Blanco help

[Adrian Stevenson]

Interesting thread....Can anyone tell me the going rate for WW2 era blanco? I have some of the KG3 "pucks" that I'm thinking of selling.

Thanks,

Gary

Hi Gary, they sell for £4 each here in the UK.

Cheers, Ade.

[JONNY P]

I'd agree with Ade, £4-5 per block for KG3, more for White and Pea-Green. I think Blanco itself dates back to at least the issue of Slade-Wallace equipment, originally made in white, was then adapted for use on cotton webbing and made in various colours, including stuff made for commercial sale,well over 100 shades according to a post on another site, but not all were approved/accepted for military use. There is currently a finite supply of Blanco on the market as the original manufacturing process is now illegal so 'Blanco' will probably never be re-produced in it's original form.

Re: the use of 'Blanco' by the USMC, I'd also read this, but there seems to be few details of exactly what type/colour was used. I've read referrance to an American issue item 'OQMG No. 3, Compound for Coloring Web Equipment' which seems to have been a temporary thing, much like Blanco, but haven't found any more details, perhaps an American nomecular for Blanco in U.S. service?

[1stcanpara]

Hi Gary, they sell for £4 each here in the UK.

Cheers, Ade.

Thanks very much for the help, know anyone who needs 40 pucks of KG3? LOL

Gary

[findabetterole]

History of "Blanco".

Hello Marc!,

Those of us that were in Cadet Forces in the UK, will remember that horrible stuff- Blanco.

A bit of history for you. A British adaption of a French procedure , the practice of prepairing ones fighting equipment = Blancoing - began in the Napoleonic period. At that particular time, it was mainly a white colour for painting the white leather equipment of the time. When webbing equipment appeared in the British Army in 1908, the colour was a drabb green, commonly known as Khaki. So, now two colours were present = White & Khaki. Upon amergance of the Royal Air Force in 1918 - Grey appeared. The practise of Blancoing ones webbing equipment continued in the British Armed Forces till the early 1960's when Pattern 1958 Webb Equipment became common.

All British Commonwealth Armed Forces used Blanco also.

The trick in its use is not to apply it so to thickly (a very thin coating is all that is required) and to let the peace coated dry thouroughly.

Hope I've made things a bit clearer?

Seph

[Mark Gibson]

One of the things which I love about the forum is finding out interesting information such as this.
Ade, once again you are a wealth of information. Thank you.

Mark

[leigh kitchen]

There were'nt just white, khaki, & grey blano's, there were a variety of shades, of green, of khaki etc, different units favoured different blanco's, battalions withnn the same regiment & there depots could have different colours.

Napoleonic troops used pipe clay on their white leather equipment.

[JONNY P]

Though from what I've seen the rainbow of colours is more indicative of peacetime, particularly post WW2 when Bns./Regiments were looking to be that bit more individual/unique, some even resorting to their own special mix of colours just to be different, you start also seeing regiments blackening webbing more often. You also had lots of National Servicemen needing something to do other than watch the Empire crumble. There were also many colour's produced for the civilian market that don't seem to have been offically sanctioned for military use, though some crept in on a semi-official/individual unit basis. Having used the stuff for nearly 10 years I have to say it really does work, webbing can be made to look brand new with a good application and it really helps uniformity within a unit, unlike our yank freinds who's fieldgear looks like a patchwork quilt after a bit of use.

[leigh kitchen]

I've been trying to remember - which unit wore ox blood boot polish?

[Marc Shaffer]

I recieved an unusual US cartridge belt in the mail the other day. It is suppose to have been issued to a Marine Raider, but with out any other info, it is just a story to me. Pulling up the thread and looking at it, the belt I have appears to have been Blanco'd with #3, the light green shade and then it was either oversprayed black or dark green. I'm assuming it is black that mixed somewhat with the Blanco to make it appear dark green. I have to take some pics of it hopefully soon, but I will post them here for your speculation on it. Thanks much for all the info on Blanco!!

[Jim Maclean]

My father spent some time after Dunkirk with the Cameron Highlanders in Aruba (lucky bugger), he told me that they all bleached their webbing. They tied it all together with rope and let the action of the surf do the job. He denied all knowledge of 'Camp Allegro'.

In the 60s as an army cadet we managed to purloin some wax blanco from the regulars, just like shoe polish only the colour differed. Damned smart detachment though.

I remember also about the same time meeting some Paras that were wearing '37 type belts with the back buckles removed. Their belts were waxed but maroon.

In the navy we used Meltonian white. When it rained it was awful, white streaks on a dark blue uniform. If it didn't rain the uniform still had to go to the cleaner . We also had the cakes of blanco for every day wear. Oh how I miss it all .

[SHEARING-CROSS]

One of the main manufacturers of blanco was Pickerings webbing renovator , i believe the colour for 08 webbing used was `no.64 khaki buff` ( quite a light yellow colour ) but if this was used on 37 patt im not sure ,regards ,Michael.

[jelle]

I have done some research on Blanco.The company pickering & sons were the sole manufacturer of the trade mark BLANCO.They made 113 shades.Shade 97 Khaki light and shade 3 khaki dark were the most used.

[Lone Pine]

Aussie blanco

Gyday Guys
Here's an example of some Aussie made ww2 blanco. It says khaki cleaner, but it's actually green. This jar is still half full.
Regards Bruce

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Bruce, I like that Nice commercial made tin. I guess this is by the shoe polish people?

Cheers, Ade.

[Lone Pine]

Hi Bruce, I like that Nice commercial made tin. I guess this is by the shoe polish people?

Cheers, Ade.

Gyday Ade
Yes thats right, the Australian shoe polish company with a New Zealand logo. I have a spare tin the same as this one if you want it?. It's empty though.
Regards Bruce