It is possibly tar painted onto canvas or something of the type of paint. A painted finish was used on Civil War haversacks, rain capes & caps, tents, etc.? You can type in a search for the "recipe" to do this on the internet. It was their way of waterproofing fabric so it makes sense that it would have been used on seat covers. I have seen this type of fabric on chairs for many years after the Civil War.
Hope this helps.
Lynn
Lynn Lancaster Gorges
Historic Textiles Studio
3910 Hwy 70 E
New Bern, NC 28560
[log in to unmask]
252-636-3039
 
, Dee Stubbs-Lee <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Might it be that the upholstery was horsehair? That could resemble the appearance you described.
 
 
Dee A. Stubbs-Lee, MA, CAPC
Conservator
The New Brunswick Museum
Saint John, New Brunswick
Canada
E2K 1E5
tel: (506) 643-2341
www.nbm-mnb.ca
 
 
 
From: Textile Conservators [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peggy Derrick
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 2:05 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Fire truck upholstery
 
The La Crosse County Historical Society would like to reupholster the seat on its 1922 American La France fire truck and I am trying to determine what the original fabric was, and what is my best option for a correct replacement. At first I thought it was upholstered in black leather, but upon examination I realized I was looking at a heavy woven cotton with a surface treatment to make it black and waterproof. The fabric itself is not in terrible shape, but the sewing thread is rotting. Maybe we should just stitch it back together? I'm curious to know what the surface treatment is: rubber? It's not crumbling or stiff like old rubber. Paint? Ditto. Vinyl? Isn't 1922 too early for vinyl?
Are there any simple tests I could subject a tiny bit to, to analyze it? And while I'm asking all these questions, does anyone have a recommendation on what to recover it with?
Thank you all so much!
 
Peggy Derrick, Curator
La Crosse County Historical Society
P.O. 1272
La Crosse WI 54602
608-782-1980