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Friday, October 25, 2013

U.S.N. Blanket--$1 and Navy Questions for You


middle of blanket

I bought a blanket at a yard sale for $1 that looked warm but did not look worn at all. The woman looked at some black places and reduced the price from $2 to $1. I used it last night and it is definitely warm.
 
The "U.S.N." is definitely "United States Navy." But, there are other worn letters that I cannot decipher. I have searched the Internet, using all sorts of search terms with no results that pertained to this blanket.
 
 

head and foot of blanket
actual color
 
I folded the blanket so both would show. It appears that the same thing is printed on both, but what?
 
Does anyone know what is stamped on the head and foot of the U.S.N. blanket? It appears there is "W R," but what does that stand for? The blanket picture above is the actual color of the blanket.
 
The black places are where the ink from the stamp went through to the other side of the blanket. The first blanket I picked up and did purchase was $2.
 
Childhood use of Army blanket 
 
When I was a child (age 4-5), I loved to sleep under a green WWII Army blanket from Mama's WAC service during WWII. My siblings hated it because it was scratchy. HA! I knew it was warmest and if it did not touch my skin was the best and warmest of the blankets. I had about three blankets on me to keep me warm in our frigid house.
 
Mama tucked me in and folded the sheet back over the blankets, so the scratchy Army blanket did not touch my face. That habit carried over. To this day, I have to have the sheet folded over even a soft blanket. I cannot stand to have edges of anything touching my face.
 
 
The new one is not scratchy at all and very warm, especially since it was only $1. The price was right. My $3 worth of blankets are enough but for the coldest of nights.

Your turn
Can anyone tell me what this blanket has stamped on it? Was your childhood as cold as mine?
 
 
 
 
 

14 comments:

  1. I asked my husband (U.S. Navy, retired) what the marks on the blanket meant, and he said the blanket would have come from the wardroom (WR) mess, which was the dining room for officers. The "small" could have referred to the 'less-formal' mess versus the more formal dining room for officers. Blankets would have been kept in the mess as it would have been used as a triage area during battle or general quarters, and blankets might have been needed. Everyone on a navy ship belongs in a particular place for a particular reason, and would be marked accordingly.

    Hope this helps!

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    Replies
    1. I could not read one word of what he translated! Thanks, now I know. Okay, I thought that was "MESS," Okay, I thought I could read one word. Not having anything to do with the Navy, WR meant nothing to me. I really appreciate your consulting him.

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  2. I meant "everything" versus "everyone," although the same goes for all ship's personnel!

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  3. Very chilly childhood home. I grew up in New England. The heat would not be turned on until Nov. 1. Off by April 1. Thermostat was set for 64 during the day (so they said) and 55 at night. To this day I cannot bear to sleep in temps. above 64. In my years in the South, our a.c. was astronomical but I never ran the heat. In our FL second house (panhandle) the off season winter temp. for the thermostats is 55. Summer is 75 daytime, 64 night. Our yard round neighbors freeze ilwhen they pop in to see us when we are there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meg,
      I am aiming for Thanksgiving for heat turning on day. I become ill if the heat is too high or it is hot in the summer. I am with you on the ac in the South. People freeze in my house summer and winter because I like it cool all the time. It is a good thing since I cannot afford heat!

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  4. I was going to tell you that COFFEYPOT (from my blog) would know exactly what the words meant, but Laura is probably right due to her husband.

    Can't hurt to get a second opinion though. I know you will be very proud of it and I can't imagine selling it at a yard sale. Is it wool?

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    Replies
    1. I don't know if it is wool or not. It would have to be Merino wool if it is wool. I wonder if coffeypot would know if it is wool. Thanks for giving me his name.

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  5. It wasn't my child hood home which was freezing - though it certainly wasn't warm. A house I rented as a young adult was poorly made and not insulated. It was always damp and the wind howled through the doors and windows. Frost would settle on the bed clothes on particularly chilly nights.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EC,
      This house was built in 1902 and they did not insulate. Part of the house is literally falling in, so it is too humid and too cold for me in the livable part. In the past, all water in glasses or bowls in the sink in the kitchen would freeze. I had a glass of water beside my bed, frozen in the morning.
      And, the wind blows through windows where the panes are not in tight. Nothing in the house is tight!

      Delete
  6. That was a tender childhood memory.

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    Replies
    1. Sue,
      Thanks. I have lots of memories. I am going to write things down for my children.

      Delete
  7. My parents kept our house rather chilly, especially after my dad became the energy czar of Kansas. I don't know what the thermostat was set on during the day (maybe 68), but at night the handle (no digital thermostat then) was pushed down as far as it would go, which meant that the heat didn't run ALL NIGHT! I remember some very cold mornings.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janie,
      "energy czar of Kansas". . .LOL. I think they did not put wood in the stove because it was very cold in the mornings at our house. I remember those thermostats!

      Delete

Okay, hoping the annoyances have gone away.