Fur company markings

[ridjrunr]

This question concerns the wooden crates and bales of goods that were shipped by the fur companies such as HB and NWC. Question is,were they labeled with company name, fort designation code, pc. or crate # etc on two opposite sides or just one side,or all sides?? Thank you for any help.

[cb]

This will offer some info....
http://www.northwestjournal.ca/XVII3.htm

[Trois Castors]

Excellent article on the subject.

[ridjrunr]

Thank you cb. As my camp evolves, I hope to have a few nice crates for all my camp wares and am thinking of labeling them with such markings. But I think I better do a lot of study before putting ink to crate.
In the past I have seen others use the milk paint on camp boxes but am not shure that any of the companies would have spent that resource on a shipping crate. I really dont think they would have, individuals yes but I am not shure about the companies.

[Puffer]

Thank you cb. As my camp evolves, I hope to have a few nice crates for all my camp wares and am thinking of labeling them with such markings. But I think I better do a lot of study before putting ink to crate.
In the past I have seen others use the milk paint on camp boxes but am not shure that any of the companies would have spent that resource on a shipping crate. I really dont think they would have, individuals yes but I am not shure about the companies.

One other thought - Many of the "boxes" were painted a "color" to designate

Puffer

[ridjrunr]

Puffer, could you expand on that at all? What was it designating?Destination, goods,?Also, was that used in certain years only?,later or earlier? Only certain companies? or certain forts? It seems this is a topic that one can research for a very,very long time lol, any more help appreciated. That site cb layed out is bigger than it looks! Lots of great imfo there.

[Puffer]

Puffer, could you expand on that at all? What was it designating?Destination, goods,?Also, was that used in certain years only?,later or earlier? Only certain companies? or certain forts? It seems this is a topic that one can research for a very,very long time lol, any more help appreciated. That site cb layed out is bigger than it looks! Lots of great imfo there.

It appears that the NWC  - Cassettes are painted Spanish red (red oxide) ( containing "fine objects" &/or "ranking personal items ), and ration boxes are painted green (verdigris).

Although I still am attempting to get documentation, it appears this was also true here in the PNW for the HBC ( ?)

Puffer

[ridjrunr]

Puffer, In addition to the coloring on the boxes, where they still labeled with the letter and number codes? Its been awhile since I have seen the colored boxes and I cant recall where it was. I actually thought it was a "modern rendition" of packed goods. The one I recall was robin egg blue with a Flor de Lis painted on the side.

[shootrj2003]

This is a very interesting subject, about which I know very little,I would venture to guess a fluer-di- lis on a robins egg blue would be french government property or a high persons personal gear or goods,but ,I'm just guessing.

[snake eyes]

cb,
    Thanks for that site info.Great source of information.
John

[Sir Michael]

Canteens and water barrels were painted light blue
Powder and explosive containers were painted red
Don't want to confuse the two.

[Puffer]

Canteens and water barrels were painted light blue
Powder and explosive containers were painted red
Don't want to confuse the two.

Michael, was this Military or NWC/HBC ??

All the Water containers I have seen were unpainted , as were the powder kegs. ( for NWC/HBC ) ??

Puffer

[Sir Michael]

From what I've seen and read it was a basic industry and commercial standard as well as military.

To a great extent it is still used today eg. red gas cans.  Blue water containers seem to have fallen by the wayside with the proliferation of centralized water supplies but it is still used for relief and emergency supplies.