Dope Room, Plant "G," Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, April 1918

01

Artifact Overview

Many early airplanes had wings and fuselages covered in lightweight fabric. Manufacturers coated the fabric with a lacquer commonly called dope. The coating increased the fabric's airtightness and weather resistance. This 1918 photograph shows a dope room at the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. In liquid form, dope could be highly flammable -- note the "Smoking Prohibited" sign.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

16 April 1918

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1629.246

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 4.125 in
Width: 5.125 in