Tall Paul

I cant promise to spend the societies money without first checking with the quartermaster, But C.H.E.S. have recently finished designing our colours. So, depending on cost, we way well have an order for you too.

We would also be interested in a pre 1801 union Jack (no red diagonals).

Will you be posting here when you have a better idea of prices?

"Tall Paul" Adams

I was looking for a blade for actual steel on steel demos. I'm trying to find a blade supplier situated in the UK to save on shipping, but I'm having trouble finding anything that resembles an authentic cutlass from around 1720.

BobbyLucifer,

There is a real shortage of swordmakers who will make a pirate period sword suitable for UK Re-enactment at a reasonable cost.

I had my cutlass made by Armour Class, It has served me well over the past years, but it has a straight blade. I have been told that if you send them a drawing, they will make pretty much anything you want, but I cannot say what that will do for the price.

I am currently persuing several sources in the hope that I can find a manufacturer who can supply the pirate commuunity without breaking the bank.

What Pirate society do you belong to? In the absence of a truly authentic 1700's Cutlass, many groups allow the use of the 17th Century Mortury sword as a resonable compromise.

Do you belong to the

UK PIRATE BROTHERHOOD Yahoo Egroup? if you look in the files section, there is a series of pdf files, theat make up a Typology of steel hilted cutlasses that would be suitable for Pirate re-enactment.

Last weekend, I was at the Sea Sheppey festival, One pirate there was using a first rate copy of a Type E (Double Guard) cutlass, complete with curved blade. But she could not remember the name of the person who made it.

If you do eventually find someone who can make what you are looking for, please let me know, as they will probably have a lot of Brit Pirates beating a pathway to their door, and I would like to get to the front of the line.

"Tall Paul" Adams

In the Royal Navy, The rules proscribing the appropriate punishment for any given offence where pretty clearly laid out, and whilst I am sure that there were abuses, for the most part, they were adhered to.

The worst Naval punishment was considered to be Flogging Around the Fleet. A grating was lashed to a long boat, and the man to be punished was lashed to the grating. He was then rowed to every ship anchored at that port, and flogged before the assembled crew. Recipients of this punishment often didn't survive.

In the Merchant fleet, there were no such regulations, The captain of a Merchant vessel pretty much had free reign as to what punishments he administered. It is here that the more extreme punishments like Spiking, and the wooden block occurred.

Pirate punishment/Torture was often just as imaginative, Nailing a mans foot to the deck and leaving him out on a heaving deck during a storm for example. (That wasn't just in the film yellow beard.)

In Esquamelling's book "The Buccaneers of America", he describes a number of tortures used to force victims to reveal the locations of hidden valuables.

The only one that I can remember offhand, consisted of driving four wooden stakes into the ground, them tying ropes to the victims wrists and ankles, and suspending him between the four stakes, with the ropes stretched as tightly as possible.

The ropes were then struck with sticks so that the vibrations wracked through the victims body.

"Tall Paul" Adams.

I watched the Two part Blackbeard Drama with mild disbelief, whilst I know that one shouldn't expect too much authenticity in what is basically an excuse for a romp, I felt that they could at least have made an effort.

Within the first few minutes of this production, there was the inevitable walking the plank scene, however the pirates then promptly shot the drowning man, which seems to somewhat defeat the object.

For a "Bristol born man", Blacbeard had a very strong Scottish Accent, They also went into a lot of detail about William Kidd's execution "At Newgate"!!

Also, why on earth would Kidd tattoo a clue to his hidden treasure on the back of the local barmaid??

During the first half of the first episode, so much time was dedicated to introducing Maynard’s love interest, and the sub plot of the evil governors scheme to rob her of her inheritance, that Blackbeard became something of a supporting character.

Also, the arms budget was obviously very limited. Apart from the scenes of Piracy aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, where they obviously needed a fair number of pistols, The total supply of short arms was reduced to a Kentucky Pistol, and a Napoleonic French pistol, which not only replaced the three brace of pistols reputedly carried by Teach, but doubled for every other pistol used by the cast in these scenes.

