Plywood packboards, a short study

[robinb]

A common item as we all know, but did you know that there are experimental or field trial models? The pack board as issued is 24 inches tall. Here are two longer models that are dated September 1943. The common type was standardized in October 1943. One is 25 1/2 inches tall and the other 27 inches tall. Both have different order numbers on them.

 

[milsurp_scout_14]

I was completely unaware that early types had differing sizes! Probably because I've only ever come across 1944 and later dated packboards. Thanks for posting!

[Kilroy]

Here is what I know about the evolution of the (standardized) Plywood Packboard (Note: I am listing only their main modifications, there were others during their service life).

 

1) The shoulder strap billets were riveted up to April 1944; afterwards they were modified by eliminating the rivets and adding a two-bar buckle, which allowed them to be replaced without using tools. At the same time, the billets' hole in the packboard was changed from a round shape to an oblong one to better accommodate the billet. (see images 1 and 2)

 

2) Rifle Pins were added starting in September 1944. Initially, these took the form of two steel pins riveted to the packboard, which proved easily broken. Hence, the new design was introduced in March 1945 (these are the ones with the spring clip, most usually found nowadays). (see images 3 and 4)

 

3) shoulder straps: in January 1951 the shoulder strap rivets were eliminated. From then onward the shoulder straps were just rolled on the packboard, passing them through an added small opening in its upper back.

 

Other changes were made during its service life, but these are the most relevant.

 

Note 1: sometimes, the listed changes were not implemented immediately by contractors, and you may find a June 1944-dated packboard having riveted billets, etc.

 

Note 2: the introduction of the quick-release modification to the shoulder straps, AFAIK, dates from the early 1960s. This was often retrofitted to old packboards in storage, concurrent with the addiction of the new type rifle pins (or the replacement of the old type ones).

 

Cheers.

[SGM (ret.)]

On 11/10/2018 at 8:47 PM, robinb said:

...Here are two longer models that are dated September 1943. The common type was standardized in October 1943. One is 25 1/2 inches tall and the other 27 inches tall. Both have different order numbers on them.

Which of the earlier, pre-production packboards was made by which manufacturer?

Could the Phenol Products packboard be made of a composite material containing an early plastic?  One of the references that I've found posted about the early development states that plastic was tested as a possible material but was later rejected.  With a name like "Phenol Products," is this possibly one of those experimental plastic examples?

[robinb]

My two Phenol Products pack boards are made of plywood. But the shoulder straps are looped and riveted; removable. I checked 16 pack boards in my collection. There's only one with a different maker than your list. It's a 1948 dated Signal Corps model used to carry the SCR-619 radio set.

[SGM (ret.)]

Thanks for the additional information, Robin!

I take it that the taller of the two pre-production packboards is the Artek-Pascoe and the other is the Phenol Products?

I still can't help but wonder if the "plastic" packboards that were tested (and found too weak) weren't perhaps made by Phenol Products.  Still, that's an interesting detail about the looped and riveted Shoulder Strap Billet attachment method.

Follow on question for you:  The raised area in the photo of the Artek-Pasco Inc. where the data is stenciled - Is that just a thickened plywood spot?  It seems to be a characteristic of the 27" tall pre-production packboard.

I have also found (source not cited by the "Men of the Century" FB post's creator) a scrap view of a QM Corps document of wartime production figures for Plywood Packboards that says some 16,000 Plywood Packboards were procured in 1942.  "Procured" is a bit non-specific in that it could be interpreted as "ordered-contracted for" and not necessarily "delivery taken."  Still, quite suggestive of what might have been a fairly large number of these pre-1943 "pre-production" type Plywood Packboards and an earlier than thought fielding of them.

We see that raised area on at least one other packboard that's been posted here on USMF.  (Borrowed photo from other thread here below.)  Unfortunately, the data stencil is not completely legible, but this appears to be another Phenol Products packboard(?).

[robinb]

The 27" tall pack board is made by Phenol. That raised area is a separate piece of thin wood laminated to the pack board.

[SGM (ret.)]

Thank you, sir!