THE STORY OF "JAEGER" WEAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2707, 29 February 1916, Page 8

THE STORY OF "JAEGER" WEAR

Contrary to any opinion that may be formed to tlic contrary, the Jaeger woollen clothing enterprise, is absolutely British, ill capital, management, -ivork-people, and raw materials. It lias always been so. It was in the war of 1870 that Dr. Jaegor came to the conclusion that troops engaged in that great struggle had suffered through their underclothing and linings to their tunics being of cotton. He evolved his theory of the healthfulness of pure wool clothing in 1880, and in 1881 published the result of his investigations. Tho idea—and that only—was adopted .by llr. Lewis R. S. Tomalin (who becamo a leading and active member of tho London Chamber of .Commerce). Ho 'and two of liis friends purchased all the Jaeger interests outright for the whole of the British Empire, and in 1883 an essentially British enterprise was launched. A little company was formed, ivith a capital of £2000 only, and a 6mall office opened in Fore Street, London, the centre of the soft goods trade of the world. The idea was foreign in its origin, but its carrying out ill the British Empire was done entirely by British subjects born and bred, as it is to-day. The Jaeger Company ha 6 never been anything elso but British, and its goods are distributed from branches throughout the British Empire. Its staff numbers 700 in its' warehouses and in London and depots elsowherc. The attorney in New Zealand is Mr. A. A. Corrigan. The company lias supplied probably two-thirds-of the officers who havo_ gone to the front from the United Kingdom alone. It has big contracts for botli the British Army and Navy. While companies that carried on trade with German capital have had their Ro.val Warrants withdrawn, the Jaeger Company retains its Royal Warrant; clearly demonstrating its All-British origin and character. (Published by arrangement.) [The story of Jaeger wear was published in a short article in our issue of yesterday's date, and is told again to make quite clear_ the fact that the company's enterprise is entirely British, and that the originator of the idea, Dr. Jaeger, sold his interests outright to Lewis Tomalin and two of tho latter's friends.]