gum blankets versus painted canvas

[wilber6150]

Hi list,
Trying to finish up my kit and was wondering which should I get a gum blanket or painted canvas, does anyone have any thoughts on one versus the other..From the forums I see that the only choice for the blankets is from Jarnagin the posts were from 2004 does anyone have any current thoughts on them...
thanks

[frankstevanus]

Re: gum blankets versus painted canvas

Will:
It depends on wether youa re doing a Federal or Confederate impression. If Federal, I think many of those guys use a gum blanket. And last I heard Joe Hoffman over at Skilletlicker was about to make a run of them. If you can get one from him. My understanding is he makes about the best in the biz.
A lot of confederates, though, used oil clothes. So if you go with the grey you can get a good canvas jobber.
Good Luck
Frank Stevanus

[Clsinclair]

Re: gum blankets versus painted canvas

A correctly made Federal Oil Cloth can add to ones Federal Kit. I don't have the Federal Quartermaster Specs in front of me but I do know that a correctly made on was about 71" X 46" with 18 grommets. Two being used to tie the tape to make a shawl. There's a good picture in Echo's of Glory of a surviving sample. The grommets would be placed two inchs from one side and one end and 1" for the other end and side. Grommets would be placed no more than 14" a part. I know a good source for these but he is not an approved vendor.

Regards,
Claude Sinclair

[ScottCross]

Re: gum blankets versus painted canvas

Here's an original in the Oshkosh Public Museum's collection. It measures 72" x 44". Black rubberized water-proof blanket constructed of canvas cloth and vulcanised rubber coating on one side; brass grommets around edges. Stamped within ovals in red ink: (1st oval) "MANUFACTURED/BY/THE PHOENIX RUBBER CO/ LICENSED BY; (2nd oval) UNION INDIA RUBBER CO./EXCLUSIVE/MANUFACTURERS/GOODYEARS PATENT/DEC 25TH 1849/EXTENDED 1858/NEW YORK; (3rd oval) CONTRACT; (4th oval) FEB 4 1865."