For those who love the Look and Feel
of Vintage Textiles, Blankets and Linens.
Since 1340 – the term Blanket has been used to
describe a warm and cozy fabric covering found in nearly all households. First
made of Wool, for the properties wanted and needed by consumers, now made of a
broad range of natural and synthetic materials – depending on one’s needs.
Offered here is a - Vintage-Retro, KENWOOD FAMOUS, Made in Canada – All Virgin Wool, Blue Colour, Blanket - in excellent gently-used condition.
There are no obvious large holes, tears, nor stains. There may be a couple of small holes and a few small spots of staining; there is balling or pilling. Some shrinkage from the original size as the dimensions would be greater taken from the corners; maybe some fairly even fade.
This Wool Blanket is Blue in Colour - looks fairly even over both surfaces.
There is no satin binding at the ends but there are signs that it had been affixed when new. The side selvage edges are manufactured in factory as such.
This Blanket measures - ~61.5" in length, at the center; ~51.5" across the width, at the center.
This Blanket weighs ~ 4+ lbs, bagged.
There is an affixed original label which reads - "KENWOOD"; "Ram on Hill in Wilderness" - LOGO; "WOOL; PRODUCTS; ALL VIRGIN WOOL; MADE IN CANADA; FAMOUS". The label is beige in colour with deep blue stitched LOGO and associated information.
SOME INTERESTING
INFORMATION –
Processing
Blankets, Once in Hand -
All Blankets are washed
in Wool-Safe Laundry Detergent; draped over drying-racks or dried on warm heat, until dry;
photographed from both sides; folded and bagged loosely, then placed into a storage
cupboard having cedar shingles throughout the cupboard until sold.
There are videos and
web-sites on line which explain how wool items can be re-stretched to their
proper shape or size (or closer to) – as shrinkage happens when washed and dried.
The makers of Canadian KENWOOD Wool
Blankets – Huyck Canada Ltd. - Division of the U.S. Huyck Corporation -
KENWOOD Mills Ltd. was manufacturing
plant, situated in the town of Arnprior, in the eastern part of Southern
Ontario, Canada – in the Ottawa Valley.
The US Textile Manufacturer, Francis C. Huyck, saw
the rise in demand for felts and paper, rented a mill in 1879 at Kenwood, a
village close to Albany, N.Y. – achieving success immediately. That plant
burned down in 1894 – a new mill-plant was built in Rensselaer, N.Y. – at which
the Huyck Felt Co. was developed. From the very start – rigid quality control
protocols were adopted for excellence – manufacturing and marketing ONLY the
finest products – which became their steadfast reputation.
In 1918 the U.S. Company of F.C. Huyck & Sons
took over the Griffith-McNaughton Mill in Arnprior, founded in 1915, which
began manufacturing shirts but then switched to socks and blankets during WWI.
This Mill was incorporated as Kenwood Mills Ltd after Huyck’s first
location.
Kenwood Mills Ltd joined with Formex
Company of Canada to form Huyck Canada Ltd. –
which supplied BOTH felts and jackets to the pulp & paper industry of
Canada and all-wool blankets and cloth to Canadian consumers – as well as –
world wide.
There were eventually numerous plants and offices
world.
KENWOOD Wool Blankets were made until the
1960’s-70’s at which point the focus of manufacturing
changed again. The Arnprior plant was open until 1996.
Kenwood was a label sold by the T. Eaton department store in
Canada, likely other retailers as well.
KENWOOD FAMOUS – released ~1935 …
New Size – Described as 7 ½’ long, 6 extra
inches to tuck way under.
60x90; 80x90; 72x90
Described as a – Deeply napped Blanket with comforting
warmth without weight. Powder-puff softness. This new 7 ½’ size comes Bound
with 4” satin or satin-crepe – other sizes in satin only.
Colours – Blue, Green, Tan, Copper, Rose, Orchid,
Maize, Pink, White, Light-Blue
KENWOOD FAMOUS – 1938 info …
66x90, 72x90, 80x90
Described as – Deeply napped, gloriously soft, famous
for its sleeping comfort and exceptional buoyancy. Finely woven of long fibered
live new wools.
