Canteen Cord

[FootsoreFederal]

I know that the canteens made in the New York depot had a chain attatchment for the cork (and if I'm wrong about that please forgive me) but did they also come with attatchments made of jute or hemp?

I tried the 'Search' feature and found nothing on this, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Zach Whitlow

[Jimmayo]

Re: Canteen Cord

Canteens from other depots did come with string cork attachments. See this page for a picture and a little explenation.

http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/j_mayo/uscanteen.html

[FootsoreFederal]

Re: Canteen Cord

Ah, exactly what I was looking for!

Thanks for the link!

[Jimmayo]

Re: Canteen Cord

I have been trying to recreate accurate looking canteen stopper string. What I have seen for sale at various places is far from correct. So far I am close but not quite there. Here is a picture of the real thing and what I am working at. I think the string needs to be a little thicker in diameter. Remember the string should be tightly wound. The color also has me wondering. All the original string I have observed is the brownish color. Was this the result of not bleaching it, has it has become dirty over the years or was it the natural color of the string?

Any comments?

[rogue]

Re: Canteen Cord-have you tried...?

Jim,
Have you tried Wooded Hamlet Designs (woodedhamlet.com) of Pennsylvania?
They have three-ply Belgian linen cord that I use, very close in thickness and color to the originals I have.
Steve Sullivan
46th Illinois
Co. Mil. Hist.

[Jimmayo]

Re: Canteen Cord

Steve: I did not check there. Just went to their web site and saw the cord. Looks Ok. Will try to get them to send me a sample.

Thanks for the info.

[markj]

Re: Canteen Cord

For your edification and perusal. This canteen is in the collection of a private men's college near my home and is securely identified to a 1st Lieutenant who served in Company F, 49th USCI between April 1864 and July 1865 (he died in January 1869 of "galloping consumption," aged only 23).

Interestingly, there are no discernible contractor stamps on the neck (or anywhere else for that matter). It also has a jack chain, suggesting it was fabricated under contract with the NY QM Depot. The cover is in a remarkable state of preservation and the inside of the canteen is still shiny and in "just-issued" condition. The color of the cover is not "true" since I had to use a flash. The actual color is something approximating a dark "royal blue." Incidentally, one of the photos shows the canteen resting atop the lieutenant's issue blanket, which is also in a remarkable state of preservation (just some minor holing in a few spots). Indeed, it's in such good shape that I could--dare I say it--take it out to an event!

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Canteen Cord

I have been trying to recreate accurate looking canteen stopper string. What I have seen for sale at various places is far from correct. So far I am close but not quite there. Here is a picture of the real thing and what I am working at. I think the string needs to be a little thicker in diameter. Remember the string should be tightly wound. The color also has me wondering. All the original string I have observed is the brownish color. Was this the result of not bleaching it, has it has become dirty over the years or was it the natural color of the string?

Any comments?

Jim

If you totally strike out on your search, you may try making the cord yourself. The library has books on making cord and rope, even my old boyscout handbooks have a pretty good section on the process.

[Jimmayo]

Re: Canteen Cord

Here is an example of a canteen which uses a smaller diameter cord for the stopper. Appears like there were various sizes used. All have the twist well defined and not much/no fraying.