PAIR OF RARE, FULL LENGTH, WATERPROOF, INDIA-RUBBER RIDING LEGGINGS

PAIR OF RARE, FULL LENGTH, WATERPROOF, INDIA-RUBBER RIDING LEGGINGS

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$1,500.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 381-25

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This remarkable article of clothing from the mid 19th century is a set of India-rubber ‘leggins or leggings”. Each of the two, individual waterproof ‘leggings’ is constructed with medium-gauge drill fabric coated, via the ‘vulcanization process’, with an India-rubber compound on the exterior. Vulcanization, discovered by inventor and experimenter Charles Goodyear in 1839, involved treating crude rubber with various chemicals and heat to give the rubber multiple features such as stability, elasticity, flexibility and strength. The vulcanization process allowed a number of useful articles of waterproof clothing to be manufactured, such as shoes, coats, hats, blankets, and miscellaneous other items. When worn over the trousers, these large-size ‘riding leggings’ covered the legs from ankle to thigh and provided protection to the wearer in inclement weather.

Each of these step-in leggings is slightly tapered and measures 32” long, 11” wide at the top, 8½” wide at the ankle and has a small bottom flare-out for the boots. Both leggings are fitted with a bottom heel strap and a leather loop strap at the upper end that connects and secures to a narrow leather waist belt that accompanies this artifact. Both rubber leggings are in good original condition overall but the India-rubber coated exterior surface exhibits areas of flaking and wear-through from normal rubbing at the boot and heel. 95% of the remaining rubber coating is fine and strong on the leggings but it does show scattered scuffing, scratches and thin spots especially at the edges and creases. One legging specimen even retains the ink remnants, now faded, of the Goodyear patent marking and the Union India Rubber Company stamping near the upper area. Stampings there but hard to discern.

India-rubber garments, such as these leggings, were a tremendous god-send to travelers at that time. In 1855, Charles Goodyear wrote “leggins are used for walking, or riding on horseback in muddy traveling. A long leggin is designed only to be worn in the cold and snow, for which purpose it cannot be too highly recommended.” Even Union General in Chief of the Armies, Ulysses S. Grant, owned such a pair of rubber leggings. This original and seldom seen pair of India-rubber ‘leggings’ would constitute a wonderful addition to any Civil War era cloth collection or officer’s display. For additional information, please reference India-Rubber and Gutta-Percha In the Civil War by Mike Woshner, O’Donnell Publ, 1999.  [ra][ph:L]

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