Englishman Jack Dewes established Westminster Carpets at Dandenong, Victoria in 1948-49. The company initially produced low priced rubber bonded carpet for the floors of motor cars, but quickly adopted for use in homes and offices.
The manufacturing process produced carpet directly from carded wool, eliminating the spinning and weaving processes. Its 'Westminster' brand was a haircord floor covering initially made from 80% goat hair and 20% highland wool on a rubberised hessian backing, and produced in a large range of single colours. In 1954 the factory also released carpet tiles, 10 inches (25cm) square, in a similar colour range.
By 1965, Westminster carpets were being produced in 26 different single colours on 40 inch wide rolls, and were being made from a combination of goats hair and man-made fibers like nylon and Evlan.
In the late 1970s the company was renamed Minster, removing the West from its street facing signage.
The site is now occupied by a Bunnings store stands. By pure coincidence, Bunnings sells a Minster carpet brand.
Photo supplied by: Wayne Bishop
No comments:
Post a Comment