This came up in another forum. Some of the aftermarket tires for military vehicles are labeled “US Royal” on the sidewalls. Someone was asking if that was a real brand or if the AM companies used the name instead of “Uniroyal” to avoid licensing issues.
It was a real brand. U.S. Royal was one of the brand of tires by U.S. Rubber company. They later became Uniroyal.
“U.S. Rubber produced tires under the Gillette, Ward, Atlas, U.S. Rubber and U.S. Royal brands…In 1961, the company became Uniroyal, Inc.”
They were one of the tires used on military vehicles up through the late '60s - early '70s.
Uniroyal, right here in my town of Naugatuck, Connecticut. Was THE employer for 100 years. Vulcanized rubber was invented here, along with Keds and Naugahide.
Very interesting! There used to be Uniroyal and Firestone tire plants near where some family members lived when I was a little boy, so the names are forever in my head. I never knew of the older names from pre Uniroyal. There is still a Firestone Boulevard in L.A. County, even though the facility is long gone. The neighborhood is called Firestone Park, and the old Sheriff’s station there was called Firestone station.
“During World War II, U.S. Rubber factories were devoted to production of war goods, and produced military truck and airplane tires, as well as the canvas-top, rubber-soled Jungle boot for Soldiers and Marines serving in tropical and jungle environments.”
Actually Keds sneakers and Naugahide were both WWII inventions by U.S. Rubber. The hob-nail boots of German POW’s were tearing apart the wooden floors of POW barracks, so the US Government put out a contract for rubber soled canvas shoes for less than $1 a pair. U.S. Rubber won the contract with what are now known as Keds.
Defense Contractors needed a waterproof, rot proof, tear resistant replacement for cotton duck canvas seats and tarps, which were rotting quickly in the PTO. U.S. Rubber developed their synthetic replacement and named the product Naugahide, in honor of their town, Naugatuck, CT.
Sorry for this rubber related thread hijack.
There’s a Firestone Park if I remember correctly in Akron, OH. My grandfather spent his adult life in the rubber industry, finishing at Goodyear if I remember correctly. I remember when I was little visiting them and his hands looked so weathered, they used a lot of lye in his area for cleaning tires. I also remember he had an ashtray that was glass that sat in a rubber tire and I always thought it was neat. When I went home for my dads funeral we were going thru his office, my brother and I were taking a few personal momento’s and my dad had it so it came home from me along w a book my grandpa had on the tire industry from that area. From what I was told he tried to enlist in WW2 like his brothers (my great Uncle Charlie was a ball turret gunner in the 8th AF and my great Uncle Marshall was in the army in the Pacific) but he was classified as essential and they wouldn’t take him.
And Sperry Boat Shoes, I read they were issued to sub crewmen in WWII. Made in Naugatuck, and Mr Sperry lived in Middlebury as I recall. (I know, way off topic, but little histiory bits never hurt).
I actually rode that as a kid… there are parts of the world’s fair that no matter how old I get I’ll remember… like getting stuck for 45 minutes on the it’s a Small World ride… that gave me PTSD
