A post today about a glove ordered for handling an owl mascot at Rice University (
http://ricehistorycorner.com/2015/06/09/one-16-triple-thickn...) led me to look up some info about Salvatore Kalem, who moved from Gloversville to Southern California.
> From a fan (
http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-39148.htm...)
"when i was a boy i lived about 20 miles from the famous glovemaker "sal kalem",, and i visited him whenever i could find an excuse to get into his shop,,i tried to gather as much info as i could with my eyes,,, but mr kalem was very secretive,, and very suspicous of falconers,
i did learn that he used many types of materials,,and that most of his success had very little to do with any fancy stitching,, he sewed the gloves on rather lightweight machines, and never had stitches going thru more than 2 pieces at once,, so when he made a glove with several layers, he did it in a special, layer upon layer fashion,,it was quite ingenious, and had been deveoped over what i imagine was thousands of years,, because mr kalem,was born and raised in "glover" new york where glovemakers from all over the world had settled and continued thier very traditional trade,,,
he had been forced to work in glove factories as a child,and continued to make gloves,after leaving glover, and settling in california,,,
so i imagine the patterns and techniques he used were likely very old,,..."
> Bird handling gloves are now known as "Kalems." (
http://world-bird-sanctuary.blogspot.com/2012/09/save-natura...)
> Salvatore Kalem died in 2011 (
http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.a... ) and Jim Spohn at Traditions Glove took over Mr. Kalem’s business.
Best wishes,
-- Mike Ross