The Neal Manufacturing Company was a neckerchief slide company based in

Biddeford, Maine Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. Its population was 22,552 at the 2020 census. The twin cities of Saco and Biddeford include the resort communities of Biddeford Poo ...

. It was founded by C. Millard Neal, proprietor of Neal's Novelty Shop.

Background

Neal was a Unit and District Level Volunteer with the

Pine Tree Council Scouting in Maine dates back to the creation of the Katahdin Area Council in 1920 and has continued prominently to the present day. Boy Scouts of America History Boy Scouting started early in Maine, with two local councils in operation by Fe ...

. The company made a large series of

bakelite Polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, better known as Bakelite ( ), is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, formed from a condensation reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. The first plastic made from synthetic components, it was developed ...

neckerchief A neckerchief (from ''neck'' (n.) + ''kerchief''), sometimes called a necker, kerchief or scarf, is a type of neckwear associated with those working or living outdoors, including farm labourers, cowboys and sailors. It is most commonly still seen ...

slides. They also made many special event slides. Most slides were sold unpainted. Earlier slides have the word "NEAL" written on the neckerchief holder, while later ones say, "NEAL SLIDE", and "NEAL SLIDE ®". The "®" on the last style, the most prevalent, is actually a circled r stands for

registered trademark The registered trademark symbol, , is a typographic symbol that provides notice that the preceding word or symbol is a trademark or service mark that has been registered with a national trademark office. A trademark is a symbol, word, or word ...

. The period of their manufacture may also be indicated by the color of the resin used. These were sold to summer camps and local councils, often sold at the trading post. The Scout Museum at the Pine Tree Council offices has a display on these nationally popular plastic slides. The slides featured every imaginable Scout image. Some came pre-painted but most scouts bought the plain ones and painted them themselves.

Gallery

File:Neal slide Indian head.jpg, Indian head File:Neal_slide_scoutorama.jpg, 1964 scoutoree File:Neal_slide_foot_conservation.jpg, Conservation foot File:Neal slide trail hiker.jpg, Trail Hiker file:Neal_slide_schiff_trail.jpg, Hiker of the Schiff Trails file:Neal_slide_ten_mile_river.jpg, Ten Mile River File:Neal slide trail hiker hcc.jpg, Camp Trail Hiker HCC

External links

References

Scouting uniform Defunct manufacturing companies based in Maine Biddeford, Maine Bakelite {{Scout-stub