helen louise bates
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Hi I have an 1848 reference to 20 suits being ordered for prisoners made of flushing. Has anyone heard of it? What would it compare with today?
Does anyone know what fabric 'flushing' is?
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Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
Hello,
I cannot recall that term, but my mind is getting old. I am only going to guess here, that the reference is to a type of woolen fabric that contains (what we call today) recycled woolen fibers. These fibers could be what was called mungo, which were the cast offs or droppings from the original spinning of the wool. Or the fibers could be type of what was called "shoddy" which was a variety of wool fabrics of various grades all of which contained fibers culled from a previously made garments. It would seem they might use this type of wool fabric for prisoners suits, so that is my guess at this point.
However, this is just a guess. I am sure someone else may come along with more help.
Great question, by the way!
I cannot recall that term, but my mind is getting old. I am only going to guess here, that the reference is to a type of woolen fabric that contains (what we call today) recycled woolen fibers. These fibers could be what was called mungo, which were the cast offs or droppings from the original spinning of the wool. Or the fibers could be type of what was called "shoddy" which was a variety of wool fabrics of various grades all of which contained fibers culled from a previously made garments. It would seem they might use this type of wool fabric for prisoners suits, so that is my guess at this point.
However, this is just a guess. I am sure someone else may come along with more help.
Great question, by the way!
Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
Your question made me curious, and I did dig a little and found references that some scholars have speculated or stated that the terms flushing and shoddy were sometimes used for the same type of fabric. Both of those terms were noted as the materials used for soldier's uniforms and blankets in the early 1800s. So I would think it was used for prisoners also.
I have seen references to "flushing" as the short fibers used in making a material. And as shoddy does make use of only short fibers (second hand woolens were not carded to lengthen them), this could be another clue.
I have seen references to "flushing" as the short fibers used in making a material. And as shoddy does make use of only short fibers (second hand woolens were not carded to lengthen them), this could be another clue.