Historic, Archive Document

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Euth Yan Eeran, B^.vreau of Home 3Cononics, and Wallace Kadd&rly, Eadio Service, U. S. D. A'. Broadcast in the Department portion of the national Tarm and Home Kov.r, Tuegda--, Decemoer 8, 1942, over stations associated with the Blue l'T3t-./orh, , ■ -;

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WALLACS ZAJSSRLY; And now E?-ith Van Deman, iDringing us information on hov^f to keep our rulDber boots, galoshes, other household rubber goods, lasting longer. As we all know, rubber is a material of great strategic value in winning the war. In fact, Ruth, I'd say "rubber" right now is a word to conjure vath.

R'JTH VAI'T DSI'LAIT; You' re -right it is, Wallace . But no mere conjurer's tricks will

kijep what rubber v.-e have wearing giving service for the duration, We've got to

face the enemies of rubber, and map a compaign to keep them under control. Can you name the enemies?

£.-iI)DZRLY; So^ae at least. Oil- — grease of an" kind — tar. They're what I'd call ' - sneaky enemies of rubber. They soften it U'o — weaken it so it wears out more quick- ly. / ,. .

7AIT DSI-L'ill; And heat and sunlight are if anything v/orso. They dry out rubber^-- crack it make it lose its "rubbc-ry" quality,

KASDjSLY: And cop;^)er' s hard on i-ubber, if it comes in direct coyitract.

VAir xind dry cleaning fluid also, if it stays on the rubber more than a few

■Tiinutes, You can s^oonge off a grease s'.'ot with dry cleaning fluid if you v/ork

fast Of course keeping rubber clean is oi:e of the ways to lengthen its life.

Keep it clean. Keep it cool, -And store it in a dark place v;hen not in use. These are the main rules' of r.ibber care,

KAI'SZRLY; Euth, let's carr;^ over those rules to rubber "boots. I mention rubber boots particularly because the heavy duty kind are already rationed — and the^/'re very much ne-^ded by men in important production jobs,

7AIT jyStitC'': All right. But lat's tlirovr the roles in reverse make them the don't

dos. You go first, Wallace,

ZAP DUEL Y; Very v/ell. Son' t leave rr.bber boots standing around dirty, especially if they've b-^en worn where there's grease and oil. Wash them off clean, v;ith soap and water.

VArT And don't "O-rk them near the stove to dry,

KADDZEILY; And don' t leave then kicking around on the bacli porch either, ih all kinds of wind and weather.

VAIT ■ PIS- -AIT; In short, do_ x^"^t them away clear, in a cool airy :5lace. And when a break comes in the sole, perhaps it can be patched with a cold patch or a hot patch. Here's the how-to-do-it on that, Wallace, in pictures and in \\rords.

KASDERLY; Another new folder, in the raa]:e - ' em - last series, eh?

YAE DEI^IAIT; Yes... this is the third and there are still more to come. As soon as v/e rsalized inbher wrs a critical material, the Bureau of Home Economics set ahout finding out what v/e could on hatter care and home repair. . . .

KADD3RLY! And so we have this folder "Take Care of Household Ruhoer."

VAIT DEKiAI'T; That's the story. You see it covers more than footwear from mj.'b'bor "boots to .toe sandaLs.

KADD5RLY; I do see. It covers all sorts of things made v;ith rabher garments

made with ruhhor _ thread — electric cords garden hose

VAH DH^IAIT; Hot water hot'^les ruh'^or raincoasts rutoer sheets rubber wringer

rolls o,nd- 50 on. And ends with directions for mending and patching,

KADD2IRLY; But can you get the patches?

VAH DEIvlAN; I understand so, in some stores. It's well to try the drug store. The hardiirare store, or the five-and-ten, : ■

KABDEBLY; And the gas service station, I should thinlc.

VAIT DEMH; By all means. . . ;

KADDSELYr ^ In other words, it's u.p to us to nake what rubber articles we have last, or else. As the Baruch report on rubber said; We are a have-noj nation. when it comes to new rubber. We have an acute rubber shortage now, We must conserve every pound of rubber for war use.

VAIT. DEMAIxT; And guard our health in the bargain, Hubbor overshoes are pretty important, wh;\t \/ith rain, and snow, and tough winter ^^;eath.-^r ahead.

And' s:)eaking of kooioing off the wet, I have something to help on the unbrollo, situation. :

KADD^XY: So'.nething to keep a fellow from losing his umbrella?

YAH DEKLill: No, I'm afraid there's no siire cure for that.... But as you know, the

War -Prodi-.ction Bop.rd has cut the mjuiiber of nev; umbrellas that can be manufactured,

ICiiDDSRLY; In order to save steel. Yes, I saw that oi'der.

VAN DBiVIAl!!; But there are lots of old umbrellas with good metal frames knocking about .. .Their tops are torn and leaky, so thej'-'ve b^.en pushed aside,

Kt'iI>D3HLY; Can't they have now tops... now covers put on?

VAN DBMtlN; Certainly they can... cither by an umbrella repair man, or a woman who's smart at sowing can do it at home. Here are directions, complete direc- tions \rith pictures - v/orkod out by our clothing specialists.

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KADDZRLY; ;;ell, that is_ something new under the sun.... how to re-cover your ovm umbrGlla. Bi;t it murt take some mighty straight aitting and neat stitching,

VAI-T DSMtUT; It does. 3u.t it can he donr . You use the old vunhrella covor as a patt-^rn.

K^iDDZElLY: And you'll send the full directions on how to Re-Gover Your Old Umhrella ....to anyone who wants them?

VAII DEM^IN; Tiia.t' s right.

KADDERLYj As veil the ^older on "Take Cr>re o.-f" Household Rubber."

y fl^r-r nEi'",^.!''^ ! That's rifht. Rubbers and umbrellas have a way of . goinj^ together.

KA^'^'^'^U''' ; Keeping together, shall xre say, for good luck..o«o Well, Farm and Hone friends, .lust to repeat the offer of these two very timely, useful publications, available from the Bureau of flome Economicso The titles are: "Take Care of Household Rubber". ... "Re-Cover Your Old Umbrella. " You can have either or both by writing to the Bureau of Home Economics, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D, C, If you forget the full titles just ask for rubber and umbrella material on a post card.

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