There is quite an extensive section on the history of nylon in the book
"Matthews' Textile Fibres" edited by Herbert R Mauersberger 5th ed, 1947
published by John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. It would appear from this that the
use of nylon for fishing lines (as well as brush bristles, instrument
strings and sutures etc) was one of its earliest uses although no actual
date is given. Anyway, check out the book - it is quite fascinating on
this and other fibres.

Margaret Perkins
Museum of Victoria
Melbourne, Australia

> ----------
> From:         Dr H La Rue[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To:     Museum discussion list
> Sent:         Tuesday, 12 August 1997 3:54 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      fishing line
>
> Does anyone know where I could find out when nylon (or synthetic)
> fishing
> line was first produced, or when it was first used?  I know that Nylon
> dates from 1938 and nylons (ladies stockings) from 1939 but what about
> the
> use of nylon in cable form?
>
>         Hope someone out there might have a clue for me or the name,
> and
> address, of someone who might know.
>
>
> many thanks
> H
>
>
>
> Dr H La Rue, Lecturer/Curator of the Bate Collection and of the
> Musical
> Collections in the Pitt Rivers Museum and Fellow of St Cross College,
> Oxford,
> address: 60 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6PN, UK
> tel: (0)1865 274721
> fax: (0)1865 274725
>