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Claude P. Fordyce to Horace Kephart, June 28, 1920

  • wcu_kephart-1862.jpg
  • In a letter to Horace Kephart on June 28, 1920, Claude P. Fordyce of Outdoor Equipment and Itinerary Service informs Kephart that he got his wool felt sleeping pad from American Felt Company in Chicago. He also sends a copy of an Adhesive Plaster article, asks a question about reliable canned butter, and advice on dying a tent.
  • OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT AND ITINERARY SERVICE Expert Advice and Routings for Motor, Hiking, Pack-Train, Canoe, Fishing and Camping Trips By Claude P. Fordyce, Member of Sierra Club, Mountaineer Club, A. A. A., Etc. Instructor in Outfits and Methods, Pastime Outing Club. Formerly of All Outdoors Testing Bureau. FALLS CITY, NEBRASKA 6/28/2© Mr. Horace Kephart, Bryson City, WSrth Carolina. Dear Mr. Kephart:- In your letter of S*pt, 21,'19 you asked me where the wool felt pad suggested to me by Stewart Edward White for use in light weight beds could be secured. I got my felt pad from the American Felt Company 325 South Market St. Chicago. I have used it on several short trips up the Missouri with a light weight wool blanket and it is O.K. I am going to take it on the trip into the San Juan Mountains of Colorado with the Colorado Mountain Club in August but instead of the blanket will use a wool quilt with it for additonal warmpth. Hitherto I have used the bowse bag as you suggest in Camping and Woodcraft but 'browse" is hard to get around timberline. it is good however an lowland camps as we have along the Missouri and near farms. I expect to run up to see my old friend Snos Mills at Longs Peak on my return from the Si^ Juan trip. He is a dandy good scout and leads a very interesting life. I su pose you have a copy of the Adhesive Plaster article, but I am sending you one to be sure. I would like some information. Where can I get reliable canned butter? I see someone advising that one can dye his tent by putting aniline dye into the parafin - turpentine solution used for waterproffing solution. Have you any information as to the success of this ? I do not see how it would be entirely successful as there would be some loss of the coloring substance when the tent gets wet, and there would be no mordant which is usually necessary to make a dye 'fast'. I am always very much pleased to hear from you and I read your articles enthusiastically as I am very much interested in canroing and woodcraft. ./. formation I remian Thanking you in advance for the above in- Very truly,