Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue History & Genealogy Culver, Marshall, Indiana

World War II, Rationing - 1943



1943 - Jan 12 Official Tire Inspectors Under Rationing Act. - The following have been appointed official tire inspectors under the rationing, act, which provides that all passenger automobiles must be inspected by Jan. 31, 1942 on Form 534:



1943 - Feb 3 - Rationing of Canned Goods Under Point System Starts Mar. 1
    By March 1 600 food items will be rationed...

    Among the foods to be rationed are canned
      Baby Foods
      preserves
      fish
      jam
      canned fruits and juices
      dried fruits and
      frozen vegetables.
    Registration for the point rationing book will take place late in February...


1943 - Feb 10 - Shoes - - 3 Pair a Year- - Added to Growing List of Rationed Articles
    Shoes have been added to the list of ration items, limiting each person to three pairs and standardizing styles. The order was announced Sunday, sales were suspended until Tuesday noon, and now only one pair of shoes per person may be purchased between now and June 15. Stamp No. 17 in the sugar ration boon must be used to obtain the shoes.

    All types of shoes and boots made wholly or partly from leather or with rubber sloes are being rationed. Only house slippers and infant's soft soled shoes are excepted.

    It is expected that colors in shoes will be reduced to black, white, brown and russet. Two tone shoes will be prohibited. Heel heights in women;s shoes will be limited to 2 5/8 inches and leather boots will be limited to 10 inches in height. Leather platforms will be cut down and heavy duty leather will not be allowed for anything but work shoes.

    Several types of non-essential shoes such as sport shoes, men's patent leather shoes, women's evening slippers, men's sandals' and metal spike shoes, will be discontinued.

    Straps, fancy tongues, trimmings, extra stitching, leather bows, etc. will be dropped.

    Thus rationing which began 13 months ago, has been enlarged to further control the buying and habits of American People
      Tires came first. Dec 11, 1941, with a Freezing order and rationing began Jan. 5 1942 Retreads allowed Feb. 19.

      Automobiles came next March 5
      Sugar Rationing started March 5

      Gasoline came 10 days later in the East and was extended to other states Dec. 1

      Bicycle rationing started Jul 9

      Fuel Oil has been rationed in 30 states since Oct. 1. and is now being extended to the pacific northwest.

      Coffee came under the program Nov. 29

      Beginning March 1 the public will have to use ration book No. 2 to buy canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, canned soups, and canned baby foods

      Meat rationing is scheduled about April 1.

      Butter, edible oils, and evaporated milk are expected to require coupons later.


1943 - Feb 17 - 3-Day Registeration For 2nd Ration Book - Registration for Ration Book No. 2 will be held in the home economics room. at the high school... Feb 24 and 25...

Feb. 26... Those registering may bring with them the following declaration form completely filled out and also their No. 1 Ration Books.... Several days before registration you local paper will print a blank called a "Consumer's Declaration" Clip this out and fill in min necessary information... One Person in each family should apply for all the Ration Books in a Family.


1943 - March 3 - 2,848 Ration Books No. 2 Issued; 2,788 Excess Cans reported
    ...Consumer declarations totaled 1,016 and 2848 books were issued.

    ..it was found that 2,78 excess cans were reported and stamps were accordingly processed from the books. 345 cans were in excess of the number of stamps that could be removed from the books and in those cases a notation was made on the books so that the stamps could be removed from Ration Book NO. 3 if and when it is issued.

    Forty pounds of excess coffee were reported. The board was kept busy removing all coffee stamps from the books of children who were 13 years of age or younger when the No.1 book was issued. Between 40 and 50 adults were penalized for using child coffee stamps in the past ...

    ... on Wednesday 927 books were issued; 1,062 on Thursday and 859 on Friday.


Friday, April 23, 1943 Recapping with reclaimed rubber camel back (Grade F) is now available to all without restriction.

1943 - May 5 - Your Ration Calendar


1943 - May 5 - Hoosier Home Front -
    In appraising the mileage situation, from the standpoint of the availability of gasoline and tires, it is necessary to avoid an undue outburst of optimism because of the relocations in some items of the general conservation program

    Drives with mileage of 240 monthly, for example, on May 1 became eligible for rationing certificates to by any grade of tire, but they will be able to get their choice in tires only when need for replacements is shown. In the majority of cases this need can not be shown by drivers whose casings can be made to give further service by recapping. The replacements available to motorists with a monthly mileage of 240 or less are used or recapped times, but again even these less durable tires may go only to drivers whose tires cannot be recapped.



June 2

June 9
1943 - June 2 , 9 - Your Ration Calendar brought up to date


1943 - Jun 16 - Set Date to Apply For Canning Sugar
    ...for the balance of the year.

    Twenty-five pounds per person per year is the maximum amount allowable for canning purposes. The includes 5 pounds per person for jams, jellies and butter/ Number 15 stamp and number 18 stamp in war ration book Number 1 are good for five pounds of sugar for canning purposes and may be used ny time until October 21. This leaves a balance of 15 pounds per person which an be allotted on the special home canning applications.

    If it is necessary to have more than ten pounds of sugar at this time for canning then it is requested that you not make your application for the balance o your allotment until a later date so as to assist the board in completing this registration without confusion

    The application for appears on another page of this issue.


1943 - Sep 29 - Set Dates for Book Four Registration - ... October 25-31...

1943 - Oct 20 - Registration for Ration Book Four to Be held Oct 27-29... will not be mailed out but given at registration.
1943 - Nov. 3 - 2,801 Registered for Ration Book NO. 4 - A total of 2,801 War Ration Books No. were issued.... This is about 400 less than were issued at the first registration. This is due to a number of men being in the service since then... and others just neglecting to report for registration.






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