to Have You as A Friend. erminal rucking 224 Highway 49 North Conc orad, North Carolina T- 300-849-0138 - 1-704-736-0171 89
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Oct. 26, 2000, edition 2
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