A recent AskOkey podcast featured some of the Proff’s latest acquisitions, including two cut lengths of Lumb’s Golden Bale cloth, via H Lesser, subsidiary of AskOkey’s retail partner, Harrisons. This prompted a discussion between me and the Proff on what Golden Bale is. I thought I would follow up here.
Lumb’s Golden Bale, from the Harrisons Website
Briefly, “Lumb’s Golden Bale” referred to an award or recognition of a run of wool cloth that met certain specifications. In other words, if a mill produced cloth that met standards defined by Lumb, the cloth was deemed to deserve the descriptor “Golden Bale”.
Is there or was there a Mr Lumb? Yes, or there certainly was. The Lumb family had a firm, Joseph Lumb & Co. It operated out of Folly Hall Mill in Huddersfield from 1853 onwards. There is a company called Bulmer and Lumb in the dye business, but it is no longer connected to Lumb’s the spinner (it was at one time a subsidiary of ATC, which owned Lumb’s). The Golden Bale Award was invented by Teddie Lumb, in mid 20th century, to encourage farmers to produce high quality yarn. Lumb’s sorters would go through the clips sent from Australia and choose the clips that met four criteria: diameter of the fibres, as well as length, strength and elasticity.
Joseph Lumb sourced his wool from Australia and South Africa (Merino) and invented a prize for the best wool crops. Lumb’s coincidentally invented the Supers, but that is another story. Wool deserving of the Golden Bale grade comes today from Australian and Tasmanian sheep. Woven by Taylor and Lodge, Golden Bale is sold today by H Lesser, hence “Lumb’s Golden Bale, for H Lesser and Sons”. This makes Harrisons the seller of Golden Bale cloth.
How good is Lumb’s Golden Bale cloth? Great, if the stuff that Proff and I were looking at the other night is any indication. Smooth, feels light, hangs well and is clearly above average in quality. Consider some for your next commission.