World War II, Rationing - 1942

In 1942 the following have been placed under rationing, with the date of the application of the ration order:

Jan 1 - Sales of new automobiles frozen
Jan. 5 - New tires.
Feb. 19 - Sales of recapped tires and tire recapping frozen. Rationing effective the same day.
Feb. 23 - Recapped tires for trucks.
March 2 - New automobiles rationing began.
May 15, Gasoline
Sept. 29 - Rubber boots and rubber work shoes – Sales frozen
Oct 5 - Rubber boots and rubber work shoes - Certificate rationing began
Dec. 1 - Nationwide mileage rationing begun December 1, 1942.

1942 Bumpers as well as any other unessential metal parts of vechiles parts were collected; pictured is Rita Hayworth on her car "Please drive carefully, my bumpers are on the scrap heap.

The War Production Board (WPB) ordered the temporary end of all civilian automobile sales on 1 January 1942, leaving dealers with one half million unsold cars 1942 - Feb 18 - New Car Rationing Rules Announced

First instructions for the handling of passenger car rationing have been placed in the hands of local rationing boards, according to Clarence A Jackson, director of the Indiana State Defense Council.

Primary facts concerning passenger car rationing, Mr. Jackson said, are:
(1) Until February 26 only those users of cars who actually purchased new cars or before January 1, but did not get delivery, will be eligible to obtain new cars. These persons will be able to get their cars only if they are able to produce evidence that the purchase was made, and make application for a new car certificate to the local rationing board between February 12 and 25 inclusive. The certificate will authorize the dealer to make delivery.
(2) On and after February 26 it is understood, although no official regulations have been issued, that only those persons now eligible for new passenger tires will be able to buy new passenger cars. In general, this eligibility list includes only doctors, visiting nurses, veterinaries and persons whose cars are necessary for public police, health and mail services.

1942 - Apr 8 - WPB Limits New Service Extensions

In order to conserve critical metals and other materials for America's war machine, the War Production Board has further curtailed new extensions of the following services:
electricity,
gas,
water,
sanitation,
central steam heating


The new WPB order limits the extension of the above services to not more than 250 feet from existing facilities and affects the extension of services to any new building and to exiting homes, stores, and factories that do not now have these services.

This order does not affect present use of these services in homes or buildings of existing customers.

Anyone planning to construct a new home or any other building should check the existing location of the various services they plan to use to make sure they are within 250-foot limitation.

1942 - Apr. 22 - Sugar Registration For Business Group

Wholesalers, retailers, institutions and industrial users of sugar are to register for the sugar rationing in the high school principal's office on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 28 and 29. The hours are 1:100 to 4:00 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Registration during the forenoons may be by appointment only

This group, the first to register under the new sugar rationing program has quite a detailed form to fill out, and each applicant should allow about an hour for the job. If possible, applicants should bring all the facts and figures concerning their business for the past year along with them.

Heads of families will register for sugar rationing on May 4, 5, 6,and 7. Complete details will de given in next week's issue.

1942 - Apr. 29 -Sugar Registration For Home Users In School Gym, May 4-7

The registration of families for sugar rationing will be held in the Culver Community Building on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Mary 4 to 7, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

As this will be the same as a census-taking of the entire community in four days, school will be dismissed on these afternoons so the entire faculty can help with the registration. Even with all this aid it will take the entire time to finish the job.

Registrants will be required to state the amount of sugar on hand, so size up your supply before coming to the gym to register. Other questions will involve the number of members in the family and identification, such as age, weight, height, color of eyes and hair, etc.

Upon completion of registration the proper number of ration books will be issued, with each stamp good for the indicated amount of sugar. No sugar is being sold this week at retail stores pending the inauguration of the rationing program.

On May 5, 1942, each person in the United States received a copy of War Ration Book One, good for a 56-week supply of sugar. Initially, each stamp was good for one pound of sugar and could be used over a specified two-week period. If the book was lost, stolen, or destroyed, an application had to be submitted to the Ration Board for a new copy. When entering the hospital for greater than ten days, the ration book had to be brought along Home canning was encouraged during the war – however, canning requires sugar. To provide for this patriotic need, each person could apply for a 25-pound allotment of canning sugar each year. Each local ration board determined the quantity and season of availability based on the local harvest. A special canning sugar stamp in the ration book had to be attached to the application.

May 13 - 1942 - 3,163 Register for Sugar, First to Mrs. Tiedt - The first stamp book for sugar rationing went to Mrs. J. A. Tiedt, with Irvin Zeiger, member of the high school faculty, handing out the precious folder after the various questions and been answered. 3,163 registered here for sugar, the number including a few transients. Of this group 182 didn't receive stamp books as they had more than their allotment of sugar on hand.

