Flexible filler...

Stockholm tar mixed with red lead and animal dung, reindeer is meant to be the best. Stiffen with chopped cow's hair, the fibres add strength. The fermented stuff is best but you may have to make do with raw these days.
 
Stockholm tar mixed with red lead and animal dung, reindeer is meant to be the best. Stiffen with chopped cow's hair, the fibres add strength. The fermented stuff is best but you may have to make do with raw these days.

Sounds like " Chalico ", the preparation used to seal the interior vertical oak planks on wooden narrowboats. Stockholm tar, horse shit and chopped horsehair. Local supply, of course, often made this mixture vary a bit!
 
One could shoot the horse, tan his hide, melt his hooves and have a lifetime supply of leather patches, chopped horsehair and glue. The other organic ingredient might have to be sourced in-house.
 
One could shoot the horse, tan his hide, melt his hooves and have a lifetime supply of leather patches, chopped horsehair and glue. The other organic ingredient might have to be sourced in-house.

Horses were not in short supply in the pre engine days on the cut.

Horse shit certainly was not!

I smelt the mixture being used at Tooley's yard at Banbury in the early 70's. They were often repairing wooden narrow boats.
 
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