Gentleman of Fortune

Patrick... sent you a PM about the patterns so check your pyracy pub e-mail. Mad_Jack: Well, if your working, you should have the money for those 1200 per meter silks! GoF

Josh has the benefit of having acutally been to the museum so he knows what you have and could possibly reproduce. Having not really seen much more than what is in the Nat' Geographic its hard to say.... Firearms are going to be difficult. To make a replica firearm that a serious re-enactor is going to want to buy is going to take a lot of legwork, time, and money. Your best bet would be contacting one of the indian/pakistani companies that are making the flintlock rifles and pistols that are then being modified by other retailers/companies and have them make them for you. That would be the cheapest route for you. You really have to sit on the guys though to make sure they get the details right. There is not a lot of competition in this area though as most folks who want guns get the few that are available from Loyalist Arms or the Queen Anne kit from Padersoli(?) Swords would be great, the same would probably apply as the firearms though (having them made in India or ?) But you have said that there is very little to go by as most of the swords have dissolved or whatever.... shame Clothing items.... was there any recovered? That is interesting. I would like to see/hear more about that. Shoes.... definately. If you can get these reproduced correctly to sell at about $125 that would be a tremendous thing. But the problem with shoes is that you need to have several sizes.... I have a shoe fetish anyway so put me down for a pair! I think that you are best served by going for some small things made that would be cheap and easy to get started. Buttons Shoe and Breeches buckles Coins that were cheap enough to buy a lot of Any personal equipment like the cartridge box ribbons for tieing pistols together Grenadoes would be good.... But I plan on beating you to the punch on that one! Sailcloth.... can't buy period sailcloth anywhere. Belaying pins A decent Boarding axe (where any found?) GoF

Well that all depends on what you want really. I start by directing you to my website page that dicusses the matter at http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/sailorskit.htm if you scroll about halfway down you will see the bit about Justaucorps/Coats. Also, I have links to some good fabric suppliers on the links page too. A an authentic justaucorps will be a serious undertaking as far as having one made. You are really having two coats made because the lining is like an additional coat sewn into the "outter" coat. Two resources that will really help you make up your mind as to what you want are Textiles in America 1650-1870 F Montgomery and The Cut of Men's Clothes N Waugh Fabrics can be a lot of different things depending on your personal prefrences. Silk would be a good choice (Satin, Taffeta, Grosgrain or Atlas weave are good choices) but so would linen, Wool, and some blends (wool/silk, wool/worsted wool, silk/linen). IF you go with silk, you should make the lining out of silk too. Linen or wool flannel could work for just about all the other choices. Contrary to popular belief, there were lots of stripes, and colorful "prints" during this time too, though its really difficult to find a period print thats made now days. (Check out the links under fabrics... if you got the do-ray-me you can have some NICE silk damasks, silk velvets, and such. Hope this helped GoF

For all of you who feel a pirate impression is not complete without boots, here are some that are reasonably authentic. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=6522643058