Whilst I wasn't expecting an authentic Historical Drama, I did think that the production would at lest make some attempt to get the basic details right, or at the very least to come up with a plot that made some sense, and showed imagination and originality, instead of offering a procession of pirate Clichés.

In the past, Hallmark have produced some first rate Costume/Historical fantasy Dramas, so I had high hopes for this show. Sadly, I was disappointed.

"Tall Paul" Adams.

Welcome aboard Scrounger,

I should've guessed I would find you at the bar.

Mines A Rum, Thanking ye Kindly.

Its good to see another Briish face sailing these Colonial waters, Its a good crew here, always ready to lend A hand if you have any Questions, or find yourself cast adrift.

I know that you want to find out more about Authentic Kit, so cast your eye over "Capatain Twill" sometime.

Hope to cross swords with you soon.

"Tall Paul" Adams.

If we are talking about The Whydah, I would think that we would be circa 1717. At any rate, the Golden Age of Pyracy, ie the last decade of the 17th Century, and the first 20 years of the 18th Century would be a fair bet.

If you are considering making your own pistols, it is worth giving these guys a look.

Muzzleloader Builders Supply Company.

They have a comprihensive range of stock, Everything you would need to build your own gun.

Unfortunately, there is a severe shortage of good pictures of the items that they sell.

They don't so much sell Kits, as matched sets of parts for given models of pistols.

European Pistol Sets.

Hope that this helps,

"Tall Paul" Adams.

Thanks for that BlackJohn, very interesting.

It is a pity that there isn't more detail in the photograph.

From what I can make out, the construction is very similar to that of Cavalry saddle holsters from the same period. Is there any sort of belt loop on the back?

Are there any plans to publish an arceological report with line drawings? and if so, When?

Except... the existing pirate holsters recovered from the wreck of the Whydah are not like these.  The Whydah holsters cover the entire length of the pistol.

I was going to ask what the provanence for pistol holsters like this was. After all, belt hooks seem to be the preferred method for carrying pistols in a maritime context during this period of history, and in pictures from this time, they are nothing more than anonymous loops of leather on the cartrige box strap.

But, I guess that this answers my question.

Do you have any pictures of the Whydah holsters, BlackJohn?

Also, what size pistol were the holsters for? I suspect that belthooks were used on bigger pistols, whilst holsters were more suitable for smaller, Queen Anne type pistols. But this is just a supposition, so surviving holsters would help to support or disprove this theory.

If you think that the last Vid was bad, take a look at this one

Reed + Idea = Explosion

A definate future Darwin contender.

How he kept all his fingers beats me.

And Kids, Dont forget, when loading your "Musket Pistol", Do so over at least two open tubs of powder!

It will also add to the fun if your barrel is "all warped and full of crap"!!

Presented for examination, an example of unsupervised, over-enthusiastic bonehead kids and black powder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bt5tYFm368

I had to watch that video twice, because I didn't believe it the first time.

When I was that age, I did some things with explosions that I would now regard as pretty stupid, but at least I had the sense to put as much distance between myself and the resulting BANG!! as possible.

I don't know what is dumber, making a "Musket" out of plastic tube and toy gun parts, or posting a video of the results on the internet for all the world to see.

"Tall Paul" Adams.

You can count me in for a pair too GOF, I shall ask around amongst the UK Pirates to see if anyone else is interested.

Tall Paul.

"The bowie knife retails for $240.00 and is included here for free."

I think that that says it all.

I can only assume that the Certificate is hand illuminated on pure vellum, and is worth $200, because there is no way that I would pay more than $50 for the sword. And ten, only to be used for comic effect.

Taul Paul.

At least there is a reasonable time lag this time, Pirates of Davy Jones came so quick on the heels of Pirates of the South China Seas (possibly to cash in on the Dead mans Chest film,) that I found myself collecting both sets back-to-back.

Whilst a Captain Nemo, steampunk submerine is an interesting idea, I am not sure that it fits ino the feel of the PotSM game, beyond the fact that there were pirates in the Mysterioud island story.

