As you may know there is a detailed history of Sir Titus Salt in the alpaca library

Today Ken Madl sent me an iteresting piece about the dyeing of the first alpaca sample.
Which I hadn't seen before and which i wanted to share with you as its an interesting story.

Here a circumstance is worth mentioning because it concerns a pioneer and an early member of the committee of the Flour Society — Richard Penrose, who had an initial part in the creation of a new industry at Saltaire.
Fifty years ago Leeds had a considerable dyeing trade, and still does a considerable amount of dyeing for Bradford manufacturers. It has often been told how Mr. Titus Salt obtained his first sample of alpaca wool, but it is less known, if known at all, what decided him to make his first purchase. Mr. Penrose was the manager at Croisdale Brothers, well-known dyers in East Leeds, and was on friendly terms with Mr. Salt, who, when he had obtained in Liverpool his first sample of alpaca, brought it to Mr.
Penrose and asked him "whether he had ever seen material like it before."
Penrose, being struck with the appearance of the fibre, at once said, "Titus, it will either be a penny or a golden collar" (whatever that might mean).

Sir Titus Salt

Mr. Titus Salt was to call a week hence to learn how the alpaca behaved in the dyeing tub. It took the dye well, and when finished had a brilliant appearance. Mr. Salt duly appeared, and when Mr. Penrose saw him crossing the dye-house he was so anxious to tell him the result that he called out, "It is a gold collar, Titus," which proved a true prediction.
Mr. Salt was so astonished at the look of his sample that he never opened his lips, which was probably prudence as well as surprise. He hastily wrapped it up, thrust it into his pocket, actually ran across the yard, went straightway to Liverpool and purchased at his own price the whole of the alpaca wool, stored as useless in the dock warehouse. From this incident rose Saltaire mills, Saltaire town, and the fortunes and title of Sir Titus Salt.