Trying to find out (get a time line) on when haversacks and packs started being "tarred". My searches pretty much gives me generic information or want to link me to Civil War Sutlers. I know about Vulcanization and when it was introduced but I've read generic references to "tarring" (without detailed information)of canvas prior to the 1840s.
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Tarred Haversacks and Packs Question
- Thread starter Ringel05
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Tarring was still used in the CW, and you might look at India-Rubber and Gutta-Percha in the Civil War era. It may reference the earlier methods prior to Goodyear's patent in 1844
LD
LD
India rubber coated canvas (expensive) was used prior to 1840 as was tarred canvas (a cheaper alternative). The idea I believe was in an attempt to provide water proofing of haversacks, knapsacks, ponchos, ground cloths for the soldiers out on the frontier and when they went to war. I know a fellow who acquired a haversack at a yard sale some years ago. In it was letters of an American soldier in the 4th U.S Infantry who was killed in the Mexican war and his personal effects were sent home in that haversack and its tarred.
"tar" before the start of the oil boom was oft times pine tar, that's can be a clear oil to a dark glob. Spanish red was oft times used making a med-dark red paint that was water resistint. Un treated haversacks were common as were just greasing them.
I don't know what the tar which would have been used for this was actually like, but chances are that it was pine tar, not petroleum tar. That is made by burning pine woods without oxygen, and the go-to place for that in the 18th century was Sweden, such that it was commonly called Stockholm tar.
Cordage treated with pine tar was used very commonly in ships, as rigging and many other things. You can still get lines, such as marline, treated in that way. I have some, and it is dry, not at all sticky or wet, has a distinct but mild smokey smell. It seems to have been infused completely through the cord, not just painted on the outside. It's waterproof.
How that would have been used for a haversack, I don't know.
Spence
Cordage treated with pine tar was used very commonly in ships, as rigging and many other things. You can still get lines, such as marline, treated in that way. I have some, and it is dry, not at all sticky or wet, has a distinct but mild smokey smell. It seems to have been infused completely through the cord, not just painted on the outside. It's waterproof.
How that would have been used for a haversack, I don't know.
Spence
Sailors treated staw hats with pine tar until black, hands were also blacked with tar and white clothing marked with tar off the rigging. The standing rigging...the lines used to stay or guy the mast would be black. The lines used to control the sails was not tarred ase heavy and remained brown... Sao lighty done it should soak in to the cloth and sty there.
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