Re: MtMan-List: Re: Mt man-List: rubber ponchos

[John Kramer <kramer@kramerize.com>]

John,

Maybe I can help a bit.

India rubber is natural rubber also known as caoutchouc.  There are modern
perversions of the term used to describe other materials; that was not the
case
during our period of interest.

Before processing it is a light cream or dark amber color.  It is the latex
(milky juice) of rubber trees.  It was first polymerized by drying and
coagulation.

I don't have the exact date reference at hand for the first vulcanization of
rubber by Goodyear.  As I remember it would, AT BEST, have been pretty
uncommon
before 1840.  
Vulcanization only improved strength, flexibility and durability - it also
allowed for very hard rubber which could be cast into combs and such; the
natural rubber was used in much the same ways prior to 1840.  Not nearly so
broadly to so many purposes.

Rubberized cotton canvas of modern manufacture would probably be as close as
anyone could get commercially today.  It wouldn't be much different than what
was made before 1840.  More common today, I would suspect, would be a
synthetic
rubber which should offer no functional difference.  Perhaps better wearing
qualities.

I have encountered references to "rubber sheeting" to date I have not
determined if it referred to rubberized cloth or thin sheets of natural
rubber;
or both.  I have not had any rubber I was certain was not vulcanized to
determine if would have the strength for use in pure sheets to be practical. 
Then again I haven't spent a lot of time researching rubber and rubber goods. 
I am unaware of existing examples and suspect it all rotted away.

Unless used with great care waterproof goods will condense lots of water where
you may not want it.  Often more than if you used untreated canvas.  I would
suspect the most common use for rubberized cloth or oil treated canvas would
have been for protecting goods from weather - where condensation would not
be a
problem.  For example for bundling goods sealed in a cache.  Or packing
foodstuffs on a mule.

I have not encountered exact reference to colors finished goods may have been
traded in, most recipes call for black or brown pigment.  Yellow would have
been possible though not nearly as bright as the items you mention.  Yellow
Ochre --- maybe. 

I have recipes that call for "rubberizing/waterproofing" many materials
including canvas, cotton, linen, hemp and leather; many call for caoutchouc.

I am not presently aware of a source for pure natural India rubber.

Do any of the Lewis & Clark researchers out there have any specifics as to the
rubber goods they carried?  Unless I'm remembering wrong they had a rubber
boat.  If so, has anyone found out how it was built?  

Rubber goods would have been expensive.  It would be heavy to transport or to
carry.  I doubt it was widely used.  Oilcloth would be lighter and cheaper and
I suspect not much more common.  Why uncommon?  Because there aren't many
references.  Allan's Fort Hall find is significant I doubt they saved samples
or recorded much detail.  Damn.

John...


At 08:00 PM 10/30/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Alan,
>
>As usual, your information is invaluable and knowledge abounds.  
>However, I fear that certain generalizations may prove misleading to the
>novice amongst us. The fact that "vulcanized'" cloth/rubber garments
>existed within the fur trade period doesn't mean that yellow crossing
>guard rain coats  and goulashes are acceptable at various events
>replicating fur trade activity.  My point is that a more definitive
>response on that subject matter is earnestly needed, ie. what sort of
>fabric was rubberized?  What kind of "rubber" was used?  Where did it
>come from?  What colour was the eventual product?
>Was it sold as premade garments and/or sold as bulk
>sheeting?..........and so on.  What was "India rubber"?
>
>I've seen what is sold by Panther and seriously wonder if this is a true
>replication of a period product.  I tend to think that vulcanization in
>its infancy probable consisted of a gum type rubber, ill refined and a
>bit bulky.  Could be totally wrong.
>
>Any further incites on the particulars of this subject?
>
>John Funk
>
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John T. Kramer, maker of: 

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