Use in WWI
Some snippets of forum conversation over at The Trench Line Great War Reenactors forum
http://s12.zetaboards.com/The_Trench_Line/topic/127389/1/
Above photos from a Pickerings price list from 1904 -1914
Rickachae: What do we know about Blanco during the war? Did it only exist in liquid form? Were there other colors beside light green? Was it just a thing for the regulars? By the end of the war, was it commonly used at the front? Are there great dangers in generalizing about its use? Does it come down to finding out what a specific battalion did when trying to do an accurate reconstruction of ‘o8 WE? Anybody have chapter and versus on this incredibly riveting topic?
I did some research on this subject. I looked at original WWI pieces that were not reissued. I also researched the regulations and period books and manuals. While the following should not be taken for the only way, this is what I found.
T. J. Shackleton: Most if not all of the blancoed webbing I examined was in the light green (103) shade. This is hard to pick out in photos as it is close to the natural khaki. Blanco was required, as per regulations, to ALL units who were issued P-08 . Of course the regulars and the guards were more strict about this. I noticed it was applyed to the outside facing area of the webbing only. (avoids marks on the uniform.)
The blanco was issued in a dry form. I have seen a powder and in pressed cakes. You mixed with water and applyed with a toothbrush or rag. It has great staying power. But as Chapell states in his book” reapplying could be frustrating” as it makes the webbing somewhat waterproof. Tommys Packfillers has some nice repro blanco wrapping paper.
Finding 103 shade blanco is a bit of a task. the powder and cakes are rare. (due to use I suppose) I found some newly made of that shade in a paste form that matches the original perfectly. The use of blanco on replacement items issued in the field is up to conjecture. When out of the line you cleaned and mantained your kit the best you could and blanco was an issue item. Usually carried with a rag in the helve head carrier. So I feel that after the initial application the touch up and continued usage was up to the whim of the Officer/ NCO.
QMSwalrus: Blanco originally existed as cakes of white pipeclay (hence the name and the nickname “Blanco” to men with the surname “White”)
With the introduction of the 1908 pattern cotton web, coloured blancos were introduced, these were still in the form of a cake (not a ‘green compact’ of powder, but a solid cast(?) block), about the size of an ice-hockey puck, slightly concave at the top and with the product name embossed.
Blanco was supplied in a range of colours, however, the more popular colours seem to have been pale green or a tan colour approximating that of new webbing, this allows a uniform colour (when properly applied) and fills the thread of the web,giving a shower proof effect, delaying deterioration of the equipment.
By the introduction of 1937 pattern webbing, the range of colours had expanded further, covering all shaded from white to ‘Jungle Green’ and RAF Blue.
During the ‘National Service Era” (1946-60) and slightly later (to about the late 1960s / early 1970s) Blanco was replaced by a tinned jelly like variant called “Fleet” (and a similar “webbing cleaner” made be Carr, Day and Martin); although slightly easier to use, this was more waterproof than conventional Blanco (and therefore more difficult to re-apply/remove).
To apply blanco, the webbing should be stripped down and all removable brass taken off (now is the time to clean the brass thoroughly, trying not to get any metalpolish onto the web -use a button stick and paper as masks); the webbing is then scrubbed with clean water until the surface is thoroughly soaked (immersion in warm water makes this easier, but takes longer to dry); a little water is dropped into the concavity on top of the Blanco block and allowed to stand for a couple of minutes; a small, stiff brush (such as a large toothbrush) is wetted in a mug or tin of clean water and pressed lightly into the surface of the block and the material tranfered onto the brush is worked firmly into the surface of the webbing. The brush must be kept wet (as must the surface of the block), work the Blanco in, in small circles trying to ensure as even a coat as possible; when completely coated the webbing should be set aside to dry thoroughly.
Once dry, brush the webbing firmly with a clean stiff brush (a scrubbing is fine), this has two purposes, first to remove the excess material (which would dissolve in the first rain and cover the wearer’s uniform) and to give a more uniform finish to the webbing.
At this point any Blanco on brasses may be removed by scraping it off and the brasses will respond to light polishing; reassemble equipment.
Everyone I have known who has used ‘block Blanco’ kept it in a watertight tin as it prevented other items becoming coated with Blanco (and the damp Blanco from becoming contaminated by fluff, bits, dirt etc. and protected the Blanco from breaking (or, if it did, contained the bits to allow it still to be used) – beware, Blanco can go mouldy.
It seems likely that any re-Blancoing would be carried out when the battalion was out ‘on rest’.
Joe Sweeney: When Web was first issued it was stipulated that only the approved cleaner would be used. This was manufactured by ME and company and not officially called BLANCO (In vernacular it might have been).
This cleaner came in a tube roughly 2″ diameter and 5″ high. It was powder (usually caked solid now) and the same color as the Khaki web.
Oddly this stuff was not issue and had to be purchased either by individuals or through unit funds. The only cleaning material that could be indented for Web was a few types of soap.
The familiar BLANCO cakes manufactured by Jo’s Pickering (BLANCO was actually trademark name for his product) were available before, during and after the war. I don’t know which color ranges were available but light green and Khaki were available in the WWI era.
I have about 2 dozens unit standing orders (not an extensive collection) from 1910 through 1914. None except the Irish Guards mentions blanco and then it is in specific reference to requiring Blanco pots as a Regimental necessity for new recruits. This was for the Slade Wallace Equipment and would be purchased once through Regimental funds then the soldier was responsible for upkeep. As Tom pointed out blancoing leather white was a fairly old practice.
The BLANCO cakes were only available commercially. No where and at no time through any of the Ordnance or Quartermaster records is Blanco ever mentioned before or during the war (not sure after).
I believe that BLANCO was used, not as extensively as people think. You’d have to delve into War diaries etc to get a feel about how often it was used.
I would suggest that you might go to the online Canadian war diaries (all are online and this include WD to British units that at times were attached).
Having gone through quite a few I never found any references to war time blancoing of web (although I bet you will find references on occasion if one has the patience to look). However, once the war is over and the units are on the March to Germany blancoing Web is mentioned all the time. So either in the war it was thought not important either to blanco or mention the fact of blancoing.
