More on CC41 labels

[pauline]

You may know this:- I did not
I have just been reading on www.knittingtogether.org.uk about the infamous CC41
They say that companies were told every 4 month how much they could product and had to report a output figure every two months.
More interestingly they say that on a label itself a the style number and the company's code was stamped onto.
Have you see these on the label?
if not then it is very likely these been stamped on with ink or dye the these have washed out by now or faded!
This is the first reference I have come across reference to any sort of enforcement of control apart from just the label itself conforming to a standard.
This means that there is a record somewhere of the companies making CC41 clothing and the output.
I will have to try and find more on this.
Paul.
There is a slight chance that this only refers to stocking or knitted items.

Update:- The National Archive (London) has at least 69 documents referring in some way to civilian Clothing regulations.. (1941 ) should have looked here first stupid me!

 

[crinolinegirl]

I've seen the numbers occasionally, stamped in purple ink. It probably was originally blue but faded to purple. I've also seen numbers sometimes printed in black ink, the same as what the label is printed in but only rarely. I've always wondered what they were for!

Lei

 

[pauline]

That's good that it is possible to see the numbers,( occasionally) I have just started to look through the records but there are 10 million in total.
not just located in London

 

[hipvintage]

Thank you so much for this information, Paul!

Have fun plowing through that data!

Janine

 

[fuzzylizzie]

Great information. I'll add it to the label resource entry!

 

[pauline]

Even more info on CC41 and the posh label:-

The following is not really new info, more just confirms what has been said in Rosine thread 'Posh Utility' label- solved?

The government was discussing these if not bringing them into reality:-


a) 1941, Trading with the enemy: export of clothes to unoccupied France


b) 1946 - 1949 Re-exports: enquiry regarding possibility of importing hosiery and grey cloth from Italy for processing and re-export from United Kingdom to various overseas markets .


c) 1941 Fashion show to promote U. K. exports of fabrics and cloth to U.S.A. for dollar earnings . Fashion show to promote U. K. exports of fabrics and cloth to U.S.A. for dollar earnings Ministry of Food: Establishment Department: British Food Mission, Washington


There are hundreds more documents relating clothing in 1939/1950

It looks like the CC41 regulations were also altered in 1943, possibly to make them stricter, also the exchange rates with the USA and UK was abolished, this I think means it was set at a fixed rate of $1 = 1/4 of a £1 which would mean clothes would be very expensive to buy from the U. K.

After the war the Royal Family was complaining a lot about clothing coupons.

The only thing I am certain is the more you look more confusion results.