Richard said:
....It appears to be a red blanket with a black stripe on the end shown. I believe that this is a wool "Hudson Bay" blanket - probably a "four point" model. This type of blanket has been made since the 1600's, and was a popular item of trade with the Indians. It has been available in modern times through such places as L.L. Bean and was being sold by them in the early 1980's. There were a number of different color combinations and sizes available....Link:
http://www.johnnygosch.com/
The red blanket in the photo of three boys appears to be a heavy wool Hudson's Bay Point Blanket. These blankets are still being made today and the current price of a "four point" blanket like the one shown is $240 from Cabella's. They were pretty expensive in 1982 as well, selling then for probably around $100 each from LL Bean (Freeport, Maine). In the 1970's they were also sold by the origional Herter's of Waseca, Minnesota.
These blankets have been made in a number of colors over the years, including Red with Black stripes, Green with Black Stripes, White with Blue stripes, Gold with darker Gold stripes, White with stripes of Red, Black, Green and Yellow, etc. This one - Red with Black Stripes - is one of the most common types.
They are called "Point Blankets" because of the origional barter system that they were made for starting in 1670. The Hudson's Bay Company imported various types of trade goods to Canada to be traded to Indians for furs. Points were assigned to certain amounts or qualities of furs and also to the trade goods. An Indian with four points worth of furs could trade them for a "four point" blanket.
The Blankets all have an offical label sewn onto the bottom left corner. It is white with gold lettering in both English and French, stating the following:
Hudson's Bay Point Blanket
Beneath that is the official seal of the Hudson's Bay Company, Incorporated 1670
"The seal of quality. 100% Wool"
Made in England CA00234
Canada Reg No. 19575
US Reg No. 220747
The Black Stripes on top and bottom of the blanket are between 5 and 3 quarters of an inch and 6 inches wide. They are 7 and a half to 8 inches from the edges of the blanket.
Above the bottom stripe and above the label are the "Points" or lines embroidered into the blanket. This one would have had four such black lines, each five inches long, parallel to the bottom large stripe, spaced two inches apart extending from the left side of the blanket in.
This is not an elegant bed with fancy bed spread and ruffles. It is a standard double bed with not much of a box spring beneath it. The blanket, however, is an expensive one, and as such the owner protected it by placing another blanket on top of it before putting the boys on the bed.
The color and type of blanket, and the way the bed is made indicates that this is the home of a single man, possibly one who enjoys hunting, fishing, and outdoors. Sears Roebuck did NOT carry such blankets in 1980. They were only available through Outdoor type catalogs. Since they are a "high dollar" import item, still being produced today, the manufacturer could state specifically what companies in the US and Canada sold them.
Being a wool blanket, it cannot be washed easily, so there might well be DNA evidence attatched to it. Being a special and expensive item, it might still be in the possession of the man who took the boys.
The bindings on the boys all seem to be the same material - possibly strips torn from a sheet. The only knot that can be seen is a square knot.
The haircuts on the boys and the clothing items seem consistant with the early 1980's.
