michaelsbagley

Not to put a damper on the make your own hemp tents/tarps... which being the ARLH that Chole has already mentioned... I would love, BUT I'm now thinking event insurance for fire... are the homemade hemp pieces being treated with the fire retardent chemicals??  If not, like I said, not to put a damper on things, but you may wish to think about treating your hard work before an event coordinator tells you, you cannot use it for safety reasons... just a thought....

Just to counter the good Captain's points... I have been re-enacting for some years, and have dealt with insurance companies for events (mostly in Canada albeit), and I have never seen tents or the type of tents even mentioned on event insurance coverage. I fully admit that this may be different in the USA, as I am still relatively new here and have not been involved in insurance matters for events on this side of the border as of yet. So this may be something worth looking into for the organizers.

Short version: Outside of arson or serious misbehavior with fire (neither of which do I find likely), untreated cotton canvas should not have any real risk of catching fire.

Long version, please read on...

On tents themselves, I have made my last three period tents (for different periods) out of untreated (neither waterproofed, nor fire resitant) cotton canvas. I have always kept a respectful distance from the camp fire (never closer than about 15 to20 feet away) and never had any concerns or worries about fire.

To take this further, during one event I was at with my first tent, the smokers were not allowed to smoke in public view, and as my tent was closed from public view for the event (hiding some modern conveniences, I was still a bit a newbie to that period at the time), my tent became the smoking resort for four days (I was a smoker at the time and didn't mind). There were 5 or 6 smokers at the event, 2 heavy smokers, 2 moderate, and 1 or 2 light smokers, and my tent did not spontaneously combust through all of this smoking traffic. This event was also at the beginning of August. I think that fact should be a strong testiment to the need to not worry about cotton canvas catching fire...

Edit - This post was not meant to sound pissy or condescending. I truly hope no one has taken it as such. I am in a strange place today and have been coming across more curt than I intend to (This has been implied to me on another unrelated forum today). My sincerest appolgies if I have offended anyone.

Well I guess the easy thing to do would be to buy some yardage of hemp. Make a small model of a wedge tent. Put something in the tent to check for leakage. (Bathroom tissue comes to mind.) Start up the hose and sprinkle the tent. See what happens. I would try it except I haven't bough any hemp canvas yet. 

A friend of mine once made a handsewn wool tent and used this exact same means of testing... It worked well (both the tent and the means of testing it)...

I've priced out hemp canvas for the size I need... and well let's just say I can't quite afford that this year...

I know I have seen cotton/linen blend canvas for a pretty reasonable price before (I think it was a 55/45% blend). A quick search on google has found me some of this, but in colours I would rather not use. Does anyone know off hand a link to a seller of this type of material that has "natural" colour?

For others that may want to do an upgrade from cotton canvas (which sells at most Walmarts for as little as $4.44 a yard) but can't afford to spend the $16 to $20 or more average price for Hemp or Pure linen canvas, this may be a good middle ground if it can be found.

Edit - in case anyone may be interested in the linen/cotton canvas for cheap on sale, but only in colours, here is the link -> Linen/Cotton Blend Canvas

Thats great news for you!

I'm very curious as to whether the company sends you the design plans, or if they send you full sized construction plans and have done all of the lofting work for you. If you can, please let me know when you get the plans!

Best of luck to you as always!

I've finished the petticote, and I have the coat fully assembled, I'm waiting on the fabric for the waistcoat, but other than that, it's coming along nicely...

But, I'm stuck....

I've searched through the Pub's archives, and found TONS of good information and links on buttons... But all of the information seems to be geared towards buttons for male clothing, or does not specify gender, which leaves me wondering, as the contexts of the threads with the information seems to be "male clothing oreinted". (Sorry about the bad run-on sentence)

The notes with the pattern suggest the covered ebroidered wood buttons (passementerie, which I am certain I don't have the patience to do), or domed metal buttons... None of the domed metal buttons in any of the links and information I have found seem to be distinctly female. These two links seem to have the most useful information I've been able to find...

GoF's web page on Period Materials

Artifacts.org's page on period buttons

Would the plain shallow domed buttons be right for a woman's riding outfit? If so, would brass/bronze/copper alloy or white tin be the most appropriate (or either)?

Or is there something better and more appropriate out there that I am just not finding?

I'm anxious to finish this outfit off so attention can be returned to my outfit, so any quick answers would be greatly appreciated!

Count me in, as I have bought both the Exquemeling and Johnson book over the last few weeks and just finished my last peice of fluff reading and was about to delve into those two books.

