Douglas County KS Archives News.....Confirm Bad News About The Girdles. January 1942
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jim Laird jlaird@bellsouth.net May 15, 2005, 10:55 pm

The Lawrence Daily Journal-World January 1942
Douglas County
Friday
January ?, 1942

Confirm Bad News About The Girdles.
War Production Board Includes Golf and Tennis Balls in the Ban.
Washington, Jan. 23, (AP), Sorry, girls, but the war production board confirmed
that bad news about girdles today.
After February 1, an order declared, no more crude rubber or latex may be used
in manufacturing girdles or other foundation garments, golf and tennis balls,
erasers, bathing suits and caps, lawn and garden hose and hundreds of other
common household items..
Extending already strict government control over the rubber industry, the board
made public a long list of "essential" products which may be manufactured;
established production quotas for each class of products, and directed that use
of crude rubber for a wide variety of "essential" civilian good be reduced about
75 per cent below recent annual consumption.
After February 1, the order stipulated, all products not on the list may be
manufactured only from reclaimed rubber. 
It was this provision which torpedoed girdles. Reclaimed rubber, experts say,
cannot be used satisfactorily in material which is subject to recurrent
stretching. After a few stretches, it doesn't bounce back into shape.
Since last December 19, when the government halted production of all
non-essential goods pending a detailed study of the rubber shortage, the
industry's output has been subject to general limitations. The new WPB order
tells the industry exactly what it can and can't make and how much of it. 
Specific permission must be obtained from the board before crude rubber or latex
can be used to make tires or tubes, retreading material, insulating compounds,
jar rings, and other items. Further, WPB may at any time change specifications
of all products on the approved list to reduce the amount of crude rubber used.
Consumption of rubber on the approved list is based on average montly
comsumption during the year ended March 31. Each month, for example, the
industry may produce exactly the same amount of hospital and surgical supplies
and infant feeding products as was produced during the comparable month in the
base period. The same 100 per cent limit applies to such goods as industrial
protective clothing, tire repair materials an surgical and medical equipment. 
Equipment for printing and publishing is cut to 80 per cent; water bottles and
ice bags to 75 per cent.
Only 30 per cent as much rubber footwear for workmen and athletes may be
manufactured, but fire and mill hose output, necessary for civilian defense and
increased industrial activity, is boosted 80 per cent.
The order provides that, until further notice no one may sell trade or transfer
any crude rubber or latex without permission from the WPB or the Rubber Reserve
company, an RFC. subsidiary. 



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