Google Doodle commemorates the 250th birthday of Charles Macintosh - inventor of waterproof fabrics

The Google Doodle today is celebrating the 250th birthday of Charles Macintosh. Macintosh was employed as a clerk who was an accomplished chemist in his spare time. He invented many processes, and worked with metals and dyes. One of his experiments led to the invention of waterproof fabrics. The Google Doodle shows Macintosh testing out his invention in the rain.  The waterproofing was provided by a layer of rubber between two layers of cloth. The rubber was made soluble with naptha, and Macintosh patented the process. Tailors wanted nothing to do with the new material, so Macintosh set up his own factory. The company was acquired by the clothing company Thomas Hancock, which had already been experimenting with rubber based waterproof fabrics. After acquisition by Thomas Hancock, the coats based on the new fabric started being made all over England. The coats are called Mackintoshes, or Macs. The rubber based waterproof fabric started being used on other types of coats as well, not just raincoats. The coats were supplied to the British Army, British Railways and the police forces. The company was later acquired by Dunlop Rubber, Traditional Weatherwear, and is now owned by Japanese company Yagi Tsusho. Mackintosh now makes high end apparel and accessories. The Doodle does not appear in South America, South East Asia, Oceania, Africa and China.