Re: Reefer insulation

The original builders blueprints, as modified in 1926 for the rebuild. The side walls and the ceiling are insulated with " Compressed Flax Panels". That is where the waffle pattern comes from.
Under the floor boards is the "Granulated Compressed" cork. It appears that the bonding material for the cork was a "tar like substance" Tar was also used when patching the floor boards, and patching together added pieces of the cork.

In the restoration of Reefer 39 we found that all the insulation was indeed as specified in the blueprints. 39 was run until sold in the late 50"s and was turned into a tool shed for nearly 55 years untouched.