The information contained below is for historical and educational purposes. Unless you have the right local, state, and federal requirements and licenses you should not build a mortar that launches real shells filled with TNT.
The Poor Man’s Armorer a “…Magazine of Improvised Weaponry” was a magazine that was created in 1978 or 1979 by Bonnie and Clyde Barrow (likely a pseudonym for Kurt Saxon). The magazine was essentially a hobbyist magazine appealing to folks interested in shooting, hunting, exotic weapons development, and survivalist types. It was published for a couple of years and had several editions. Finding a complete physical book is difficult, however, there are E-editions online where one can find a complete book or at least a complete edition such as the one at Archive.org: The Poor Man’s Armorer Vol 2.
Kurt’s politics aside (which if I am being generous are incoherent), he did publish a chapter in one of the editions on how to make a 60mm Mortar. Considering that real 60mm mortars can command thousands of dollars those reenactors with an interest, time, skills (or skill development), and perhaps a knowledgeable friend could build a 60mm mortar for use at reenactments or public displays.
The chapter goes into detail on how to build out the actual mortar shells along with the baseplate, tripod, and collar assembly. It includes actual blueprints and design specs. This requires access to machinery and metalworking tools required to create it.
Part One: The Mortar
Part one is the design specs for how to build the mortar shell. Kurt discusses the chemicals in the TNT but doesn’t explain how to make those chemicals. You can download How to Build a 60mm Mortar part 1 here. He also suggests one could obtain practice mortar shells if you don’t want to build the actual shell yourself.
Part Two: Baseplate, Bipod, Tube, and Collar Assembly
Part two goes into detail with the blueprints and design specs for building the mortar tube, bipod, baseplate, and collar assembly. You can download How to Build a 60mm Mortar Part 2 here.
Mortar Accessories
While Kurt does not explain how to build the accessories he does diagram out the M-4 sight and explain where one can possible find it. However, he doesn’t include blueprints on how to build the sight or other accessories like the canvas tube cover, the M2 Ammunition Vest, Binoculars, Compass, Asbestos Mitten, cleaning staff, and the M2 shoulder pad. These will all likely need to be purchased online or at Military shows.
Using the Mortar in Reenacting
While using the mortar in reenacting is beyond the scope of this article, the 90th ID published a document called: Tableau Number 1 The 81mm Mortar Squad which while it focuses on the 81mm mortar is similar in usage as the 60mm. It is a good article to read over. You can also download a restricted handout that goes into how to use it: The 60mm Mortar Team in the Assault Section.
Oftentimes different units would create service menus for special occasions such as Christmas, Thanksgiving or New Years. These are some examples
35th Replacement Battalion Service Menu, 1946. From the Estate of Ray and Anita Sexton, Oneida, TN443rd Fighter Squadron 1943 Christmas Menu Front From the Estate of Ray and Anita Sexton, Oneida, TN443rd Fighter Squadron 1943 Christmas Page 1 From the Estate of Ray and Anita Sexton, Oneida, TN443rd Fighter Squadron 1943 Christmas Menu Page 2 From the Estate of Ray and Anita Sexton, Oneida, TN443rd Fighter Squadron 1943 Christmas Menu Page 3 From the Estate of Ray and Anita Sexton, Oneida, TN443rd Fighter Squadron 1943 Christmas Menu Back From the Estate of Ray and Anita Sexton, Oneida, TN
67th Signal Battalion Company A Victory Party
A service menu for the Division School No 2, New Area at Camp Bowie Texas, Oct 17th, 1944. It’s hard to find much information about the unit, but according to the US Army Lineage, it was in Europe and presumably came home before being transferred to the Pacific. I guess that this Victory Party is the result of them coming home from Europe.
Travel Base Brochure
Below is base brochure handed out to personnel when they arrived at base and are expecting to stay awhile. This one is from Harmon Field in Stephenville, Newfoundland. Dated Feb, 1945
Harmon Field 1945 From the Estate of Ray and Anita Sexton, Oneida, TNHarmon Field 1945 From the Estate of Ray and Anita Sexton, Oneida, TN
Is produced by hand-cutting glass. Cut glass used to contain heavy amounts of lead and to get the right designs glass-makers would add crystal or “flint” to it. Cut glass is used primarily for tableware and comes in many styles. Most glassware was signed with the name of the producer, etched into the glass. Reproductions of cut-glass tend to have signatures embossed.
