A report on the historical development of lubrication technologies focuses on the problem of static electricity which has been a problem in the textile industry since initial mechanization. The problem was initially solved by humidifying the factories, a solution that was later supplemented by the use of lubricants. The development of new hydrophobic synthetic fibers and the increased speeds of modern machines are bringing this problem to the fore. Static electricity causes fibers to repel each other and to become attracted to metal machine frames. This decreases production and uniformity and increases wastes and defects. The two basic ways to eliminate static electricity or to keep it from forming are the use of physical methods, such as humidity and the grounding of machines, and the application of antistatic products to give the fiber a greater degree of surface conductivity. Present methods of measurement of static electricity involve measuring either electrostatic voltage or resistance.