Re: MtMan-List: rubber ponchos

[Casapy123@aol.com]

Joe, 

If you have access to back issues of "Overland Journal," the magazine of the
Oregon-California Trail Association, Vol. 14, Num. 1, Spring 1996, has an
article titlted "India Rubber Kept Them Dry," by Jacqueline Williams.  While
its focus is primarily the Oregon Trail, it provides good info on pre-Civil
War uses of India rubber.  Its bibliography includes a book by Ralph F. Wolf,
"India Rubber Man; The Story of Charles Goodyear," published by Caxton
Printers in Caldwell, ID, in 1939.  That may be another source for you.

The article states there was a "veritable rubber boom" in the US during the
1830s.  Of course it was only the beginnings of real research and
experimentatin to make rubber useable.  Vulcanization wasn't discovered unitil
1839 so it was after that when most uses were developed.  Articles such as
coats, ponchos, capes, leggins, water pails, mittens, maps, balls, Haversacks,
pants, caps, syringes, suspenders, water tanks, saddle bags, blankets, shoes,
horse covers, mattress covers, teething rings, and elastics are all mentioned.
There is a good photo of an India rubber rain coat recovered in 1968 from the
cargo of the steamboat "Bertrand," which sank April 1, 1865, on its way to
Fort Benton in Montana territory.

Jim Hardee, AMM#1676
P.O. Box 1228
Quincy, CA  95971
(530)283-4566 (H)
(530)283-3330 (W)
(530)283-5171 FAX
Casapy123@aol.com

If you can't find the article, let me know, I'd be happy to mail you a photo
copy.  Back issues are available from OCTA at P.O. Box 1019, Independence, MO
64051-0519.  (816)252-2276.