1942 - May 6 - Thursday Last Day For Sugar Registration

Householders are reminded that Thursday is the last day for registering for sugar stamps...
• The first stamp is good between May 5-16
• second stamp between May 17-30
• third stamp between May 31 and June 13
• and fourth stamp between June 14 and 27
Each stamp is good for one pound of sugar.

No one knows what the fifth stamp will be for. Stamps must be cashed in during the period specified.

1942 - June 3 - Sugar Registration For Use In Canning

As a matter of convenience to consumers, the Marshall County Rationing Board has appointed Deputy Local Board to assist in the registration for sugar to be used for canning purposes

Arrangements have been made for such registrants at the high school buildings at...Culver... on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of this week and next, at the hours of one to four in the afternoon. Registrations will also be taken during these same hours as the office of the county building.

In general, one pound of sugar per four quarts of finished canned fruit and one pound per person for use in preparing preserves will be allowed for the entire year.

The first rationing period will cover the canning season for June and July.

All applications for sugar shall be made by one adult member of a family unit for all members of the unit

The following information will be required before sugar certificate can be issued:
1. The names of the consumers and the serial numbers of their war ration books ( bring your war ration books with you.)

2. The number of quarts of fruit canned in the preceding calendar year.

3. The number of quarts of fruit on hand.

4. The number of quarts of fruit to be canned during June and July.

5. The excess sugar supply as of the time of original registration.

1942 - June 3 - Milk Deliveries To Be Curtailed By New Order

Milk deliveries are being curtailed to every other day by order of the Milk Control Board of Indiana in an effort to conserve rubber.

The dairies
• can't start delivering until after 7:00 a.m.;
• can make only one delivery a day to a place,
• can't make call-backs and
• can't make special deviltries

except in case of an emergency where life and health are at stake.

The local dairies are starting the new delivery schedules this week.

Users of milk are urged to return empty bottles daily as there is an acute shortage in glass bottles.

Those buying milk at the stores are especially urged to set out the bottles where the milkman can pick them up.

1942 - Jun 10 - Auto Stamps Now On Sale at Post Office - ...Auto use tax tamps in the denomination of $5.00 were placed on sale in all post office and offices of collectors of Internal Revenue on Wednesday, June 10. The stamps will evidence payment of the tax for the fiscal year beginning Jyl1, 1942 and must be purchased on or before that date...

From June 15 to 30, 1942 the United States held a nationwide rubber drive. People were encouraged to donate used or surplus rubber items. The program brought in 450,000 tons of rubber, but even that didn't alleviate the shortage. Public service campaigns educated people on how to care for rubber products to make them last for the duration - protection from heat and moisture, proper cleaning, avoiding folding or crumpling, careful stretching of elastic, and speedy repair of holes or tears.

Since civilians had to make five tires last the entire war, they had to be extremely careful. People were encouraged to drive less - But Americans have never been eager to drive less or more slowly, and by the spring of 1942 it was clear that “voluntary rationing” was a failure.

In fact, the primary purpose of gasoline rationing was to protect tires - gas was rationed in 17 eastern states beginning in May 1942 and nationwide in December 1942 — not so much to save fuel as to save tires and the rubber they were made of. To ration gasoline, the government issued coupon stamps. These A stamps were worth three to five gallons of gasoline per week for essential activities such as shopping, attending church, and going to the doctor. The letter on the stamp would have matched a sticker on the car’s windshield. People using their cars for work could buy more gasoline, and truckers could buy all they needed.

Coupon	Who Was Eligible	Value
A	general population	4 gallons/week
B	those essential to war effort	8 gallons/week
C	ministers, doctors, etc. & *	depends to how much was needed
D	motorcycles	2 gallons per week
E	non-highway vehicles	2 gallons/week
R	non-highway vehicles	5 gallons/week
TT	approved commercial trucks	5 gallons/week
X	congressman & and VIP's	unlimited

*mail carriers, railroad workers or people working directly for the war effort

A "Victory Speed" of 35 mph was instituted - tires wore out half as quickly at 35 mph than at 60 mph. Slow and steady stops, starts, and turns also reduced wear on the treads. Everyone was encouraged to use public transportation, to share rides, and to avoid rough roads. Proper auto maintenance was more important than ever - brake adjustment, wheel alignment, tire inflation, tire rotation, and early repair of holes all prolonged wear. In addition, all auto racing was banned.

1942 - July 1 - State Police Check On Excessive Speed to Conserve Auto Tires

A State Police check of drivers wasting tires by excessive speed or recklessness was begun today. for the State Office of Price Administration and the evidence gathered will be taken into account when offenders entitled to tires make application for them....

When state highway patrolman find anyone driving at speeds injurious to tires and safety, they will issue a special ticket to him as a warning

...State Police copy of the ticket will be sent to the rationing office of the state OPA where copies will be made.

