Thermo / Swansdown Knitting Company, Hudson, NY

[Dinerman]

The Swansdown Knitting Co. was originally known as Beaver Mills, and was headquartered in Hudson, New York. In 1904, they took over a mill in West Sand Lake, and in 1906, took over a mill in Kinderhook Village. In the 1920s, the company was renamed "Thermo", after their best selling product. Thermo innovated the use of knitted fabric for topcoats and other outerwear, the fabric of which had previously been in the hands of weavers. Thermo relocated to Hudson, NY, and the West Sand Lake factory was sold in 1939. (source)
Their usage of a heavy knit for an outerwear-type jacket brings to mind the Brown's Beach vest and jacket, which was constructed with a similar idea in mind. Thermo Sweater coat was made until at least the 1940s, and sold into the 1950s, largely unchanged. (source).

The Thermo Factory in West Sand Lake (picture)

The Thermo Factory in Hudson (picture)

1913 - Norfolk Style


1915


1915


1915


1916


1916


1917


1917


Thermo continued advertising basically the same models throughout the 1920s. It would appear they stopped advertising by the 1930s, though ads from stores which stock them show they continued to be sold through the 1930s and 1940s, and into the 1950s. Ad copy from the later years describes the Thermo sweater as "traditional". Failure to keep up with the times may have contributed to the eventual demise of the company.