Carnival Glass (1900s-1930)
Carnival Glass is pressed glassware produced in the 1900s-1930. The glass came in many colors including brights (like red, green, blue, purple, etc.) and pastel colors (like clear, white, smoke, lavender, and opalescent). The pastel colors have less of a finish. Red is the most highly collectible color as it required fair amounts of gold oxides to produce it. Marigold is the most widely available color. When the depression hit and glass styles changed producers of carnival glass gave it away to…carnivals as prizes.
It was sprayed with a metallic finish that made it look oily in nature. Five companies produced the majority of it in the US. 1. Fenton Art Glass Co. of Williamstown WV 2. Imperial Glass Corporation of Bellaire, OH 3. Millersburg Glass Company of Millersburg, OH 4. Northwood Glass Company of Wheeling, WV 5. Dugan Glass Company of Indiana, PA
Depression Glass (1920s-1930s extending to 1970s):
Cheaply produced colored glassware as automation and industrialization finally caught up to glassmaking. This glassware was marketed for middle-income and working-class Americans. This glassware came with purchases from stores or mail-order catalogs. Glassware was of any kind including bowls, shakers, dishes (all kinds), creamers, sugars, vases, jars, pitchers, measuring cups etc. Pink is the most common glass color, followed by Green and Amber. The rarer Depression glass colors are red, black, cobalt blue, and yellow. The rarest types of Depression Glass are the ones that incorporate glass bases for citrus juices (reamers).
Fiestaware (1936 to 1970)
Fiestaware is brightly colored pottery. It was produced from 1936 to 1973. It was re-started in 1986. Collectors seek the original colors: Red, Yellow, Cobalt, Light-Green, Ivory, Turquoise. Fiesta Red was pulled from the market in 1943 as it used uranium to help create its color and the uranium was needed for the war effort. Chartreuse(gray and rose-colored) was added as a color scheme in the 1950s and earthy tones arrived by the 1970s. The rarest color is medium green.
Glass Companies
Cambridge Glass Company of Cambridge, OH:
Produced glass from the early 1900s-1950s. Focused mostly on crystal or cut glass. Can find designs of stars, swirls, squares, etc. Produced mostly bowls, plates, tumblers, and cocktail glasses. Most collectible of Cambridge Glass are the Square Series produced shortly before it went out of business. Would eventually be bought by Imperial Glass.
Imperial Glass:
This company began reproducing Carnival glass in the 1960s using some of the original molds, however, the difference between period-correct carnival glass and Imperial Glass Reproductions is that the new glass is marked IG at the bottom.
Fenton Glass:
Produced Carnival and then Depression glass. Before 1970 most Fenton glass had a sticker. If no sticker look for an absence of the pontil mark (typically seen as a dimple, chipped-looking section, or lumpy bump that indicates the punty rod was detached from the glass as it was cooling). Fenton Glass used a different kind of punty rod that left clean breaks. After 1970, Fenton glass will mark the piece of an “F” or “Fenton” somewhere on the item See: http://www.ehow.com/how_7330459_authenticate-fenton-glass.html http://entertainmentguide.local.com/detect-fake-fenton-glassware-8067.html
Heisey Glass (1860s-1957):
Produced Art Glass, Cut-Glass, and Carnival Glass. The symbol is an “H” inside a diamond.
Libbey Glass:
Produced all kinds of glassware but not much of Carnival or Depression. Glass marked with the word “Libbey”
Westmoreland Glass (1890-1985):
Produced some carnival and depression but mainly milk glass. Early Westermoreland marks were a “W” within what appears to be an upside-down lampshade. The intertwined “W” and “G” were not developed until 1949. In 1983, all Westmoreland glass was marked “Westmoreland.”
Others include:
Anchor-Hocking and Fire King: Jeannette Glass Company Liberty Works MacBeth-Evans Glass Company US Glass Company Hazel Atlas Company Indiana Glass Company Fostoria Glass Company Federal Glass Company Paden City Glass Company McKee Glass Company New Martinsville L.E. Smith Company Lancaster Glass Company US Company (?) Belmont Tumbler Company Dell Glass Diamond Glass-ware Company Homer-Laughlin China Company-Fiesta Ware
Sources:
1.Florence, Gene.1999. The Pocket Guide to Depression Glass and More: 1920s-1960s. 11th Ed. Collector Books. This is a Good source that puts pictures with the different pattern types. 2. Pickvet, Mark. 1996. Collecting Glassware. Alliance Publishers. This is a general overview of glass history, glass styles, glass companies.
