[Bob Carriere]

HI Hanno

I see we are working from the same archived photos......

I actually was referring to the Ford cab 12 in the same series of pictures ...see below......

Noticed that the corner strap fits through a slip cut on the tarp to lock it in place..... the later models with the gromlets for the rope dispenced withthat additional work....... one question in my mind... is that trap canvas or leather with a keyhole cut in it....... old cartridge boxes for 1812 uniform used a similar brass "finding" that allowed the keyhole in the cover to hold tight and keep the paper cartridges from flying out.... or canvas that has some form of sewn reinforcement or even a metal gromlet..... Any one ever seen an early CMP tarp with the straps.....

I have also seen later cab 13 use the same metal spring devices that are used to hold the engine cover closed.... they used them between the ropes and those funny mini capstan. Stretch...pull down and lock on the pin....Which I beleive would be a lot faster to release a tarp in a battle situation than untying knots and loosening the ropes.... but I can find a decent pictures of them being actually used in service.