I looked all over the site for a link to the artifact gallery and couldn't find it... is it down? But, forging ahead with your above question... which is basically "What do re-enactors want?" We want technical information, we want pictures of close up details (done with PROFESSIONAL MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY, we want line drawings, more pictures and as much other info as you can cram in. The reason is that we are going to try to make our own copies of the items in your museum, and the more information you can provide us, the more accurate those copies are going to be. AND This all really ties into the gift shop conundrum. I understand that you got to have those impulse buys (eye patch and wooden sword for the kids) but the dedicated amateur pirate historian that visits your museum is going to have most of the pirate books anyway so they probably wont buy one. The books we will buy on impulse is something that we have not seen before and is so esoteric that we can’t resist… i.e. Josh and his book purchase. The problem there is that you sink a lot of money in books that you might only sell 1 or 2 of a year. And that is not good business sense. Solutions? Hawkins has some good ones. Most museums in Europe have a 8 X 11 color catalogue of all the exhibits on display in the museum plus a good amount that they do not have on display. They have couple of paragraphs about the item, its history (more information than is on the plaque next to the item on display). You certainly can fluff up the catalogue with info on Pirates in general, shipwrecks, the history of the Whydah, and famous pirates. This is the kind of thing that everyone buys because it’s the perfect keepsake and reference for the museum visit. You have some amazing things from the pirate wreck. I too understand that you don’t want to sell them. But why not sell copies for the items? Here is an example. If someone wants to buy an exact replica of a cartridge box used by pirates in the GAOP, where do you get one? You guys have an original, with line drawings and the hole shooting match! I can believe you guys have not found a sweat shop in Pakistan to crank those things out at $2 a piece. I guarantee you Hawkins and Josh would not have walked to the parking lot without one in their bag if they were in your gift shop for $29.95! Buttons… you guys must have a bunch of original buttons too. When we want to get our buttons, we usually buy them from GG Godwin or the like and they are probably F&I period buttons. You get some replica pirate buttons and I am putting in my order tomorrow! You will probably do more business with us via the internet than walk throughs from summer tourist, but you can keep your e-store open all year. Find the niche, use what you have, copy it, and shlock it to us baby! Lastly Q: What do the Maryland Maritime Heritage Festival, the Chicagoland Re-enactors Fest!, the 225th Anniversary of the Invasion of Charleston, the Pirates in Paradise festival, the Hampton Blackbeard Festival, and Fort Frederick’s 11th Annual 18th Century Market Fair all have in common? A: They are places where representatives of the Whydah museum should be but aren’t! These are all pirate and/or 18th Century festivals (where people who would be interested in the Whydah museum are but may not even know you exist. This pirate thing is hot, (and will only get hotter with the release of POTC2) and folks are flying in from all over the US to take part. Take a small museum (fill up a van with stuff and hit the road!) to the people to get the word out. Have a table of stuff to sell…. Buttons and Cartridge boxes? And you will work wonders. GoF

Fair winds mate I am glad to see someone living the life we all think we want to have.... GoF

This one is interesting... but I assume that it may be from a later version of GHoP?

Reviving an old thread cause E-bay's been good to me!!! Look what I scored guys! GoF

I think that this is a great idea! Especially the Ocracoke thing. You could re-enact the pirate shindig there on the beeches when blackbeard and Vane in September of 1718. That would be a great thing to re-enact... A WEEKLONG PIRATE PARTY! I'd love to help.... if only virtually via computer! GoF

Weren't they going to build a replica of the Whydah at one time... till the NAACP nixed the idea? Sadly, for me though, coming from Germany... its hard to include (read: convince the wife) that a trip to an out of the way place to visit a museum is the best use of limited time.... Oh well. GoF

The operative phrase in his post was "the next month or so". The PiP is a must, but not for a long time off. And how the book does initially will dictate how deep their pockets are to send him to anything 8 months away. Not to sound rude, but what exactly are you going to do? Do you want to dress up like a pirate and participate in the Festival. or Being that the "Man" is paying, I would imagine that they want you to Hawk your wares at a table or something... Does this mean you, a table, some books, and a cheesy grin on your face? I can't speak for a lot of festivals, but I would contact them as soon as possible to see if they have a "location" for the above mentioned table and where its going to be. If not careful, you could get stuck next to the guy selling Styrofoam pirate swords and will end up ruining the effect/look of the accomplished author signing his best seller. At least the Hampton Pirate gig is in the middle of several large cities. Hit the festival, but also try and get to the Boarders Books and B & Ks in the area too. For that matter, how about the Airport bookstores too. They have a captive audience and the added benefit of charging insane prices for hard backs. PLUS The following weekend is Norfolk’s Harborfest. YOU get a twofer! That place is NUTs for the whole weekend. Music, ships, entertainment, and rich middle age Buffet fans that are your meat and potatoes audience. They have about 500 hundred thousand people come through on the weekend. And if 1 out of 100 buys a book….. Definitely think about your look though. I think you are going to be more appealing as the middle aged buffet fan writer type than some weirdo pirate re-enactor wannabe. Hawaiian print shirt, khaki shorts, Birkenstocks, expensive sunglasses, and margarita in hand. Look like you own a sailboat, not a great collection of fake pirate swords. Just my two cents Good luck

