A new exhibition about historic Jewish contributions to Manchester's raincoat and waterproofs industry has opened at Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry.

The "Waterproof People" exhibition is being run in conjunction with Manchester's Jewish Museum which provided rare artefacts from Jewish-run waterproofing businesses. Many Jewish entrepreneurs became involved in the waterproofing industry and by 1903 there were at least 100 waterproof workshops around the Jewish immigrant districts of Cheetham Hill and Strangeways.

Josie Sykes, MOSI community development officer, said the exhibition "features fascinating accounts of working life in the factory as well as a chance to see some of the tools of a trade which has largely ceased to exist."

Manchester Jewish Museum's Alex Grime said the exhibition helps "explore the lives of Jewish migrant families who worked in the waterproofing trade and find out about Jewish life in Manchester."

The exhibition runs until January 2011.