Richly bound in a luxurious long-wearing 5” satin
striped ribbon.
Colours Include - Brown, Green, Rose-Tan, Light-Blue,
Maize, Rose, White, Peach, Orchid, Pink, Oriental-Blue, Gold, Copper, and
another colour 4-5 letters???
1950’s ad – Blankets for the Family -
Father –
KENWOOD FAMOUS
- sturdy and fleecy – last word in sleeping comfort
Blankets -
In 1340, Thomas Blanquette developed a
fabric which became used as a bedding cloth – made of a heavily napped woolen
weave – and the term Blanket was adopted.
Wool was an ideal material as this material was warm,
fire resistant, and water repellant – however – generally itchy. To accompany
woolen blankets, most often, sheets of cotton or linen were used next to one’s
skin.
Today – blankets are made of a broad range of
materials – cotton, wool, polyester and other synthetics, silk, linen …
Just as materials vary – so does the purpose of blankets – from baby-wraps and bedding; wraps and shawls; as groundcover on picnic; for people, their pets, and livestock; in industry … for protection of people and property.
Wool Blanket Labels –
Apparently, there are avid collectors of labels alone
…
Blanket Sizes -
Although there is some variability – generally there are some accepted
measurements for common sizes of blankets. Blankets of the antique-vintage era
were likely made to smaller specifications for bedding.
Receiving – 40” x 40”
Crib – 45” x 60”
Throw – 52” x 60”
Twin or Single – 66” x (80-84) 90”
Full or Double – 90” x 108”
Queen – 90” x 108”
King – 108” x 108”
Saddle Blankets – 39” x 68”
Finished
Edges –
The reason that items
are made with a finished edge is - to give it a clean and tidy appearance;
to keep the edge from fraying or unraveling when in use; to add
decorative interest and detail to a project.
There are several different ways in which blanket edges are finished. Most commonly on Wool Blankets the side edges are selvedged – machine self-finished. The ends may have any number of finishing styles – some are associated with a style of blanket, manufacturer, or era of manufactured item.
Blanket
Stitch –
The Blanket
Stitch is a type of decorative
stitch used to secure and reinforce the end of thicker materials – such as a Wool
Blanket. The Stitch would be seen on both sides of the blanket with a rib along
the outer edge.
The Blanket Stitch may
also be referred to as a Cable Stitch or Crochet-Stitch depending on how it is
used.
Satin Blanket Binding -
Blanket Binding refers to a fabric trim sewn over the outside edges (ends or all the way around) of a blanket – as a means of providing a finished edge. Satin is a common material used for blanket binding as it is soft, durable, and machine washable – sold pre-folded to facilitate its attachment to projects.
Selvage Edge -
A selvage or selveged edge of fabric is a self-finished edge – made in a way which will keep it from fraying or unraveling when in use. This selvage edge is often woven more densely to make it sturdier so that there is no need for binding, hemming, bias tape, nor any kind of finishing-stitch.
Balling or
Pilling -
Balling or Pilling is quite common on wool, cashmere, or fabrics made of natural fibers. With regular gentle use and laundering, loose fibers within the weave of the fabric work themselves free and up to the fabric’s surface – then roll-up to little pill-size balls of fluff.
SHIPPING
-
Currently
and until further notice - only shipping from within Canada by Canada
Post - Monday-Friday – not weekends; not holidays. Please notify seller for
process information.
To pay no shipping-handling - Local Porch Pick-Up always
available for purchased items – please contact seller to make arrangements.
Shipping within Canada is calculated by eBay;
Shipping to the USA should be calculated by eBay, if not – please contact
seller for pricing; Shipping Internationally - by air & with tracking only
- please contact seller for pricing.
See Feedback
Profile on eBay.com of member grimavrams; member since Dec 2002.
All
hard-surface items are – well-washed in hot soapy water, rinsed, air-dried,
photographed, wrapped in clean paper towel, packed, and placed into clean
storage boxes until purchased.
I also refund shipping
over-charges, if they are significantly over my actual cost to ship - normally,
I am close to the actual cost.
Depending on
your location, eBay may add calculated taxes to your total purchase – according
to local requirements – above negotiated item and shipping-handling quoted.