WW2 Red Cross Reproduction Knitting Patterns for WW2 Reenactors
During World War I and again during World War II, the American Red Cross launched nationwide, volunteer-driven knitting campaigns to supply soldiers and war refugees with warm clothing. These volunteer knitters belonged to a Red Cross unit called the Production Corps that also produced bandages and sewn garments (such as pajamas) for veterans and civilian hospitals.
Military knitting patterns were designed to be compatible with soldiers’ and sailors’ uniforms and were required to be knitted in olive drab or navy blue. Production Corps volunteers would also knit from patterns designed for convalescing soldiers, such as the “Walking Cast Toe Sock,” the “Cap for the Bandaged Head” and the “Man’s Coat Sweater.”
The chart below shows some different patterns for knitting. The Wristlets pattern comes courtesy of the Estate of Ray and Anita Sexton, Oneida, TN (*).
During World War II, the Red Cross Production Corps was by far the most popular unit with over 3.5 million members, spread throughout 3,304 chapters. Unlike other volunteer jobs, there was no prerequisite training, and recruitment and task assignments were accomplished quickly. The women, and in some cases the men, that volunteered enjoyed the camaraderie and the fact that workrooms were set up not only at chapter buildings, but also at schools, churches, and other public or private facilities for their convenience.
From 1939 to 1946 the volunteers of the Production Corps made: 63,552,649 garments for civilians and the military 1,403,158 infant garments 31,237,900 kit bags containing cigarettes, playing cards, soap etc. 2,481,951,637 surgical dressings Production Corps volunteers were broken down into committees organized by task. They included surgical dressings, sewing, and knitting.
Detailed instructions, patterns, and supplies were issued by the National Headquarters to chapters and each was assigned a quota to fill. Chapters had volunteers in charge of inspection, planning and supplies, workrooms and equipment, instruction, and packing and shipping
Men’s Sweaters at Work and Play Book No.188
This was a knitting booklet made in 1942 by Chadwick’s Red Heart Wools, a knitting company. It’s 22 pages long and has knitting instructions for the following garments
The “Blueprint” for America Button-up Sweater
The “At Ease” Sweater
The Champion V-neck Sweater
The Grandstander – a scarf and glove set
The Match Play Sweater Vest
The Victory Sweater Vest
The Defense Worker Button-up Sweater
The Practical Worker Button-up Sweater Vest
Top Flighters Sweater Vest
The Double or Nothing Sweater Vest
The Football Heroes Pullover Sweater
The Standby Sweater – which is illustrated on the cover
This was a knitting booklet made in 1941 by Chadwick’s Red Heart Wools, a knitting company. It’s 22 pages long and has knitting instructions for the following garments. It has instructions for the following patterns
Round or Turtleneck Pullover
Crew Neck Pullover
Plain gloves and scarf
Chest Protector
Helmet with or without ear flats – designed to go under an M1 Helmet
Mittens
Sleeveless V-Neck Pullover
Square Neck Pullover and Cap
Sleeveless High-Neck Pullover
Trigger Gloves – gloves that have slots just for your thumb and index finger
Marksman’s Gloves – gloves that stop at the 2nd joint of a finger
Plain Sock
Spiral Sock
V-Neck Pullover
Knit for Defense a 1941 kitting guide by Chadwicks Red Heart Wools
Practical, Warm Hand Knits for Service Men WW2 Red Cross Knitting Patterns
This is another Red Cross knitting pattern. The booklet is Volume 318, dated 1940. Below are some images from the booklet and external links which explain more about the patterns.
External Links
The links below are a digitized copy of the content found in the Red Cross knitting document, Warm Hand Knits for Servicemen. Read Me First: WWII Knitting FAQ
Hand Knits for Service Men – 40 Garments for Men in the Armed Forces
This is a 26-page book that includes 40 different knitting patterns. It was copyrighted in 1944 by Book Productions Industries Inc and published by Ethel Evans.
Ethel Evans is actually the pen name of Ethel Rodman. She is a minor celebrity in the world of knitting and crocheting, as she published several authoritative books in this manner. Her brother is Edward Ray Goetz, a Hollywood producer, songwriter, and musician, who at one time was married to actress Irene Bordoni.
This is a knitting guide made in 1947 by the Jack Frost Yarn Company. The company itself may have first started in 1928 according to the date it was trademarked.
