Govan hair works

[Lucinda12]

Not quite sure what I want to ask!! Does this mean human hair? If so, what did they do with it? What did they make with it? Wigs, presumably? If that's the case, who were they for? Was it for Orthodox Jewish ladies perhaps, who might wear wigs ( although not exclusively for Jewish women) I had never heard of these works and I'm intrigued to know what it was and what they produced.

[Erato]

"Cleland, Robert, curled hair manufacturer furrier,
Govan Hair Works, Govan ; house, 2 Kensington
ter , Paisley road."

http://archive.org/stream/postofficeannual187980gla/postofficeannual187980gla_djvu.txt

Aside from hairdressers, there were quite a few other hair workers and hair merchants listed in this directory.  Maybe they made wigs for barristers and judges??

[Lucinda12]

I wondered about that too Erato, the other thing is where did the hair come from? I can only imagine it would be the 'sweepings' off the floor from hairdressers/barbers?? Did poor people sell their hair? Sorry, if that sounds crazy but I have no idea how a hair works would operate!!

[RJ_Paton]

Although human hair was used in the likes of wigs and in jewellery these tended to be smaller scale operations in a factory scale it is more likely  horse hair and its like which was extensively used in furniture.

[Skoosh]

Hair was woven into a fabric, sounds a bit jaggy 

Skoosh.

[Lucinda12]

Thanks for all replies! I knew I would get the answer on Rootschat!