painted ground cloth

[toolmaker1967]

I am researching painted ground cloth methods.
My question is????why do the reciepes call for black paint?
Wouldnt a person use whatever color paint he had left over from painting the house,barn,wagon,fence or whatever.
I cant imagine black being a popular color unless it was the cheapest paint available.
Does anyone use ground cloths painted other colors than black?
I know this is a what if question, but it is a fair question.
David Hardman

[Pritchett Ball]

Re: painted ground cloth

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/search.php?searchid=953843

The above link was what I came up with on the search function of this site.
Yours is a good question, and other than having the material left to it's natural color, (using linseed oil only, with no coloring) I have never thought about any other color than black.

Anyone know something different?

Kevin Dally

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: painted ground cloth

I am not sure why black was chosen...but this seems to be "the" color used for MILITARY groundcloths, and accessories (haversacks, cap covers, etc.) during the mid 19th century (1860-1865)...

Earlier periods did indeed use a variety of paints...for example the L'hberte (sp.) Knapsack during the War of 1812 seems to have been predominately painted in "Prussian Blue"...while there also exists some documentation that during the American Revolution, some knapsacks were painted a red-earthy brown color.

As far as Civilian uses...the options are virtually limitless in colors...

Paul B.

[c.irelan]

Re: painted ground cloth

Hello

Painted cloth or oil cloth was a practice in many of homes it was common to see them covering the floor of many a summer kitchen as well as other places in the home. It was common for them to be produced in home then to be puechased. I have read an account where a new cloth was made in the fall and hung to cure on the barn until next spring. Anyway you have the choice to use any period correct colur or colurs you wish as well as proper stincles. But be careful it was not black paint that was used it was the pigment knowen as lamp black, you mix pigments with a medium to make the paint, as well I don't know about were your from but our barns here are painted with a home made paint that contains parts of iron for colur and a milk bi-product left over from processing which something in my mind says that I wouldn't want to sleep on that maybe that's just me though.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: painted ground cloth

Wasn't sure where to post the following reference, so I'm sticking it here. The following Excerpt is from the Richmond Daily Dispatch. December 17th, 1861.

http://imls.richmond.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ddr;cc=ddr;q1=frederick%20s%20hall;rgn=main;view=text;idno=ddr0350.0020.141

Military goods, &c.
Oil Cloths.
--The subscribers, having increased their facilities for manufacturing, are now prepared to supply merchants with Oil Cloths, of various widths, from 4-4 to 4-8 inches wide. Also, Cap Cloths. These goods will be found superior to any other manufactured in the South. The attention of clothiers is particularly called to these goods. Samples and prices forwarded by mail.

Reith & Port,

Factory near Central Depot,
Office on Main and Governor sts. de 2--lm*
Military Water-Proof Equipments.
--A complete assortment of Oil Cloth Coats, Capes, Blankets, Leggins, Galters, Havelocks, Haversacks, and Knapsacks, to be found at the Knapsack Depot, on Main and Governor streets, over Spence & Garey's. These goods are all manufactured of the best Southern made materials, and at reasonable prices. Su ers and others supplied, wholesale.

de 2--lm*

Paul B.

[Joe Walker]

Re: painted ground cloth

I recall several fellas back in the late 80's making CS "oil cloth" sans lamp black or paint . Turned out they made a very good CS fly trap (you can guess what I mean:D). My WWII dad called the old cloth backed coated kitchen table cloths from the 40's and 50's "oil cloths" and patched our tent with the stuff.


Joe Walker

[fahtz]

Re: painted ground cloth

Joe,
I have a fly cloth like you speak of... it it not the best thing, for anything really... it is sticky and doesn't hold much water out. I guess that is what I get for listening to my more seasoned campigner friends... at least on this issue.

[mboyce]

Re: painted ground cloth

I have two groundcloths that I made. One with lampblack, and one without. I am not sure if I got the mixture right for the one without the black because it is "EXTREMELY" sticky even after a year. I had to have a pard help me pull it apart and unfold it at Port Hudson last year, and anything that touches it sticks. The black one is perfect and nothing sticks to it.

[Clsinclair]

Re: painted ground cloth

I have two groundcloths that I made. One with lampblack, and one without. I am not sure if I got the mixture right for the one without the black because it is "EXTREMELY" sticky even after a year. I had to have a pard help me pull it apart and unfold it at Port Hudson last year, and anything that touches it sticks. The black one is perfect and nothing sticks to it.

My first 200 or so were sticky. About 5 years ago I started mixing some Japan Dryer with the oil and also in the lamp black. Now they dry fairly fast.

Claude Sinclair

[D F Smith Historic]

Re: painted ground cloth

Hi All,

Dryers make a huge difference with period emulsions and paint. Although one needs to get the mix just right even with dryers.

As far as why black was used. I know part of the reasoning on haversacks was to keep a uniform appearance by hiding the dirt, grime and grease a haversack acquires overtime.

J. Billings in "Hardtack & Coffee" mentions this as well.

It is a funny thing........ my period painted M1851 haversack is more water proof now with all the grease in the bag walls than when it was new:D

Don S