Fed ground cloths

[D Harrelson]

I found a couple of Indo/Paki big grommet rubberized poncho ground cloths in the back of the garage left over from my early farbcore dayz. As one could expect, every seam on the things have separated but it seems a shame to rid myself of all that rubber. Any suggestion on any field-modified or other projects I could turn the landfill suspects into?

D Harrelson

Entirely Too Much Time On My Hands Mess

[Justin Runyon]

Re: Fed ground cloths

I've seen original rubber haversacks, started one myself long ago after comparing notes with Woodburn on one he found up in New England somewhere but never finished.

[J.H.Berger]

Re: Fed ground cloths

Justin, would you share those notes with us?

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Fed ground cloths

There were multiple examples of rubberized enlisted haversacks as well as knapsacks in the J.H. Kurtz collection that were sold at auction a couple years ago.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: Fed ground cloths

Worshner's "India Rubber and Gutta Percha in the Civil War" has some info on Fed and private purchase rubberized haversacks

[J.H.Berger]

Re: Fed ground cloths

Well yes but unfortunately not enough to reproduce one accurately. There was but one picture of a haversack in the book. I was searching for more detailed information.

[Justin Runyon]

Re: Fed ground cloths

Jan,

Dont have much info actually as the "notes" were in fact verbal, years ago, and like i said, I never even finished. Sorry that I'm really no help on this other than the idea.

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Fed ground cloths

D, if the rubber blankets are in decent shape I'm interested in buying one or two if you're willing to sell. I've been waiting to find some that fell apart to use in haversacks, a knapsack, or perhaps a Goodyear "bladder" canteen.

[adamandnicole]

Re: Fed ground cloths

The Ohio Historical Society has an ID'd rubber knapsack in it's collection. Very cool piece that I have threatened to reproduce for years.

Adam Dickerson

[jandksuttorp]

Re: Fed ground cloths

I have used pieces of ground cloth to make things like a field made water/sweat proof buttoning pouch to keep my paper items in that I can slip into my coat pocket. This works great for the times I don't carry a knapsack to keep things in.

John Suttorp

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Fed ground cloths

The discussion turned to knapsacks and haversacks rather quickly. For field modified gear, if you smoke, it would be relatively easy to make a tobacco wallet or gum-lined poke to maintain the moisture of your tobacco. Or perhaps use it to make a poke to keep your meat ration in without spreading grease to everything else in your haversack. Just my thoughts.

[GWagner]

Re: Fed ground cloths

Bladder canteen? Can you elaborate? Drawings, photos? Sounds interesting.

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Fed ground cloths

Galen,

It's a curved, kidney-shaped canteen formed by sealing two pieces of rubberized cotton together at the edges, cotton side out, with folded straps of the same material riveted to either end, and a pewter spout with stopper or screw-cap sticking out of one end. There are a few of these depicted in Mike Woshner's book and one sold at the Horse Soldier last year. They date from the 1850's and were part of an experiment with vulcanized equipment performed in the west.

[D Harrelson]

Re: Fed ground cloths

Brian-- I've gotten some good ideas for a couple of projects. When I'm through, I'll contact you about sending the remnats as I owe you for some buttons.
Don