Sample of Alpaca fiber, 1951. Alpaca, like the fibers from other camelids (camel, vicuna, and llama) is a hair, not a wool. Alpaca fiber is fine and soft, and often blended with other fibers for strength. Part of a gift of 14 fabric samples and 11 fiber samples by Goodall-Sanford Inc., (mills at Sanford, Maine), to illustrate "Fiber Blending for Better Performance", in September 1951.
The Goodall Worsted Company (maker of the mohair and cotton blend fabric "Palm Beach Cloth"), and the Sanford Mills (maker of mohair and wool velvets, plushes, and imitation fur fabrics) merged in 1944 to form Goodall-Sanford Inc. Palm Beach cloth was a menswear summer staple, and was one of the first fabrics considered "easy-care", although both its components were natural fibers. This donation illustrates some of the company's other efforts at blending fibers, in this case natural and synthetic blends. Goodall-Sanford's sales headquarters were at 545 Madison Avenue, NY 22, NY.
Mounted by donor for display, in a clear plastic domed container (now yellowing) with a black marker or paint lettering label.