Stamped Out - Rayon Corded Necklaces

Rayon Corded Necklaces

Before and during WWII there was no designated necklace that the tags had to be worn on. Some enterprising company made the Rayon Corded Identification Holder to fill the void. These necklaces were made out of rayon and had small fitting for attaching the tags.

About Rayon
Rayon is the first man-made fiber. Also known as artificial silk, it is made from wood pulp and has it's origins in the 1800's. Rayon requires high water and energy usage even though it is made from a renewable resource. The production of Rayon has contributed to water and air pollution.

At one time, rayon and cotton competed for similar end uses. Although rayon is a relatively inexpensive fiber, cotton prices are considerably lower, giving it a competitive advantage over rayon. Rayon's versatility as a fiber and relatively low cost have increased its use in blending, but also encouraged its use in lower quality fabrics and garments—the performance of which has sometimes tarnished the image of rayon. Rayon's many desirable properties, however, have made it a choice for some designer and high-end apparel.
Source: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5538.html

The first recorded production of Rayon in the US was in 1910 by Avtex Fibers.

About the Necklaces
The necklaces measure about 17" long and have two attachment points to hold the tags. Each Branch of service had a different colored identification tag holder. We have also noted that there are at least 5 different Versions of some cords.

The Branches available and colors are as follows:

Branch	Color
Air Corps	Ultramarine Blue and Yellow
Medical	Unknown
Engineers	Unknown
Artillery	Red
Military Police	Unknown
Transportation	Unknown
Quartermaster	Unknown
Ordnance	Red w/ Orange Spots
Infantry	Blue
Armored	Unknown
Tank Destroyer	Orange and Black
Signal Corps	Orange and White
Chemical Warfare	Unknown
Finance	Unknown
Calvary	Yellow
Officers	Unknown
DEML (Detached Enlisted Man)	Blueish-green
Navy	White

The versions are as follows:

Version	Features
1	Smooth cord, zinc-like hardware
2	Smooth cord, brass-like hardware
3	Braided cord w/ ribs, zinc-like hardware
4	Braided cord w/ ribs, brass-like hardware
5	Braided cord, zinc-like hardware
6	Braided cord, brass-like hardware