Who saw the Sky Television Mysterious Island Minni series? with Vinnie Jones as a Pirate in the inevitable Tricorn hat, even though the series was set at the time of the American Civil War.

A poor reflection of the 1961 Ray Harryhausen Movie.

Here is what WizzKids Have so far

Pirates of the Mysterious Islands.

Tall Paul

..... from what I heard.... it looked UGLY AS SNOT....... but it was period.....

That is why very few weapons still survive with the origional Japanning.

to quote Gilkerson.

"The reason becomes apparent to anyone viewing one of the exceedingly rare specimens extant still retaining all of its old blacking, for it is a flat, lifeless finish to the eye."

When the Admiralty dictated that sea service muskets should be capable of accomodating a socket beyonet, the Japanning created a problem since the coating on the barrels was too thick to acomodate the socket.

As a result, from the mid 1750's half of the muskets were issued "black" and the rest were issued "bright".

"Tall Paul" Adams

From time to time, reproduction octants turn up for a resonable price on ebay, the octant that we use in our shows was one such purchase.

Anyone interested in period navigational tools should get a copy of a book called

Latitude hooks and Azimuth Rings.

by Dennis Fisher

ISBN 0-07-021120-5

it contains instructions for making and using 18 different navigational tools many of which were in use during the GAoP

"Tall Paul" Adams

As BlackJohn says, If you want to be authentic, you should Japan the whole gun.

Many Navy service guns were protected from the decaying effects of the salt air by covering wood and metal alike with a black, asphaltum based paint. (Presumably the moving parts of the lock were left clear.)

The Process is mentioned in William Gilkerson's Boarders Away II.

Loyalist Arms offer Jappaning as an option with a number of their sea service guns.

"Tall Paul" Adams

I had to do this, it's from a great bumpersticker I have pasted in my kitchen where I keep my coffee stuff (btw- I'm at least a 3 to five drink coffee person in the mornings- only!):

You know you drink too much coffee when....

1. You don't sweat, you percolate

2. Your life's goal is to amount to a hill of beans.

3. Your birthday is a national holiday in Brazil.

4. You'd be willing to spend time in a Turkish prison.

5. Your coffee mug is insured by Lloyds of London.

6. Jaun Valdez named his donkey after you.

7. You ski uphill

8. You get a speeding ticket even when you're parked

9. You answer the door before people knock

10. You haven't blinked since the last lunar eclipse.

11. You grind your coffee beans in your mouth.

12. You sleep with your eyes open.

13. You can take a picture of yourself from ten fee away without using the timer.

14. You lick your coffeepot clean.

15. You spend every vacation visiting "Maxwell House"

16. You're the employee of the month at the local coffeehouses and you don't even work there.

17. You've worn out your third pair of tennis shoes this week.

18. Your eyes stay open when you sneeze.

19. The nurse needs a scientific calculator to take your pulse.

20. Your T-shirt says, "Decaffeinated coffee is the devil's coffee.

21. All your kids are named "Joe."

22. Your only source of nutrition comes from "Sweet & Low."

23. You've worn out the handle on your favority mug.

24. You forget to unwrap candy bars before eating them.

25. You've built a niniature city out of little plastic stirrers.

26. The Taster's Choice couple wants to adopt you.

27. Instant coffee takes too long.

28. You go to sleelp just so you can wak up and smell the coffee.

29. You name your cats "Cream" and "Sugar".

30. You have a picture of your coffee mug on your coffee mug.

31. You don't even wait for the water to boil anymore.

32. You help your dog chase its tail.

er.......

Let me see............

1,2,11,12,14,18,20,23,27,28 and 31 !!!!!

11 out of 32 isn't too bad

is it ????

The image I'm getting is similar to a "traditional" coffee grinder... just slightly different. Can you go snap a pic of it? Is this modern one close?

Nope, Not even close.

The closest thing I can think of is a short fat wooden peppermill.

