Desert water bag

[Louis]

The last three days here in Marietta Ga. the temp. has been 104 to 105 so I thought I would get out my old desert water bag, Any of you ever use one ?...I know they were used in the 1940's-1960's for people crossing the desert, But were they used as far back as the 1930's ?
Anyway Im sure their were still a lot of A models on the road in to the 1950's, They were used for drinking water and to add water to your rad.
I thought I would put some water in it and let it drip the next time I go to the next car show.

[newshirt]

I thought they were just used to cool the radiator, like a swamp cooler.

[CarlG]

Cooling the radiator may or may not have been a side benefit. My parents "didn't leave home without one" when driving between LA & Texas in the early 40's. I typically carried one when on the Arizona highways in the late 50's. Basically for drinking water and extra water for the radiator -- just in case!

[700rpm]

I bought a "like new" one (about 40 years old, but hardly ever, if ever, used) at a garage sale a couple years ago. The lady didn't have any idea what it was or what it was used for. And even when I told her I don't think she believed me.

[Louis]

I may be wrong, But I think it was used for an [emer.] break down in the desert for drinking water or to add to the rad. due to the hot weather, I woulden't think that blocking off 40% of your rad. in the desert heat would help in cooling, esp. on a "A" model rad, maybe on a car that had a hood orniment but would not block the air flow thru. the rad.,...On an "A" model I would think it would be carried on the bumper But Im just gusssing, I don't know, Maybe some one here can explane it.

[takomaned]

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While visiting relatives in Denver,back in the 60's,they had one hanging on the door mirror anytime we took a trip. the water was always nice and cool for drinking. I think they had a lot fewer big bugs there than in the south.

[MrTube]

For some reason this thread reminds me of the Alfred Hitchcock presents episode : Escape to Sonoita


Bill and Andy Davis are driving an old tanker truck across the desert when, 85 miles from their destination, they truck develops engine problems. A passing car gets stuck in the sand and it turns out the occupants have kidnapped a young woman in Phoenix and are on the run with the $100,000 ransom they've collected. They decide to take the truck to continue their escape but fight over the limited water available. One kidnapper shoots the other, but he eventually dies of thirst. Turns out he was much closer to water than he thought.

[takomaned]

Great memory! Thanks for jogging mine. at today's rates they would have been fighting over the gas.

[Rusty Homestead Fl]

As a kid in the 1950's we would travel desert highways from Los Angeles to Miami, Oklahoma etc and always had a desert water bag. It was hung below the bumper and the water was always cool to drink in 95 degree weather. But I will say this, the water always tasted like you were drinking it out of a burlap sack. (which I guess we were).

[Bruce Adams]

NBill and Andy Davis are driving an old tanker truck across the desert when, 85 miles from their destination, they truck develops engine problems. A passing car gets stuck in the sand and it turns out the occupants have kidnapped a young woman in Phoenix and are on the run with the $100,000 ransom they've collected. They decide to take the truck to continue their escape but fight over the limited water available. One kidnapper shoots the other, but he eventually dies of thirst. Turns out he was much closer to water than he thought. o,

It was a WATER TANKER that went UNSAID in your story .

[MrTube]

Bruce!!! I didn't want to give it away in case someone had not seen it!

OK, now tell me how many other 30 year olds besides me know their hitchcock.

[Louis]

I saw an old sign on ebay the other day that said Route 66, last stop to buy a desert water bag for the next 300 miles,
Wow!...Can you img. driving in an A model in the desert with no stop's for the next 300 miles .
Im just glad I have a desert water bag, Just in case .

[glenn in camino]

No water for 300 miles? Probably no gas either. You'd have to bring 15-20 gallons of gas to make it.

[Louis]

Originally Posted by glenn in camino

No water for 300 miles? Probably no gas either. You'd have to bring 15-20 gallons of gas to make it.

The sign just said last chance to buy a desert bag for the next 300 miles.
not gas .

But if an A model got 20 mpg, and you carried two five gallon cans of gas in the trunk ,running board's, or in the back of your pickum-truck you could expect to go 400 miles, or about .

That would be one hell of a trip with the wife and a couple of kid's,
But back then people were a lot tougher then they are now .

[Jack '29 Sport Coupe]

What a memory jogger! Our family used to take vacations in the summer on the
"Mother Highway" (Route 66) and always with the bag tied onto the radiator. As
far as using any of the water is concerned, I don't ever recall dad pouring a drop
of water out of the bag----ever.

Jack

[Russ/40]

Originally Posted by Jack '29 Sport Coupe

"Mother Highway" (Route 66) and always with the bag tied onto the radiator. As
far as using any of the water is concerned, I don't ever recall dad pouring a drop of water out of the bag----ever.

Jack

That's because he was prepared. Now if you didn't have the bag...... Oh boy!

[Tom Wesenberg]

I think the bags are made from flax. My dad used to hang one on the front bumper of his 1954 Ford Country Squire when we made long trips in the 50's. He said the evaporating water would help cool the radiator.

I remember that Hitchcock movie and a local TV station just started showing Hitchcock and other good 50's and early 60's programs. That's why I'm up all hours of the night!

