New find and addition to collection, WW2 Litter Cart

[creinemann]

Last weekend I went to an Estate auction and scored a 1942 Wheeled, collapsible Litter Cart, in relatively decent shape, they thought it was for hauling deer out of the woods, but when I saw that OD green, and US marked wheels, the militaria tricorder kicked in! I am in the process of restoring it, but have posted it and photos to my website here http://m37.crwdesigns.com/LitterCart.html . More pictures will follow when its done.
As a side note, I had to put the wheels in just about boiling water to soften the rubber so I could get them off without cracking, anybody have any ideas for making it a bit more pliable? like a tire moisturizer? Silicone?

As found:

[w30bob]

Hi Carl,

That's a cool piece! Nice score. In regards to a rubber moisturizer.......I don't think there is such a thing. We've talked about it on here a few times and the only thing that might have some hope is Glycerine. It's a liquid used for skin and hair stuff. I find mine in CVS. Supposedly it can somewhat rejuvinate rubber, but I'm going to have to see it to believe it. We were discussing it in regards to old stiff wiring........but rubber is rubber....so I suspect if it works for wiring it would work for a tire. If it works at all. It costs about $6 for a bottle and is SKU number 483707, in case the girl behind the counter just looks at you funny when you ask for it.

Here's a pic;


glycerine by w30bob, on Flickr

[creinemann]

Thanks for the info, I will get some.

[Tom @ Snake River]

Great find. I am a local ambulance EMT for the county, and I am restoring a M43 Ambulance and collecting all the medical stuff that I come across.
Tom @ Snake River