I was searching the net (and the Whydah site) to see if there was any more information or pictures of the artifacts available. I read where their were 73? buckles found, a bunch of Grenades, and other neat objects.... Are they posting any info on this or am I being teased into going to the Museum or buying a book? GoF

Thanks Das! That was a helpful link.... if you have not already, I would love to invite you to join the discussion at the http://groups.yahoo.com/group/piratebrethren/ yahoo group site. A lot of interesting discusiion goes on their too! GoF

Its actually a fun gig. I did it in 2000 and had a blast. They welcome both Historical and Fantasy pirates. If you need a place to stay, you might go to the re-enactor section and follow the links to one of the "hosting" groups. Some of them are local to the Hampton area and might have tips on some cheaper places to stay. Also, Newports News airport is a little closer to the Gig than Norfolk, but I have no idea what kind of prices they have. There is onsite "camping" with the re-enactors, if that is your pleasure. Hoprefully, it won't be more than 95 degrees and 99% humidity that early in June If you can make a week out of it, the following weekend is a HUGE waterfront festival.... Nofolk's Harborfest (again this is in Virgina, about 25 miles from Hampton) You can go in pirate kit if you like, but you might just enjoy the wandering around with the other 500K people that enjoy the tall ships, entertainment and other fest events. It would be very easy to kill a week in the "local" area. Yorktown, Newport News (Mariner's Museum in Newport News is WORLD CLASS), Historic Norfolk, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Virginia Beach are all well within 1 hour from Hampton. If you haven't planned a summer vacation yet, it may be one of the best weeks spent in a long while for you. Maybe I should work for the tourist board.....

As in "the ones I have seen from the Wydah wreckage" or in pictoral refrences? They would be a neat thing to have in the background of a smuggler/pirate trader event, but i am not sure anyone makes them wood bound anymore. GoF

Does anyone know when iron banding on barrels started? Or more specifically, are barrels made by the ships cooper iron bound or wooden bound for 1690-1720? Anyone? GoF

WoW Patrick! You are the man! I love watching someone do research, ask questions, and try to build their kit as accurate as possible! You are doin a fine job and are quickly becoming the expert yourself. Don't worry about looking "piratey". A rule of thumb would be, "If it looks piratey to modern eyes, its probably not authentic!" I don't know of anyone doing this "period" or Genre of GAoP but I would bet you are at the forefront. Keep up the good work and keep the update post coming! GoF PS Can you post some pic of you in the kit (all the parts) that you have so far!?!

even so.... as I said in my first post, EITHER way it is an interesting question. I imagine that cargo manifests survive for what goods were being commercially transported, but It would be interesting to see receipts for consumables used by the ship. Did they make their own Scotish Duff, Hard tack, and Salt Meat on board ship? If it was prepared before hand it had to be bought in quantity and stored aboard ship…. It would be nice to see the receipts, would it not? GoF

I am confused... are you asking if anyone has access to historical receipts (bills paid for goods received)… Or are you asking if anyone has any historical recipes (instructions for making) for food items eaten aboard ship. Not trying to ding you on spelling errors as either one is a good question. GoF

RR... I posted it: INITIATION RITES & PUB MANAGEMENT New to the Pub or have a 'newbie' pyrate inquiry? Please post here first! More seasoned crew of this wretched vessel will be happy to help you out and get you aquainted. Additionally, use this section to post questions and comments about the Pub to the moderators So if questions about pub management don't go there.... then? Anywhoo. I guess I am just taking a too literal interpretation of the sub forums title... see above It seems to me that its already fractured... Pirates & Paradise is an event but has its own forum and its not in "RAIDS" THE WAY TO A PYRATE'S HEART:Of drink and feasting. and Beyond piracy seem to be 2 forums with the same kinds of posts Q: Latest post in "way to pirates heart"? A: what are you listening to? So when people talk about clothing and ancillary items they are not grouped to gether but scattered about (Twill, Plunder, Rabble Rousing and who knows where else.) Maybe some spring cleaning is needed and some re-organization. But maybe people who like to write Pirate Hiakus and Limericks are more inspired when they post them in Rabble Rousing than in Pirate PoP... I don't know. But since I am being shouted down already I will just leave it alone. PS John, most of the authenticity disccusion about clothing happen in Twill... (as you know) GOF PS