What I would like to know is WHY do we need to IMPORT "wheat gluten" from China. We are the worlds top growers of grains..why do we have to go some backarsed way to get stuff cheap? F-that...all our food stuffs from now on plus our animals feed should ONLY come from the USA from now on FINAL. Get with it FDA!

Just to be a smart a** about it...

The US is the THIRD largest grower of grains... Russia is number one (yes even post Soviet Russia produces more), and Canada is number two....

But you still make a good point, importing items from other countries that are produced at home, just because they are cheaper from the other country because of that country's unfair wages is the underlying issue of a lot more than this problem.

Smart consumerism and "buying American" is still an option just about everyone can make for themselves... But few people choose to pay the sometimes significant amount of more hard earned money to excercise that option... This problem has existed for so long, it is actually getting more and more difficult to even find or buy local goods....

And a google search found me these... You'll need to scroll about two thirds of the way down the linked page....

History of Pendant Lamps

To find these lamps...

and

In an effort to revise this thread based on the interest on a different thread...

I did find this...

From Esquemeling’s Buccaneers of America Page 20.

"Such is the vellow saunder, which by the inhabitants is called bois de chandel, or, in English, candle-wood, because it burns like a candle, and serves them with light while they fish by night. Here grows, also, Lignurm Sanctum, or Guaiacum. Its virtues are very well known, more especially, to those who observe not the seventh commandment, and are given to impure copulations! - physicians drawing hence, in several compositions, the greatest antidote for venereal diseases, as also for cold and viscous humors. The trees, likewise, which afford gummi elemi, grow here in great abundance, as doth radix Chince, or China root. Yet this is not so good as that of other parts of the western world. It is very white and soft, and serves for pleasant food to the wild boars, when they can find nothing else."

There is this thread in Twill about lighting....

Lamps and lighting

I'm in the process of reading it myself to see what suggestions or sources there may be out there.... Or if more research needs to be done on the matter by some brave soul...

Although my attendance will be in constant question until probably October or possibly even early November, I know that if I do attend I will be driving... And when ever I drive to a re-enacting/camping event, I always bring both my iron tripod setup and some cast iron skillets/pans... If they are needed, I'll lug them to camp, if they are not, they'll keep my van company.

Well I did it today. I have invaded my inlaws barn and started constuction on my boat. I made frame #3 today. I was able to do this because it can be made out of anthing. I made it out of pine 1x4. Now in the next couple of weeks I hope to work on it some more. Need money that is all.

That's awesome!

Did you stick to the plans from your first post? r did you find something you liked better in further searching?

Either way, please do share your progress both in tale and photos if you can!

I really like the clean, white and blue of the French uniforms, but how do you keep that clean?

French Maids!

Unfortunately my trip to Toronto was cut short so I didn't have time to visit the museum and take photos, nor did I get to do any book shopping...

Time to bring up the inevitable question -- how "uniform" were uniforms? We know for a fact that our Rev War units are better equipped and better dressed than the real thing. In our time period, when the idea of issued uniforms was just coming in, just how many soldiers would have been identically dressed?

Was it the case back then that officers used their personal funds to have their uniforms made by local tailors? When did "enlisted men" start getting issued uniforms, and was that date the same in the Colonies as in the motherland?

After re-reading Kass's post a few times... I just have to ask...

I know this information could be heavily questionable, but I have been told that soldiers during both the American Revolution and during the North American War of 1812 were required to provide their own uniforms and that they were not issued, and it was the soldiers wife that made the uniform more often than not (not a sexist comment, just stating what has been posed to me as history). Also, that while the uniform had to match the criteria of the military unit, there often was slight variation in the colour (different fabric suppliers and/or variable dyeing results) and to a lesser degree variation of cut as well to the uniforms.

Have I been mis-informed? Or possibly only half informed and is there more to this? If what I have been told is true, would it not hold for earlier history as well?

Rats,

I'm going to be in Toronto visiting again this weekend... I've been considering a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum while I am there visiting... If I make it to the museum, I will make sure I bring my camera and snap some pictures of any colonial military uniforms/clothing they may have.

I visited Historic Fort York last time I went to Toronto, but the few uniforms they have on on display (I beleive they are extant peices) are from much later time frames (War of 1812 or later).

I'll also be checking out some of the book stores while I am in Toronto... You'd be suprised at how many more "British-centric" books are readily available in Canada than here in the US. If I find anything really good I will definately buy, and send any pictures that may be of use.

If your going to suggest Osprey as a starting point, there are these two books as well for the time frame...

British Army 1660 to 1704

Marlborough's Army 1702–11

It's not a primary source... but here is an artist's rendition of what a historian told him... This is from the "Canadian Military Heritage" web site...