Jack Frost Two Needle Mittens Vol.56 1947 Front Cover
The booklet contains the following patterns. Much of it seems to be kid-focused and there may not be much use for WW2 Reenacting but the Men’s or Lady’s mittens might work
While this page covers US knitting instructions you can find a listing of British Knitting instructions: 1940s knitting patterns. It includes the following patterns
Fatigue Cap
When you’re “off duty” jumper
The balaclava helmet
Knitted Turbans
Spiral-spun waistcoat
Gloves for women
Fair Isle gloves and cap
Bed socks
Victory jumper
Pants and vest in mesh stitch
Men’s mittens
Mittens for women
Fishnet stockings
A practical pullover
“A Happy thought” tea-cosy
Canadian Red Cross Knitting Patterns
The book was issued by the Canadian Red Cross Society in Feb 1940 and is 16 pages long. It contains at least 17 different patterns for the Army, Navy, and Airforce.
Below is a listing of WW2 reproduction currency of Russia, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. The files are all .pdf and may be printed off and used at reenactments.
Some WW2 reproduction currency files below have two files, a front, and a back. They are designed to be printed on either a two-sided copier or printed once and then fed back into the printer in the opposite direction so the sides line up.
Others have only a single side. These were also designed to be flipped and fed back into the printer.
A selection of WW2 American Red Cross Recipes for the World War Two Reenactor.
“Red Cross records indicate the organization purchased enough flour between 1939 and 1946 to make 1.6 billion doughnuts. Red Cross women were serving doughnuts at the rate of 400 per minute during the years 1944-1946.
1.5 cups of sifted flour 1/4 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. butter or substitute, melted 1/4 tsp. ginger 1/4 cup molasses 1/4 cup sour milk (buttermilk) 1 egg, well beaten
Combine half of the flour with soda, salt, and ginger. Combine egg, molasses, sour milk, and melted butter or substitute. Blend with flour mixture and stir until thoroughly mixed and smooth. Add remaining flour to make dough of sufficient body to be rolled. Roll on floured board, to the thickness of 1/4inch. Cut with doughnut cutter. Fry in deep hot fat (360 degrees) until lightly browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on brown paper.”
Christmas Packages
Shipping the WW2 American Red Cross Recipes such as in a package required following special guidelines.
“Anyone hoping to send a package overseas was advised to mail early–anytime from Sept 15 through Oct 15. The post office listed a series of guidelines for those mailing packages
‘…The weight limit is 5 pounds. Parcels may not be more than 15inches in length and 36inches in length and girth combined.’ ” Later on, a gift container was manufactured (sorry no picture) it measured 10 by 6 by 4 inches. (119)
“We searched for small compact items that packed well and could survive being shipped thousands of miles. We collected stationery, pencils, airmail stamps, paperback books, Western and detective magazines, canned foods, candy bars, chewing gum, fruit-flavored powdered drinks, dried packaged fruit such as raisins, dates, and prunes, hometown newspapers, Readers Digests, playing cards, heavy socks, and of course snapshots of home folks were especially welcome” (120)
“Packing Cookies took special care. Even though cookies were wrapped and rewrapped in layers of shredded waxed paper or tissue, and then tucked inside tin boxes, they still often arrived in bits and pieces. Not many complained, though. Instead, they shared the contents of their Christmas boxes with buddies not so fortunate” (121)
Soft Oatmeal Cookies (p.121)
1 cup raisins and 1/2 cup water. Cook until hot.
Simmer 10-105 minutes. In a bowl add the following and cream well:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup shorting (margarine is ok)
1/2 tsp. salt
Add: 2 eggs, beaten well
Mix in: 2 cups flour
Add 1/2 cup nuts, chopped
1/2 cup coconut
2 cups oatmeal
1 tsp vanilla
Drain the raisins, save the liquid and measure 5 T. raisin liquid. If there is not enough juice, add water to make 5 T. Dissolve 1 tsp. baking soda in the juice. Add the cookie batter and stir in the raisins last. Drop by tsp. on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees, 12 to 15 minutes.
Wartime Cookies
1 beaten egg
2 cups molasses
3/4 cup melted shorting
1 cup warm milk
2 T. baking soda; dissolve in 2 T. warm water
5 cups flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1.5 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ginger
Add ingredients in the above order, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Be sure to stir in the flour (sifted with other dry ingredients) a little at a time. Drop on a greased baking sheet with a teaspoon and bake at 375 degrees until lightly browned.
Brownies
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 T. cocoa
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Mix well, put in a greased 9×9 cake pan. Bake at 350 Degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Frost when cool.
