The Blanco shades over time
From left to right – well-used straps coated in original Blanco KG3, 97 and 103 (with raw webbing canvas background for comparison).
From approx. 1880
Original style mould with deep well
Blanco – plain white product
Early 1900’s
Original style mould with deep well
Blanco – catalogue no 100 – plain white product, mould only to refill zinc boxes
Blanco – catalogue no 101 – plain white product, mould in non-corrosive zinc boxes with sponge
Blanco – catalogue no 102 – plain white product, mould in single cardboard box, with sponge
Khaki-Blanco – catalogue no. 64 – Introduced in 1900 and later described in adverts as ‘Yellow Khaki’ colour
Khaki-Blanco – catalogue no 103 – described in adverts as Khaki colour, visually somewhat greener colour than natural webbing, mould only to refill zinc boxes
Khaki-Blanco – catalogue no 104 – as 103 but mould supplied in non-corrosive zinc boxes with sponge
53 Exact colour unknown but the word ‘buff’ is on the wrapper
Web-Blanco – described in adverts as ‘Green-Khaki’ colour, predecessor of later 97 type
Between World Wars
New style mould with shallow dished top surface
Sunburn canvas cleaner – civilian product of pinky buff colour, available in mould and liquid form
Grey canvas cleaner – civilian product of grey colour, available in mould and liquid form
Khaki Blanco shade number 61 – a buff colour, somewhat lighter than issued cotton webbing
1940’s
New style mould with shallow dished top surface
Khaki Green No. 3– from at least August 1943
Then, following naming rationalisation:
No. 61 Buff – renamed from Khaki Blanco shade number 61
No. 103 Khaki Green (Light) – renamed from No. 103 “Khaki Blanco”
No. 97 Khaki Green (Medium) – rename from No. 97 “Web Blanco”
KG3 Khaki Green (Dark) – renamed from Khaki Green No. 3
Post 1950
Rectangular dense, ‘waxy’ block
K.G. No 3 Olive Drab – Experimental product, issued for trials worldwide in 1951/52. A dark dull green colour, slightly darker than the previous KG3 product
1954
Tins of paste ‘polish’, Pickering’s branded, no mention of Blanco
No. 61 Buff
No. 103 Khaki Green (Light)
No. 97 Khaki Green (Medium)
K.G. No.3 Khaki Green (Dark)
RAF Blue-grey
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