A turned wooden cylander about 3 or 4 inches in diameter by about 9 inches high with a mushroom shaped top.

I have searched the internet for a picture i could post, but so far without luck.

Ok, I have just found a picture. it is from an auction site, so it may not be there for long, so save it while you can

Ok,

I am not the owner, but can anyone beat this.

From the 1963 movie the longships?

I say it qualifies as a ships bell because at one point it was mounted on a raft and towed behind a longship.

Oh... fwiw, Neumann's Rev War encyclopedia leads me to believe those brass grinders are a little later than our period. He says in the 17th century beans were ground with a mortar and pestle.

The Brass, "Turkish" Coffee grinder was popular in America by the time of the War of Indipendence, and it was certanly in use in its country of origin considerably erlier than this, but when it made its way across the Atlantic is unclear.

Whilst looking for a picture of a wooden 17th Century Coffee mill, I came across tis source for brass, coffee grinders. bothe the quality and the price is ithe best that I have see, and it includes shipping

Coffee grinder from Turkey

There are quite a few 17th Century Coffee mills surviving, (There is one on display in my local museum here in Colchester)

They were made from turned hardwood, Lignem Vitae, and were constructed in three interlocking parts.

I was unable to find any photographs to post, and the structure of these things is not easy to describe, but I shall do my best.

Part one.

The grinder.

The top part of the mill has a domed handle and was used to grind the beans. the lower half was a conical shape, usually carved with a series of ridges to provide a grinding surface.

this fitted snugly into.

Part Two

The moarter

The second part has a conical recess, the reverse of the top piece, into which the beans were placed. at the bottom of the cup, was a hole, approximately one inch diameter over which a metal plate was attached.

The plate was drilled through with a series of holes through which the particles of ground coffee fell.

part three.

the base,

The bottom section of the mill was a recepticle into which the ground coffee fell.

once the beans were ground, the base could be removed, and the fresh coffe could be transfered to the pot.

As A side note.

BLACKJOHN. The picture of Rowin Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder that you use as an avatar picture was taken at Colchester Barraks. the buildings in the background are less than a mile from my house.

Aaaargh.... coffee an tarts...... ain't history fun..... 

Dont forget the Womens pettition agaisy Coffee of 1674

or to use its full title,

THE WOMEN'S PETITION AGAINST COFFEE

REPRESENTING TO PUBLICK CONSIDERATION

THE Grand INCONVENIENCIES accruing to their SEX from the Excessive Use of that Drying, Enfeebling LIQUOR.

"the Excessive use of that Newfangled, Abominable, Heathenish Liquor called COFFEE, which Riffling Nature of her Choicest Treasures, and Drying up the Radical Moisture, has so Eunucht our Husbands, and Crippled our more kind Gallants, that they are become as Impotent, as Age, and as unfruitful as those Desarts whence that unhappy Berry is said to be brought."

The main thrust of the complaint was that men were unable to fulfill their obligations in the bedroom due to the effects of the excessive time spent in the coffee house.

They come from it with nothing moist but their snotty Noses, nothing stiffe but their Joints, nor standing but their Ears:

You can find the full text of the pettition here

Womens pettition against coffee 1674

and you can find the mens reply here

The Mens Answer to the Womens Petition against Coffee (London 1674)

"Tall Paul" Adams

If you want to try your hand at somthing a bit special, you could always take a look at the Queen Anne Kit here.

Blackley's Kits

Top quality parts, and all the castings are in silver.

But on the down side, I could buy two Pedersoli Queen Anne pistol kits for the cost of this one.

"Tall Paul" Adams

Hello Sonny,

There are at least two Australian pirate groups that I know of.

But since I live in England, I don't have much contact with any of them.

here is a link to the Pirates of Brisbane Yahoo group, they may be able to help you.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PiratesBrisbane

Also, here is a link for their website, but it isn't up and running yet, so you will have to keep checking.

PIRATES OF THE MORNING STAR

If there isn't anyone close to where you live, perhaps you should consider setting up your own crew.

I hope that this helps,

"Tall Paul" Adams"