| John the OFM | 21 Nov 2014 9:52 p.m. PST |
Did you know that "shoddy" is an actual technical term for fibers collected from floor scrap and shreded cloth, and pressed into cloth?
When I was in the manufacturing business, we used to buy rolls of "shoddy" and die cut it into shapes to use as sound deadening material in car door panels. Rolls of "shoddy" could be cut into clothing panels, and sewn into coats and trousers by unscrupulous contractors.
Naturally, it was not as strong as woven threads, but looked fine in a cursory examination.
As we all know, it came apart when wet. Like when rained on. So, "shoddy" has entered the language to describe … shoddy material. However, it had a specific meaning. Too bad I can't crosspost this to "language"/  |
| Pictors Studio | 21 Nov 2014 10:15 p.m. PST |
I did actually know this. I learned it on an In Our Time, I believe. |
GildasFacit  | 22 Nov 2014 3:15 a.m. PST |
There was a whole town in Yorkshire that thrived and made fortunes in the Shoddy trade. |
| langobard | 22 Nov 2014 4:53 a.m. PST |
I seem to recall that Shelby Foote quoted a newspaper report in the ACW damning the value of purchasing 'shoddy' uniforms that were issued during the ACW to the Union forces, and which looked terrific when first worn, but which disintigrated in the first rain… Thus 'shoddy' was transferred from a technical term as the OFM notes above, to a popular abusive term. |
| Dynaman8789 | 22 Nov 2014 5:31 a.m. PST |
Didn't know that, interesting stuff. Another thing I keep forgetting is that "tripe" is actually a real food product. |
| altfritz | 22 Nov 2014 5:45 a.m. PST |
link See also: Mungo I have a unit of light horse in my VBCW campaign called "the Mungo Marauders". :-) |
| Cerdic | 22 Nov 2014 7:44 a.m. PST |
I knew this. Can't remember where I first heard it but it was quite a while ago. Even before QI, which is where I get all my facts from these days…… |
| GildasFacit | 22 Nov 2014 7:59 a.m. PST |
Another thing I keep forgetting is that "tripe" is actually a real food product.
And a very delicious one too – cold with black pepper & vinegar (cider vinegar by preference) or hot cooked in milk and onions. |
| pigbear | 22 Nov 2014 8:07 a.m. PST |
Mmmm…. Best recipe for it is menudo IMO. |
| Zargon | 22 Nov 2014 10:48 a.m. PST |
Tripe is offal, and offal is entrails, eat it if you must, just don't call it food :) (My mother still cooks it up as a curry-my dad says she's cooking up 'towels' again.*-)
Cheers and never get caught by a 'shoddy' salesman. |
| GildasFacit | 22 Nov 2014 2:34 p.m. PST |
Tripe isn't entrails (that is Mumbles, hence M/Humble Pie) it is the lining of one of the cow's stomachs. Considering some of the rubbish people do eat it should have more status than crappy processed junk. |
 Herkybird  | 22 Nov 2014 3:47 p.m. PST |
I first came across the derivation of 'Shoddy' in Ken Burns' 'The Civil War'.
An excellent series, well worth revisiting! |
| Klebert L Hall | 22 Nov 2014 6:43 p.m. PST |
Used to be a village up the road from me called Shoddy, because it was built around a shoddy mill. Then we drowned it under a reservoir.
-Kle. |
| 138SquadronRAF | 24 Nov 2014 6:57 p.m. PST |
I did actually know this. I learned it on an In Our Time, I believe. In Our Time is one of the best radio programmes in the world. |
| uglyfatbloke | 25 Nov 2014 6:23 a.m. PST |
An interesting thing (for Brits especially)…did you know that  ? I'm sure I got that from QI…. |
| TKindred | 26 Nov 2014 12:08 p.m. PST |
I have never been so poor in my life that I had to eat any sort of organ meat. I had blood pudding once. Once! Scrapple is right out as well, as is Haggis, etc. I'll do veggies for an entire series of meals before I touch any of that organ/entrails stuff. |
| Mac1638 | 28 Nov 2014 6:16 a.m. PST |
Shoddy invented about 1813 by a Benjamin Law of Batley (UK),
by mixing woolen rags with virgin wool to make cloth.
It made him (mostly him) and Batley A fortune.
Was produced in Batley till the 1960s. |
feels it's important to celebrate progress in one's personal hobby life.
