The largest independent, non-commercial, consumer-oriented resource on the Internet for owners, collectors and enthusiasts of fine wristwatches. Online since 1998.
Informational Websites ChronoMaddox -- the legacy of Chuck Maddox OnTheDash -- vintage Heuer website Zowie -- Omega information
Discussion Forums ChronoMaddox Forum Heuer Forum Omega Forum
Counterfeit Watchers ChronoTools Forum ChronoTrader Forum
Vintage Heuer Discussion Forum
The place for discussing 1930-1985 Heuer wristwatches, chronographs and dash-mounted timepieces. Online since May 2003.
OnTheDash Home What's New! Price Guide Chronographs Dash Mounted Collection
Wikipedia: Interesting Description of "Corfam"


Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, has an interesting description of Corfam, as follows:

    Corfam was the first poromeric imitation leather, invented by Lee Hollowell, and introduced by DuPont in 1963 at the Chicago Shoe Show. Corfam was the centerpiece of the DuPont pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair in New York City. Its major advantages over natural leather were its durability and its high gloss finish that could be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. Its disadvantages were its stiffness which did not lessen with wearing and its relative lack of breathability. DuPont manufactured Corfam at its plant in Old Hickory, Tennessee from 1964 to 1971. After spending millions of dollars marketing the product to shoe manufacturers, DuPont withdrew Corfam from the market in 1971 and sold the rights to a company in Poland. Corfam is mainly remembered as a textbook marketing disaster.

    Corfam is still used today in some products, an example being certain types of equestrian saddle girth.

Use this link to go to the Wikipedia Article re Corfam. From there, you can also read about naugahyde and other attempts at synthetic / plastic, also known as "pleather". Interesting (??) that a good corfam strap for a vintage Heuer chronograph can be more valuable than a naugahyde sofa or chair!!

Jeff

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

: Hi all,

: Today i received the Valjoux 72 Carrera I had
: been waiting for so long.I bought in on
: E-Bay, the photographs were kind of blurry
: ,seller claimed that the watch was
: "like new"however, so eventually I
: gave it a chance, also because the seller
: answered my questions very dilligently.And
: guess what, I got it for approx. USD 1500,-.

: Eventually my belief in the good nature of most
: people was rewarded. The watch is an
: absolute stunner and must be my "once
: in a life time buy". Not one scratch on
: the case, the Valjoux 72 looks pristine ( my
: friend who is a apprentice watchmaker opened
: the watch today and was taken by awe and
: wants to buy it, won't sell for now though),
: the hands are like new and the dial is clear
: and free of patina.The accuracy of the watch
: is incredible: my friend the watchmaker has
: one of those fancy measuring instruments
: with which he measures the watches running
: qualities ( rhythm, amplitude etc etc). What
: a joy to see those digits so stable!

: I will make a few photos this evening and send
: them to Jeff stein (jeff what is the address
: again)?

: While studying the watch I was caught by the
: strap. It looks like an old fashioned strap
: like I saw them in the sixties
: seventies.Leaderish, simple but not
: particularly attractive as per today's
: standards.It is in new state however. On the
: back side are the words "Heuer"
: and "Corfam" printed in a gold
: colour. Now here's my question: can anybody
: tell me whether this could a genuine 60ies
: strap?Was Corfam supplier to Heuer?
: According to the seller the watch is from
: 1965.
: Look forward to your expert feedback

Messages In This Thread

Corfam:60ies Carrera strap supplier?
Wikipedia: Interesting Description of "Corfam"
Congratulation!! / Corfam = The Real Thing
Current Position
Chronocentric and zOwie site design and contents (c) Copyright 1998-2005, Derek Ziglar; Copyright 2005-2008, Jeffrey M. Stein. All rights reserved. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the terms of use. CONTACT | TERMS OF USE | TRANSLATE