One copy will be retained in the files there, and one will be sent to the local War Price and Rationing Board of the offender. This information will be used by the Board when the offender who is entitled to recapped, re treaded or new tires applies for them.

It is within the discretion of the boards to allocate tires to those entitled to them where they think they will do the most good for the community's war effort, and any evidence of abuse of tires and the priority to get them nay be taken into account when decisions are made by the Boards on new applications.

1942 - July 29 - Sugar Registration - Applications by Marshall county families for certificates of sugar to be used during the June canning season numbered 6,025. The total number of ration books is 25,934. It is estimated that the allowance is 5.9 pounds of sugar per person for use in canning. In Culver 3144 person registered and 2987 received ration books.

1942 - Jul 29 - Governor Asks for 40-mile Speed Limit

... has appealed for an additional five-mile reduction in the driving speed of all cars in the state as a tire conservation measure.

1942 - Aug. 5 - Sugar

Allotment for Canning to Be Issued Aug. 11 to 13 In Home Ec. Room. - Certificates for the second allotment of Sugar for canning purposes will be issued.. may secured by bring the ration book. No further registration is necessary, as this issuance is the balance of the original allotment.

1942 - Sep 23 - Add Two more Members to Rationing Board - Anticipating gas rationing as well as to handle more efficiently sugar rationing the Marshall County rationing board has been increased to five by addition of two new members - Clarence E. Bair, of Route 1 Culver... The rationing board in now located in new quarters at 307 N Michigan Street, Plymouth.

1942 - Oct 21 - Three New Members to Rationing Board - ...has been increased to 12 members. ... The new members will form a panel for the rationing of wearing apparel and other merchandise. The new members are: ... Carl M. Adams of Culver..

1942 - Oct 28 - Fuel Oil Users to Register This Week

Users of fuel oil for heating plants, diesel oil, furnace oil or kerosene, must register this week for rationing.

Dealers registered on Tuesday and Wednesday, while consumers are to register on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 29 and 30 from 1:00 to 0:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 to noon in the Culver Community Building.

Consumer must secure an application form from the dealer that supplies them with oil and have have the form filled out before reporting for registration.

1942 - Nov. 4 - No Milk Sales in Gallon Lots - The three local dairies are announcing that on and after Saturday, Nov. 7 no more milk will be sold in gallon lots. Sales will be in quarts at 12 cents each.

1942 - Nov 4 - Faculty Gets Workout On Fuel Rationing

Getting back to teaching restless students will seem like a picnic to members of the faculty after three days of wrestling with fuel rationing

The surprising number of 701 applications were made out for fuel oil, kerosene, diesel oil, etc. with kerosene being by far the largest product for which ration books will be issued. It was interesting to learn the wide uses for which the by-product is used.

The registration for fuel oil proved to be a bigger and harder job than was the signing up for sugar.

A false impression got out that school officials were arbitrarily slashing allowances for kerosene from the amount that the applicant requested. This was not true as kerosene allotments were not subject to the processing required for fuel oil rationing, and in the latter case the teachers assigned to this task could only follow definite rules set up by the government.

1942 - Nov. 11 Gas Rationing to be Held Latter Part of This Week At Library

Due to the absence of the necessary supplies to carry on the gasoline rationing registration, the signing up of motor car owners and those using gasoline for other purposes has been postponed to Wednesday,. Thursday and Friday... Gas rationing will not start until Dec. 1

The long anticipated and much discussed gasoline rationing will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week... The Parent-Teacher-Association will conduct the registration under the supervision of school officials.

All owners of automobiles, motorcycles, outboard motors, and tractors must register, as will those using gasoline for non-highway purposes.

The basic ration book "A" will be issued, which allows gasoline for 240 miles of driving per month, figured on the average of 15 miles to a gallon.

Those wishing to secure"B" or "C" books will get an application form at the basic registration and mail the form to the local Rationing Board at Plymouth. This registration will be handled Nov. 16 to 21. All cars must have an "A" ration book, even it they plan to apply for a "B" or "C" rating.

Those registering for an "A" ration book must get an application form from a filling station, one for each car owned. Fill in the serial number of your five tires. No book will be issued if the car owner has over five tires in his possession.

Be sure to fill out the application form before appearing before the registration board. Bring your car registration card along with you. This is the small slip each car owner gets with his license plates each year. The car owner does not have to appear in person, but sign the application form and send in the registration card with the application form. The applicants signs a statement that he has no more than five tires, that he will not drive over 35 miles an hour, and will have his tires inspected every 60 days.

The owner is to keep part B of the application form on which the tire serial numbers will be entered and the periodic tire inspections certified.

The "A" gas ration books will be good to July 1, 1943. and gasoline rationing will go into effect Sunday Nov. 22, 1942.

The coupons show the periods during which they must be used, while the OPS officials will designated the amount of gasoline the coupons will be good for from time to time.



