THE STORY OF ARTIFICIAL SILK

for a firm that would give them a chance to
make the new yarns.

They chose Courtaulds. At that time,
Courtaulds were making black crape, mostly.
But it was going out of fashion. The sales
had fallen off. It was Queen Alexandra, I
believe, who put mourning out of fashion.
Little did she think, when she made this
decision, that she was starting a vast new
industry.

Latham and Tetley were given a free hand
by Courtaulds. At first, they had failure
after failure. They had to work with unskilled
men and makeshift machines. And there was
no demand for the new yarns. No manufacturer
 would have them at any price.
They offered free yarn to any manufacturer
ih would try it. Very few accepted the
offer.

There was one critical moment when even
the Courtaulds’ Board of Directors lost hope.
Tetley needed a few thousands more for new
machinery. They were inclined to refuse.

Tetley sprang to his feet and made a
speech—one of the most effective speeches
that has ever been made in the British Isles.

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