Rainboot-history,ever wondered where the rubber boot came from?Rainboot-history makes a wonderful tale. Did you realize that Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington started it all? He instructed his shoemaker, Hoby of St. James Street, London, to modify the 18th century boot because fashion was changing and the old boot didn't go with the new fashion. We're talking guys fashion here, by the way. It was the year 1817 when the wellington first made its appearance. At this time men's fashion was going through major changes as gentlemen everywhere discarded their knee breeches in favour of trousers. This, however, led to a problem regarding comfortable footwear. The previously popular Hessian boot, worn with breeches, was styled with a curvy turned-down top and heavy metallic braid - totally unsuitable for wearing under trousers. This was when rainboot-history was started: the new boot was designed in soft calfskin leather and had the trim removed and was cut closer around the leg. It was hard wearing for battle, yet comfortable for the evening. The Iron Duke didn't know what he'd started - the boot was dubbed the wellington and the name has stuck ever since. These boots quickly caught on with patriotic British gentleman eager to emulate their war hero. Considered fashionable and foppish in the best circles, they remained the main fashion for men through the 1840's. In the 50's they were more commonly made in the calf high version and in the 60's they were both superseded by the ankle boot, except for riding. All these boots were made of leather. However, in America, where there was more experimentation in shoemaking, producers were beginning to manufacture with rubber. One such entrepreneur, Mr. Henry Lee Norris, is part of the rainboot-history; he came to Scotland in search of a suitable site to produce rubber footwear. And so began the Hunter story - Wellington boots handmade in Scotland; the perfect footwear for the wet British countryside.The Hunter story begins in the 1850's when an Englishman whose name has been lost in the mists of time patents a process to cure (vulcanise) natural rubber. An American entrepreneur, Mr. Henry Lee Norris, realised that the patent related solely to England so he registered his own trademark and patent in Scotland, and then arrived in search of a suitable site to produce rubber footwear. Having acquired a block of buildings in Edinburgh, known as the Castle Silk Mills, the North British Rubber Company was registered as a limited company in September 1856. Mr. Norris then had to find employees skilled in the manufacture of rubber footwear. This was no simple task for such a new industry. The problem was solved by importing labour. Four adventurous individuals from New York set sail on a ship laden with manufacturing machinery bound to become pioneers of the rubber industry in Scotland. They were employed not only to make boots, but also to instruct others in the process. Although the company began its life as a manufacturer of rubber boots and shoes, it quickly expanded to produce an extensive range of rubber products. These included tyres, conveyor belts, combs, golf balls, hot water bottles and rubber flooring - to name just a few. Rainboot-history might have been different if not for the war breaking out. Initially the rubber boot was produced in a limited number but production was dramatically boosted with the advent of World War I. The North British Rubber Company was asked by the War Office to construct a sturdy boot suitable for the conditions in flooded trenches. The mills ran day and night to produce immense quantities of these trench boots. In total, 1,185,036 pairs were made to cope with the Army's demands. The fashionable boot was now a functional necessity. Again the company made an important contribution during World War II. At the outbreak of war in September 1939, 80% of the entire output consisted of war materials. The list of contributions was extensive, including ground sheets, life belts, bomb covers, gas marks and wellington boots. Although trench warfare was not a feature of the war, the wellington still played an important role. Those forces assigned the task of clearing Holland of the enemy had to work in terrible flooded conditions. Thus The North British Rubber Company was called upon to supply vast quantities of Wellingtons and thigh boots. By the end of the war the wellington had become popular among men, women and children for wear in wet weather. The boot had developed to become far roomier with a thick sole and rounded toe.I find it fascinating to learn more about rainboot-history, and in general where things originate from, it makes you appreciate them so much more. We're so used to cheap throw-away, non-precious goods these days, it doesn't hurt to stand still for a moment and consider the past. If you are interested in reading more about rainboot-history, please see some links below. The History of the Wellington Celebrating 50 years of the Hunter Wellie Back from rainboot-history to Home
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