On Frisco's wood cabooses, the roofs were originally covered with mulehide. Is this actually mule hide, a type of leather? Or is it perhaps a slang term for some type of canvas or tar paper? What was the original color of it? The only color picture I've seen (where the roof is visible) is on page 122 of the "Frisco / Katy Color Guide to Freight Equipment" book by Nicholas John Molo. It (the caboose) is a 1946 version, with the picture being taken in '63. The roof is close to the same color as the siding and roofwalk paint color, but appears to have a slight blue or purple tint to it. Of course, I'm sure that the color of the mulehide has changed with 17 years of exposure to the elements, and the picture itself is now 48 old, too... so it really doesn't help me determine the original color with any certainty. Thanks for your help!
Interesting! I'm not sure if any of their current products are the same as what Frisco used in the '40's, but it is interesting that the company has survived; albeit with what appears to be a corporate buy-out in 1985. So this still brings questions to my mind: Was this an old Asphalt / Asbestos Cement that was spread over the roof? Take a look at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/asbestos_pix/3608847759/ Or was it a tarpaper type of covering? Perhaps an Asbestos / Cement panel that would explain the use of battens every so often? Right now, I'm suspecting that is what was used. I'm curious of the details, would like to find something comparable for my caboose project. Thank you!
The "Mulehide" used was more than likely a roll - roofing product that is used to cover large relatively flat surfaces. The roof of a caboose would be a good candidate. It looks like what the company offers today is much more modern stuff than the old cloth/paper roll soaked in asphalt.
