Objects Database

Jaeger Blanket Sleeping bag

Accession Number

980.2012.1

Object Name

Jaeger Blanket Sleeping bag

Created

21/02/2012

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

21/02/2012

Brief Description

Rectangular shaped blanket sleeping bag with taped edges and three large button holes and buttons.

Materials

wool

Dimensions

180(l) x 84(w) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

"JAEGAR" sewn on black label. Name tag with "HUGH FRASER"

Colour

cream

Maker

Jaegar

Object Production Place

England

Provenance

Dr Gustav Jaeger was a German zoologist and physiologist who advocated the benefits of clothing made from animal fibres/hair rather than vegetable fibres. Having translated his works into English and receiving Jaeger's permission, a guy called Lewis Tomalin opened a clothing store in London in 1884 named, 'Dr Jaeger's Sanitary Woollen System', and though there have been many changes along the way the Jaeger brand has survived through to 2012 and looks set to continue.
There is a fabulous early (1882) Jaeger's catalogue on the internet which shows a version of the blanket sleeping bag that we have here in our collection, though we think ours is slightly later in origin, possibly first World War as Jaeger are known to have been involved in the war effort.
Simon Fraser donated this one on behalf of his father, Hugh, who had been an artilleryman in WWII. He may well have used it if he was vehicle borne as it is rather heavy and bulky for carrying in a rucksack, though the Dalton family used them for camping in the 1920's as you can see from the photo opposite - the kit was so heavy back then they used bikes for carrying it.
We've found an excellent wee poem in the 1896 Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal - it's all about mountaineering equipment and one verse in particular seems pertinent :-

Forth to the wilderness he went,
More drouthy than the son of Hagar;
His manly back, perspiring, bent
'neath half the stock of Dr Jaegar.

P.S. A blanket manufactured by Dr Jaeger's Sanitary Woollen System Co. Ltd. which once belonged to the Arctic Explorer Apsley Cherry-Garrard, was sold at auction by Christie's in 2006 for £1,440.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Simon Fraser

Acquisition Date

21/02/2012

Condition

One button missing

Condition Check Date

21/02/2012

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

21/02/2012

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