[JimK1930A]

I have an old Desert water Bag hanging from my bumper of my Model A. Before I take a drive or display my car at a car show, I pour a half to one gallon of water into it. It drips a little until the flax fiber expands and stops leaking. Most people at the car shows have never seen one and ask what it is and what it was used for?
Once in a while I see one displayed on the front of an old car at a show, but never have one with water in it.
I explain that the water bags were used from the 1920's through the 1950's. Water bags are made from flax fiber because it expanded when wet and held the water.
I have a small sign next to my water bag that says:
Desert water Bag
The desert water bag not only held water, but cooled water at the same time. On hot days, water would condense on the outside of the bag and cool the contents through evaporation. People often draped their bags on the front of the car to ensure the cooling action of moving air.
Someone once asked me if I ever drank from the bag?
I replied no, but just the other day I took a sip from the bag and to my surprise, it wasn't as bad as the bag looks from the outside. The printing on my bag is mostly faded off from the sun and saturated water. I keep my nice water bags with many different graphics on display in my garage.

[Fred K-OR]

We used these bags for drinking water when out working on the old farm in the 50's. They kept the water cool and made a great drink.

[Mendotaman]

My dad put one on the bumper of our brand-new '56 Fairlane on a trip from So California to Colorado. He was pumping gas at a station in the middle of New Mexico and one of the local urchins waited until his back was turned and swiped it from the front bumper. We never needed it for the radiator, but I remember drinking from it.... and learning to stand just so--- so it didn't get my front all wet.

[Rich in Tucson]

In case any of youse get hot and bothered to find one, they are still being made however the graphics are generally not as nice as the old ones.

[RUNNERBUN]

Here is a picture of one which we were presented with at the 21st Australian National Model A Meet in 2010 which was held at Launceston Tasmania. The desert bag was in lieu of the normal License Plate which we would normally receive at our National Meets. I think it was a brilliant idea. Many "A" owners were spotted using theres filled with water during the Meet week. Mine is still a vergin and just sits hanging on the wall with all my other mementos.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Louis

I saw an old sign on ebay the other day that said Route 66, last stop to buy a desert water bag for the next 300 miles,
Wow!...Can you img. driving in an A model in the desert with no stop's for the next 300 miles .
Im just glad I have a desert water bag, Just in case .

Louis,
Did many 66 trips in the '40's. Those signs were a GIMMICK just to get you to stop. We carried 4 water bags, as they slowly get lower from evaporation. Water was cold, odd smelling, odd tasting, but in the middle of the Mojave desert, it was like drinking NECTAR from THE GODS!!
Bill W.

[johnbuckley]

Used one when driving round Australia in the phaeton in 2006. The water keeps cool by slow evaporation, however the evaporation rate was a bag full per day so really just for show rather than useful.

[RUNNERBUN]

Originally Posted by johnbuckley

Used one when driving round Australia in the phaeton in 2006. The water keeps cool by slow evaporation, however the evaporation rate was a bag full per day so really just for show rather than useful.

Hello John, good to see your are still in the land of the living and still involved with Model A's. Have you got over your trip around Australia. I'm sure you have some really great memories which will last a lifetime.
A small group of us are planing a round Aust. trip for the National Meet 2014 which will be in Perth. As we live on the North East Coast of Australia it will meen doing a total distance of approx. 15000 km (that's 9000 miles for the U.S.) As you well know that is quite an adventure. Will you be coming back to Aust. or have you other Continents to conquer.

Terry

[walt jones]

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During the Reginal Meet held in Altoona Ia. Two weeks ago four couples in or group decided to go antiquing. All four came away with desert water bags. Each bag had differnt graphics, what fun !

[FL&WVMIKE]

This thread was very timely, to me, as I just found one, last week !
I believe that these go back to the "T" Model days. Mine is not that old, as it lists both American and Canadian patents of 1949.
It was very dusty and dirty. I washed it in mild hand-soap. I was afraid that detergent might affect the waterproofing.
MIKE

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE - Twice

[Fred K-OR]

Originally Posted by Rich in Tucson

In case any of youse get hot and bothered to find one, they are still being made however the graphics are generally not as nice as the old ones.

Any idea where a person coul buy one???

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Fred K-OR

Any idea where a person coul buy one???

There were several on eBay yesterday when I checked.

Here's one: just do a search for Flax Water Bag, several more come up.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-MINNEQUA...06%26rk%3D1%26

[Rich in Tucson]

Originally Posted by Fred K-OR

Any idea where a person coul buy one???

Here are some:

http://can-spec.com/canspec/products/products.php?ID=14

[Jason in TX]

Here is a Model A era desert water bag in my collection that I bet you've never seen. It's a desert water bag around a galvenized box that was meant to clamp to your running board. You put your food in the box, close the lid, pull the cork and fill the flax bladder around the box with water, and drive away. The evaporation cools the water, and in turn, cools the contents of the metal box. The brochure advertising them is from 1928 or 1929 and I've only seen two others, one being in a museum. Note that the drain for the bag is just like the drain petcock on the lower radiator hose of the Model A.

[FL&WVMIKE]

Jason in Tx ....................
You are right. I've never seen anything like that ! Neat !
MIKE

[JimK1930A]

I really like the Auto Refrigerator you posted. Most of our Model A's look the same, but it is the accessories that personalize our cars. Very cool accessory!
Thank you for sharing.

[takomaned]

I thought Mrtube was saving the ending for those who didn't remember it. I remember the tanker said GASOLINE on the side. That was a great story.