Foxe... that was the picture I was thinking about... I thought it was earlier but you are right, it doesn't predate the others.... Still, if it is a 1680-1690 picture it is early for trousers. Sandal? Possible, but now In the close up there seems to be a horizontal line of the shoue under where the ankle should be.... I think its a shoe. However, not much of a tounge. This is great stuff! GoF

I think it is time to add a new sub forum. Could we have one to strictly discuss Clothing/Pirate garb (one for Authentic and Fantasy). A lot of threads are about clothing and they don't necessarily fall into Plunder (which should be buying and selling IMHO) and Captain Twill (which is academic talk on all historical topics). I know we have a lot of sub forums already, but I think that this is one area that needs its own home GoF PS I put forth Foxe as a moderator too!

I really like this one. (young man with raised glass). This looks to be the really short style of jacket. I don't see cuffs or pockets on this one. Also, if it is/was painted in the 1680s it is probably one of the earliest pictures of a sailor wearing trousers (I thought the one of Black Beard was one of the first and that is post 1717. Also... what kind of shoes is he wearing... mules? GoF

geeshh.... some of my most brilliant stuff..... wasted.... GoF

why is there such animosity againtst authentic The "friction" exists because it inherently sets up an us-against-them scenario. Our stuff is more correct, we have researched more than you, we are more dedicated etc etc. The retort is; we are more engaged with the public than you, we have a better time than you, we are better entertainers than you…. It’s a result of both sides sharing the same interest but wanting something entirely different out of the experience. For the authentic people, it’s an opportunity to “time travel” to wear the clothes and try to create an experience that might have been had 300 years ago. Hurricane made the point about an event he was at and the pirate participants were sharing the beverage around the campfire at night and it was a kind of magical experience that could have taken place back in the GAoP. Now, I know we all get back into our cars and drive home and pay our bills and spend the rest of our lives rooted in the 21st century, but we savor those little time travel moments and it fuels our fire and enthusiasm. What kills it for the Authentics are the little reminders that we are in the 21st century. Incorrect clothing items, watches, glasses, polyester etcetera that ruin the “vibe”. The fantasy pirates have the same interests in pirates, but the thrill is not in the time travel experience, but in living “a different life” in the present. That sounds strange but let me clarify. Joe Blow who lives his every day life as just an average Joe gets to dress up in fantastic un-average clothing and walk around as the center of attention. The same people who would not say boo to anyone if they were in their normal clothes in a bar by themselves, suddenly jump up on top of a table and, surround by their fellow “pirates,” belt out a rousing rendition of Liverpool Jodies at the top of their lungs. They enjoy not being “their 21st century self” and take particular delight in making sure they are surrounded by people who will live the moment with them. That person doesn’t care whether their wearing linen or polyester, whether they have a percussion pistol or a squirt gun. What kills it for the Fantastics are the folks that ruin their vibe by telling them their buttons should be brass not plastic. The Authentics can’t understand why the Fantastics can’t do what they do with Authentic gear and the Fantastics can’t understand why somebody should care if they are wearing Rayon or not. Hatfields and McCoys? I don’t necessarily think so. For the most part, 95% of Pirate “events” in the US are “celebrations” or “festivals” of some sort. I have yet to see really bad “pirate” re-enactors at living history events or timeline events claiming that they are “authentic”. If you are celebrating the 300th year of XYZ town, what does it really matter if you have a plastic eye patch and Pittsburg Pirates t-shirt on? Conversely, if you are doing a public demonstration and are inferring that you are a GAOP pirate, why don’t you strive to look like one? GoF