Another article in this issue tells of the regulation concerning tire inspections and regulations

1942 - Nov 18 - Registration for Gas Rationing On

Local registration for the rationing of gasoline will be concluded this Friday night, and users of gasoline in any form are reminded that they must be signed up by that time if they are to secure the necessary coupons when and it gas rationing is ordered for the midwest..

...there are six steps every motorist must follow in order to obtain his basic "A" gasoline rationing book on November 18,19, or 20. They are:
1 Obtain Form R-543, "Application for Basic Mileage Ration" immediately from any service station, tire shop or garage.

2. FIll out application completely in the name of the registered owner, Registered owner must sign the application.

3. Lists on the application the serial numbers of the five tires retained.

4 Sell all excess tires to the government by calling the Railroad Express Agent.

5 Present the filled out application on the proper day to the nearest school site. This can be done by a member of the owner's immediate family or the owner's agent.

6 With the application present Indiana registration card not driver's license.

1942 - Nov. 25 - 744 Register for Gas Rationing Coupons Here -

A total of 744 automobiles were registered for the precious gasoline "A" rationing books... Seven motorcycles were also registered; while those wanting rationing books for non-transportation purposes were given blanks to fill our and send to the county board at Plymouth.

About 500 application forms were issued to those intending to apply for "B" supplementary gas books...

The requirement that no car may have over five tires to qualify for a ration book has resulted in the local express office being swamped with the surplus tires, far in excess of the number that had been anticipated. It has been unofficially estimated that over 500 tires have been turned in here.

1942 - Dec 2 - Gas Rationing Goes Into Effect With Full Tanks

Gas rationing became effective Tuesday morning and most motorists prepared for the restriction by filling the tanks of their automobiles to the last drop....

On Monday afternoon and night a number of motorist prepared for the future by filling cans, pails and whatnot with gasoline...

local applicants for "B" and "c" books report they have not received their coupon books from the county board.

1942 - December 9 - Fuel Oil Coupons' Value Explained

Following reports from many parts of Indiana that consumers were contused on the matter.. a statement clarifying the value of fuel oil coupons.

While consumers would not lose in monetary war... there is the danger that they might receive a smaller quantity of oil than they are entitled too.

This confusion applies only to heating coupons...

... there are two thermal zones in Indiana In Zone B are Marion Hendricks, Putnam, Parke, Vermillion, Hancock, Rush, Fayette and Union counties and all counties north of there counties. The remaining counties in the state those south of the counties previous mentioned - are in Zone C.

The fuel oil heating coupon sheets in Zone B are green in color; in Zone C blue. But the colors have nothing to do with the value of the coupons. All of the coupons, however, are for five heating periods of equal heating load in a normal winter.

In Zone B the first period ended December 2. The second period ends January 5, third period ends February 6, fourth period ends March 12 and fifth period and of of the heating yeas September 30.

Zone C dated beginning with the second period are January 2, February 2, March 6 and September 20

... There are two kinds of coupon sheets one is a one-unit sheet; the other a ten-unit sheet. During the first heating period each coupon on the one-unit sheet is good for ten gallons of oil and on the ten-unit sheet each coupon is good for 100 gallons. In the subsequent heating periods these values may be changed to fir the actual weather conditions.

In other words, each one-unit sheet originally contained 100 coupons which would have a value of 1,000 gallons provided values in the subsequent heating periods are not changed from the values in the first heating period. In addition each one-unit sheet has 25 one-gallon and five five-gallon change making- coupons of fixed value. The coupons for the various heating periods are plainly designated on the sheets.

The value of the coupons on the ten-unit sheets runs in exactly the same order except the value is ten time as much as the coupon value on the one-unit sheet.

...the ten-unit sheet is issued only to persons who burn large quantifies of oil. .. either a ten-unit or a one-unit user may have one whole sheet or a part of a sheet or two or more whole sheets and a part of a sheet. The reason for this is that the coupon sheets are tailored to each case to cover the quanity of oil allotted to the user.

1942 - Dec 2 - A & P Ad Facts about Coffee Rationing

1. Coupon No. 27 can now be redeemed for coffee, Each member of your family whose family whose age is shown as fifteen or over on Ration Book No. 1 (Sugar Book) is entitled to one pound of coffee.

2 If you have more than one coupon to redeem... just remember that all coffee is perishable. Buy coffee only as you need it.

1942 - Dec 9 - "Share the Meat" Week Now in Progress - The week of Dec 6-12 has been set aside... as "Share the Meat" week... asking citizens to curtail their use of meat... Adults are asked to limit their consumption to 2 1/2 lbs. a week; children under 6 years to 3/4 lb. a week and 6 to 12 to 1 1/2 lbs a week. Families now using less are not asked to cut their consumption.

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