Serviceman Special Candy
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup cream
1lb marshmallows
1 T. butter
1 cup nuts
1.5 squares bittersweet chocolate
3 cups graham cracker crumbs
Combine sugar, cream, butter, chocolate, and vanilla. Cook to softball stage. Remove from fire and stir in remaining ingredients. Spoon into buttered pan. Press firm and cut into squares.
Victory Muffins (p.85)
2 T. shortening
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup All-Bran
1 cup sifted flour
2 1/2 TSB. baking powder
1/2 TSB. salt
DIRECTIONS: Beat shortening and egg together until well blended. Add All-Bran and milk and let stand for at least 20 minutes. (This may be done in the evening, adding dry ingredients in the morning.) Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. Add to the first mixture, stirring only until liquid and dry ingredients are combined. Fill greased muffin pans 2/3 full. Bake in preheated 400-degree oven. For small muffins, bake 25minutes; for large muffins, bake 30 minutes. Makes 12 small or 8 large muffins.
Raisin Honey Sandwiches (p.162)
1 cup raisins, chopped
1/8 TSB. salt
1 T. mayonnaise or salad dressing
1/4 cup nuts, chopped
1 1/3 T. lemon juice
3 T honey
DIRECTIONS: Combine ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Use as filling between thin buttered slices of either brown or white bread.
Military Punch
2 cups boiling water
1 to 3 cups lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1 T. rum extract
2 cups cold strong tea
1 large bottle of ginger ale
1 cup orange juice
Ice
Boil water and sugar for 5 minutes. After it has cooled, add orange juice, lemon juice, extract, and tea. Add ginger ale and ice and serve.
Halloween Cider Punch
2 cups pineapple juice
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup orange juice
Lemon rind
Ice
2 Quarts cider
2 cups strong tea
2 quarts ginger ale
Orange rind
Mix fruit juices and orange and lemon rind, cut into pieces. Add cider and tea and put in a large punch bowl. Just before serving, add ginger ale and ice. Serves 65-70. A sugar syrup may be added.
V Loaf (p.63)
2 cups cooked rice
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped nut meats
1 cup cooked tomatoes
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
2 T. green pepper chopped
4 t. melted butter or margarine
1 small onion, chopped
DIRECTIONS: Mix all together to form a loaf. Bake in a greased loaf pan in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. Cover with mashed potatoes put back in the oven to brown. Serve with tomato sauce. This recipe defies detection as a substitute meatloaf and is very good.
Mr. John Burger (p. 24)
1 pound hamburger
1/2 tsp horseradish mustard
1 egg
Small onion, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS: Mix well and spread on bread slices. Makes about 9 slices. Broil until brown–about 9 minutes.
Red Cross POW Packages
” In the beginning of the war commercial firms put together these packages. Later on, the Red Cross volunteers took over [. . .] [t]hey assembled monthly packages for French, Polish and other allied prisoners [. . .] [a]long with the food packages, clothing, shoes comfort articles and medical supplies were also sent” (79 Edson).
The packages measured “10 inches square and 4.5 inches deep and weighed exactly 11 pounds, as prescribed by the German postal regulations. Red Cross nutrition experts had put together a list of items determined as most effectively supplementing prison camp diet. The boxes contained a variety of items that may have included:
A five-ounce box of raisins; a half-pound of American cheese; one pound can of powdered milk; 12 ounces of corned beef from Argentina; a 6 ounce can of ‘Brunch’ (Pork Luncheon Meat) which consisted of chopped pork, salt, water, sugar, and sodium nitrate; a 2 ounce can of coffee; a 7 ounce can of tuna fish; a half-pound box of sugar cubes; a 6 ounce box of army K2 biscuits; four bars of guest size toilet soap; one pound can of oleomargarine; four Hershey chocolate bars; and a can of pate (Liver Paste) which was a mixture of milk, chopped pork livers, pork fat, onions, oats, soy, grits, whole wheat, yeast, defatted wheat germ, and hydrolyzed plant protein.
The Red Cross also sent seeds and tools, along with cookbooks to the prison of war camps, where prisoners were sometimes allowed to cultivate vegetable gardens.
Many times a word from home did more good than anything. The ‘Red Cross News.’ a publication containing favorite comics, news items, sports news, and special articles was distributed to the prisoners of war on a regular basis” (79).
WW2 American Red Cross Recipes Source
Edson, Laurie J., “American Red Cross 50th Anniversary World War Two Cookbook.” Cedar Falls, IA, Woolverton Publishing Company. 1993. Amazon link here
