Hot Rods Scrap Drive

Rationing was a huge deal, and it happened fast. Pearl Harbor was Dec 7, 1941 and by February, 1942 civilian production of consumer goods practically ended. Think about that. Need a new washer or dryer? Tough. New car? Forget it. Radio? Not a chance. Bicycle? No way.

Tires were a hot item. Technically nobody was allowed to own more than five.

In order to buy a new tube of toothpaste, ya had to turn the old empty one in. And Americans had it pretty good, despite all the rationing. Britain didn't end rationing completely until 1954. Bacon grease and fats would get a few cents a pound. Rag men would come around and pick up, scrap paper drives were big.

It's always been clear that once the war was over, the big players decided America would have to be dealt with, economically, culturally, militarily etc; no way around it.

 

October 1942. "Scrap and salvage depot, Butte, Montana."




July 1942. "Detroit, Michigan (vicinity). Standard Oil truck used during a rubber scrap drive."