Can anyone quickly lay hands on a source for archivally acceptable
polyester fiberfill, a la University Products but without the amazing price
tag?

Sure. I have one, but he's local and in Canada. To find a supplier of your
own, locate a furniture/pillow maker, and ask for their source. You can
have it tested at a lab (?$300??) as I did. A quick test would be to take a
sample, and immerse it in clear water- if you feel any slipperiness, you
may have starch, but it is available in plain, untreated rolls in various
widths. Mine is called "low melt" and is sold by the pound in roll form.

You'll have to do the usual due diligence to be sure you are getting pure
stuff, but I think you'll be able to get pure polyester without any
problem. However, unless you buy from someone who is already buying
wholesale quantities (eg the furniture maker), you may find that a few
pounds of fiberfill occupies a whole lot of storage space. That's what you
are paying UP for! (that and what you get on the internet for free, there's
a little more about this material on www.gowncare.com in the "do it
yourself" section.) Note that shipping can be expensive even though a roll
doesn't weigh much- you may have to pay a "cubic volume" charge

A call to my local supplier: He said that NC is the world capital of "non
woven high loft polyester batting", and recommends you find "Legett &
Platt" (sic?) who have about 5 factories local to you (including
Greensboro, Charlston, Sparta?, and other cities)

On my last trip to restock my own supply I was informed the minimum order
had doubled (it's still cheap at around $300 for a VERY LARGE quantity).  I
managed to stuff about twelve 50 inch high by four foot wide rolls into my
aging magic wagon, using all my strength and some rope- its quite soft and
resilient. On the drive back to my shop, I was in constant fear of the back
of my seat giving way, and being suffocated by an avalanche of polyester.
Sort of the curse of the Marshmellow Boy. The perils of preservation...

Hope this helps
js
Jerry Shiner
Keepsafe Systems
Microclimate and Oxygen-free storage supplies and solutions
www.keepsafe.ca
toll-free 800 683-4696  fax: (416) 703-5991

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