To the average person there is nothing interesting in a discarded boiler, an old rubber tire or an ancient brass bedstead. These things have always been junk, seldom given a second thought, for America had plenty of everything.

On December 8th, 1941, salvage materials- discarded iron, steel, rubber, brass, copper, rags- became of vital importance in America's war effort. America does not have enough new materials to produce everything it needs to win. America has always imported rubber. Today, the Axis controls 97% of the world's supply of this vitally needed material.

To manufacture steel, America's steel mills must have approximately 50% iron and steel scrap to combine with iron ore. Scrap and more scrap is needed to fight the war- to provide the materials for combat tanks, for antiaircraft guns, for ships.

Scrap Rubber

The shortage of stell scrap is acute- but that of rubber is no less grim. Japan today holds 97% of the world's crude rubber supply. Scrap Rubber must see us through- until synthetic rubber production reaches many times the tonnage made this year. Scrap rubber must be reclaimed for essential military and war industry use.

And again, in the homes and factories of America, in the bathrooms and garages, are literally thousands of tons of slack rubber- Scrap that should be helping to win the war but isn't.

Old tires, inner tubes, boots and overshoes, hot water bottles, bathing caps, jar rings, rubber belting, erasers, old raincoats, and a host of other articles contain this precious material.

Who is going to overlook an old tire, when it might provide boots for 20 paratroopers? Or a leaky raincoat that might furnish some rubber for a liferaft to save American sailors? Or beach toys that could be part of a pontoon bridge in an American offensive?

Would you, knowing these things, not do your utmost to help relieve the scrap rubber shortage?

Waste Cooking Fats and Greases

The United Nations face a very serious shortage of 45,000,000 pounds of glycerine... needed to make explosives and other war materials. Kitchen fats are a rich source of glycerine- two pounds of fat will produce enough glycerine to fire 5 antiaircraft explosives.

If every American housewife saves only one tablespoon full a day over 200 million pounds would be saved this year.

This, like every other part of the Salvage Program, cannot be started and then allowed to stop. It must continue and increase...

Here is an opportunity for every housewife who asks, "What can I do to help?" For this is work no other person can do!

Tin

Tin is more than scarce- it is critical. The Japs have captured 90% of our sources of supply. This precious metal is needed to make bearings for airplane motors, tanks, ships, gun mounts, and a hundred other types of armament.

Alloyed with lead, it forms solder used in every type of equipment that has electric wiring. Coated over steel, it is shaped into gas mask parts.

But, almost more than anything else, it is needed to make billions of cans to ship food to our troops, our allies, and our civilians. Can any housewife complain that saving tin cans is a bother when so much is at stake?