Little Lamb, Who Made Thee?

U.S. wolves may find their prey wearing sheep's clothing next winter. A chemical process which makes sheep pelts look like expensive fur was announced last week.

By this process an imitation beaver coat retailing at about $150--less than one-fourth the cost of genuine beaver--can be made from shorn sheep pelts. Unshorn skins can be converted into longhaired "furs" such as fox, complete with silvery sheen. The manufacturers even talk of imitating mink. The synthetic furs are more durable than the genuine article.

The process was developed by a St. Paul inventor named Jose Baraquiel Calva, onetime Mexican government engineer. By treating fibers with several chemicals, including cresol, alcohol, benzol and hydrochloric acid, he converts them into a resinous plastic. The fibers can then be stiffened or softened, straightened or curled, made mothproof, shrinkproof, even waterproof.

The entire present output of these imitation furs (1,500 skins a day) is going into military flyers' suits. But the manufacturers hope to begin production for civilians by September.

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