Building a WWII Emergency Sustenance Vest, Type C-1, Part Three©

 

 

 

Author’s Note – For more on the DuPage Path-Pilot compass, read “Path-Pilot Compass ©”, HERE, and for more on Building a WWII Emergency Sustenance Vest, Type C-1, read Part One, HERE, and Part Two, HERE.

The WWII Emergency Sustenance Vest, Type C-1, kept a compass match box, with a flint strip, and up to 20 full-sized or 40 half-sized strike-anywhere matches, in pocket number thirteen.

 

There were several varieties of compass match box, with a flint
strips, that were produced for service with the U. S. military during World War II.  One, which was manufactured by Taylor Company, had a flat compass- card without a lubber line¹, and was read by looking down at the compass card and reading the azimuth at the nearest point in line with your objective.  The other two were manufactured by the Livingston Plastics Co. and the DuPage Plastics Company, both these were direct reading compasses with a viewing window where you would read your azimuth from under the lubber line.  The DuPage company continued to manufacture these compasses after World War II ended, calling them the DuPage Path-Pilot, and selling them in the outdoor market.

 

The DuPage Path-Pilot direct reading compass² was a

combination compass, match-safe, and fire starter, manufactured by the DuPage Plastics Company, 10 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, and it was officially approved by the Boy Scouts of America.  The screw off lid contained a compass with a window lubber line on the side to read the azimuth of the direction you are looking, and lubber line across the compass top.  To prevent confusion, the viewing window was helpfully labeled “YOU ARE LOOKING” to make it clear that if you saw a “N” under the lubber line, then you were looking north³.  Matches were stored inside the watertight inside compartment, but just in case you ran out, the side had a “flint of pyrophoric metal” from which sparks could be struck by the back of a pocketknife³.  The north pointing arrow seen through the top window was to be used to orient a map.

 

When I first read about the DuPage Path-Pilot direct reading compass match box, I thought “Wow, how cool!  A direct-reading
compass, and it is also a waterproof matchbox, with a flint strip on the side to scrape sparks with!  I have to get one of those!”

 

But unfortunately, they don’t make them like they used to, in fact they don’t make them at all! 

 

Today, there are plenty of compass match boxes to choose from, like the “5-in-1 Survival Whistle”, but they are like the WWII Taylor compass with a flat compass-card and no lubber line and isn’t direct reading.

 

... a “5-in-1 Survival Whistle”, but with a lubber line

 

Ok, so finding a direct reading compass match box is out of the question, but what about painting a lubber line onto a flat card- compass match box, to make it more like the DuPage Path-Pilot, and easier to read your azimuth to distant landmarks?  It’s simple, so let’s get crafty!

 

    Craft.y, adjective

1.  Skillful, clever at achieving one’s aim by

indirect methods.

2.  Involving the making of decorative objects and other things by hand.

What do you need...

 

What you will need, photograph by the Author.

First you will need “5-in-1 Survival Whistle”.  I used “The Ultimate Survival Tool”, manufactured by FreedomGorilla, HERE, this product is made in the USA and both the service and the product was great!  For phosphorescent paint I used, “Glow-On Super Phosphorescent Professional Paint”, HERE.  You will also need a can of spray-on clear, gloss automotive paint and a roll of masking tape.

 

Step one...

 

Taping off the area to be painted and covering the tape with clear enamel to prevent leaks, photograph by the Author.

First, tape off the area to be painted with masking tape, leaving a slit for the lubber line about ¹/₃₂ to ¹/₁₆ of an inch (1 to 2 mm) wide, extending down the near side and ¾ inch (19 mm) long across the top.  Tape off a gap in the lubber line ¹/₄ of an inch (6 mm) long and then continue the lubber line from the gap ¹/₈ of an inch (3 mm) long, stopping at the far edge.

 

The area to be taped, photograph by the Author.

Next, spray the tape covering the top of the compass with two coats of clear, gloss automotive paint, following the instructions on the can, and wait for the paint to dry thoroughly between coats, to prevent the paint from leaking under the tape.

 

] Just sprayed the second coat of clear enamel, waiting for it to dry, photograph by the Author.

Step two...

 

Getting ready to paint on the lubber line, photograph by the Author.

Following the directions for the Glow-On Super Phosphorescent
paint, dot the paint onto the compass top with a wooden applicator, and then drag them together to create a solid line.  I left the paint to dry thoroughly for 24 hours before adding a second coat.

 

Dot the paint onto the area to be painted, photograph by the Author.

Step three...

After three to four days, when the second coat of Glow-On paint has completely dried, carefully peel off the masking tape and your lubber line is finished.

 

The finished product, photograph by the Author.

The phosphorescent tape absorbs light and releases it as a glow; you can charge it up by exposing it to sunlight or a LED flashlight, so it becomes visible at night.

 

Don’t forget to come back next week and read “From A Little Spark May Burst A Flame...©”, where we will talk ferro rods and striking sparks.

 

I hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me on YouTube at BandanaMan Productions for other related videos, HERE.  Don’t forget to follow me on both The Woodsman’s Journal Online, HERE, and subscribe to BandanaMan Productions on YouTube.  If you have questions, as always, feel free to leave a comment on either site.  I announce new articles on Facebook at Eric Reynolds, on Instagram at bandanamanaproductions, and on VK at Eric Reynolds, so watch for me.

 

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

 

 

Notes

 

¹ A line marked on the compass in a ship or aircraft, showing the direction straight ahead or towards which you are looking.

 

² Livingston Plastics Company made a direct read compass match safe during WWII and it was very similar to the DuPage Path-Pilot, except that the viewing window of the Livingston Plastics Company model has 90 degree corners, and the DuPage model has rounded corners.  Additionally, the Livingston Company model has a knurled cap, and the DuPage model does not.

 

From “WW2 match case found in Grandpa's diddy bag”, in US Militaria Forum - Collectors Preserving History.

 

³       “To read a flat card compass, you look down at the compass card and read the heading at the lubber line (pointer) farthest away from you.

        A “Direct reading compass”: A direct read compass is read at/around eye level.  You look at the front of the compass and read the heading at the lubber line (pointer) closest to you.

        With our “Combi dialed” compasses, you get both the flat card heading (using rear lubber line) and the direct read heading within one compass”.

 

From “Why is my Ritchie compass exactly 180 degrees off course?”, HERE.

 

⁴

You can knock sparks off the flint strip either with a sharp edge of
the spine (back) of the blade, or by scraping with the sharp edge of the knife blade.  You can also use the back edge (spine) of your pocketknife’s screwdriver blade.  Personally, I don’t recommend using the sharp edge of your blade though, since the action of scraping the blade against the flint knocks flakes of steel off the striker, as tiny, glowing white-hot sparks, and you will quickly ruin the edge of your blade.  However, if it comes down to freezing to death...scrape away with whatever works! 

 

Sources

 

 

US Militaria Forum - Collectors Preserving History; “WW2 match case found in Grandpa's diddy bag”, https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/184660-ww2-match-case-found-in-grandpas-diddy-bag-compass-on-bakelite-container/, accessed May 9, 2023