Canvas Bag

[johnnyroad]

Looking for help in identifying a bag, open at one end and closed at the other, made of a coarse grade of canvas, dyed brown, with a draw string and the printed markings at the top, "CBB Co July 1943", with the "o" in Co and the whole date underlined. It measures approx. 33 inches in length and a foot in diamter. Any and all help as to its purpose and origins will be much appreciated.

[Harry Moon]

I have quite a few in my collection

[David Dunlop]

I suspect it is actually burlap and not canvas.

If there is no Broad Arrow or C Broad Arrow stamp on it, probably a commercial product from Canadian Burlap Bag Company. Might have been 'Canada', but I cannot recall where they were based.

My Dad was a Civil Defence Volunteer here in Winnipeg in the 1950's and I recall seeing a bunch in our basement for many years after the 1950 Flood. Cannot recall what dates they were but I think burlap weakens over time so dating production would make sense.

David

[peter simundson]

It's a sandbag. I had five from a vet dated 1944. A light canvas type

material. Also carried in the top of the small pack to keep out the weather.

Peter S

[johnnyroad]

Thanks for the prompt replies; yes I believe you're right, it's actually burlap, made from jute, not canvas made from cotton. It would seem that there were a large number of these things made, though I must admit I've never encountered one before and they don't seem to show up in period photographs.

Does anyone happen to know if there were specific uses for these bags, apart from small sand bags, or were they just a sort of general purpose utility product?

In any event I'm glad to hear an explanation for the initials, though why it was necessary to mark the date of manufacture is puzzling. And considering that it's 73 years old, it's incredibly durable. This one is just like new, and has that intense smell redolent of army surplus stores, some sort of preservative presumably, which obviously worked. Once again, many thanks.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by johnnyroad

has that intense smell redolent of army surplus stores, some sort of preservative presumably,

Why can't they commercially make that smell in an aerosol can?