9

UL

TIMA

TE

THOMPSON BOOK OUT

 

T

AKES

One of the images removed from the "Ultimate Thompson Book" to allow the contents to fit inside

of it's covers was the images of the Mills belt markings. These belts were in use since the 1900s in

the US military. Similar designs were in service around the world. The "canvas" or web equipment

became popular for it's lighter weight and ability to not rot like that of the leather suspension systems

that pre dated them.

Mills Woven Belt Company was one of the largest companies of it's time dealing in this market of

military equipment. The Mills Company came up with their own system of dating the production

of items that it sold. The early dating system included the company logo of the name "MILLS"

enclosed in the outline of a cartridge and a month and year date mark (i.e.: July 1919).

This dating system can also be seen on the early Auto-Ordnance canvas equipment. The date system

was created by Mills and used on all of it's product lines and has nothing to due with Auto-Ordnance

requirements. But, as historical caretakers for the items we all collect and preserve, it is a wonderful

way of learning the history of a particular item.