Re: MtMan-List: Re: Mt man-List: rubber ponchos

[Dale Nelson <dnelson@wizzards.net>]

John C Funk wrote:
> 
> My thanks to John, Phyllis, Don and Jim for the interesting treatise on
> "vulcanization" of cotton cloth with natural rubber.
  The more I think about it I tend such items were rather
> scarce.
> 
> Any further thoughts????????

"Arms and Equipment of the Union,"  Time Life Books, ISBN 0-7370-3158-1
has pictures on page 215 of a rubber blanket 45'x79', fitted with brass
grommets, issued to the infantry Nov. 1861, and a rubberized poncho
first issued to mounted troops in Nov 1861.  Also fitted with brass
grommets and a buttoned slit.  On page 167 there is a photo of a
rubberized Sou'wester hat worn by sailors in foul weather.  When I was a
kid I had a Sou'wester hat that looked just like this one. 
	Actually we might be very surprised if we knew how common the use of
rubber blankets etc. was.  Sometimes the stuff that was used the most
was mentioned least, because everyone knew about it, and it didn't need
mentioning.