British Red Coat circa 1697

Pyracy Pub Poll Questions

a. How re-enactment opportunities did you have in 2006 (pirate and non-pirate)?

b. How many different pirate or pirate-related characters do you portray?

c. Were your pirate or pirate-related characters based more on historic or movie/fantasy figures?

d. Do you sail or work in a sea-related field or do you re-enact purely for escapism?

My answers would be:

a. 0 Pirate / 7 Other period re-enactments (Attended 3)

b. One historic, one movie/fantasy style, although they are both similar, one is just over the top

c. Both historic and movie/fantasy but leaning more towards historic

d. Escapism

I haven't dealt with directly in a long time.... But know many people that have dealt with them over the last few years... All say the same thing, it takes forever to get your sword (I have heard that 6 months is the recent average for North American deliveries from Armour Class), but anyone I have spoken with all agree that they are usually reasonable about responding to emails....

"I'm here to kick some ass and chew some bubblegum.... and I'm all out of bubblegum..."

I forget the character's name, but the quote is from the rather terrible (but very funny) "B" movie "They Live"

Creature comforts are an understandable necessity so you simply have to consider camoflauge. Canvas painter's drop cloths would easily hide a matress. You might also consider deflating it during the day, if it simply looks too obvious, but I dount you would have to. a little practical decoration for such things is fine. We could aldo hide your matress under canvas with the "Stores".

As I am still pretty new to pirate re-enacting and am still getting my first set of kit together, I was thiking that I would keep my tent/shelter or whatever firmly closed and sealed at all times...

Further down the road after I have gotten all of my personal kit together and am at the point where I am working on camp accoutrements, then I would try to hide or conceal the air matress and leave the tent open.

I guess I have been running on an assumption here. In another period of re-enactment that I do, the rule for camps/tents is basically:

"If your tent is closed and always remians so, put whatever you want inside of it (including obviously modern stuff), if you plan to have your tent open/viewable, make sure everything inside is period accurate or camoflauged to look so."

Is that type of cnvention being used for the PiP encampment? Or is there too much of a concern of the audience possibly peeping into closed tents to go this route?

Oars may be used as tent poles for any one of these tents.  Since cost and shipping can be an issue, let us look at home made oar options...

Why not get drunk and murder a few small trees?

They're cheap, period, and look great

-CS

The above photos of the crude lashed together shelters look great... and that is definately the way I would camp at PiP.... But.... Assuming I can make it of course, I will most likely be attending with my girlfriend and a bit of privacy would be needed at the very least, although in light of her "need" for creature comforts, something that looks crude and authentic(ish) as the above samples do, but closes completely for privacy, ad possibly is spacious enough for a double sized air matress would be ideal...

Anyone have suggestions or ideas for something that may suit my needs. I'm guessing there may be others attending with similar needs. I've seen some posts (I wish I could remember on which thread thread) of the larger tents some people would use for this type of event, and I may go that route should an option more suited to my tastes and needs provide itself... I just so want to take it more to the rough and tumble while still maintaining m'ladies comfort... I'm not asking for too much here am I?

Now,for the love of Heaven,can anybody out there inform me as to wether the Boss in Nova Scotia is the Bosa Nova?

The boss in Nova Scotia is called the Premiere... But I think that the east coasters would probably have a good enough sense of humour to be willing to try and pass a motion in the provincial parliament to have the title of "Premiere" to "Bosa Nova"... After all, I've been there and there really isn't much else to do unless your really into sea fishing (which I am not)...

It would actually work pretty well for them... The accent there would make the phrase "Boss of Nova" sound almost exactly like "Bosa Nova" anyway...

You are an evil (but very helpful) woman! But you already know that...

I was haviong an internal debate over using buying and using some hemp canvas for a tent for my "other" period...

I was asked to see if anyone (meaning probably Kass) knows anything about "underpinnings" for this period.... I should just get the woman to sign onto the list herself and ask her own questions...

Thanks Kass!

That answer gives me all the confidence I (I should say her and I) needed to put scissors to the fabric and have at it...

we'll will read the historic notes on order to help further the costume and her accompannying persona along... We probably should have done that before raising the question of context... (Stupid lazy pirates we be)

I'll post pics as progress goes on (and with two of us sewing, it should go faster than my stuff did).

I will also try to talk her into a mantua (you extortionist ) for more day to day wear.... It looks like I have a few patterns more to order (grumbling about extortionist again )... A waist coat for me, and a mantua for her and the accessories pattern when it comes out... Might as well get the justacorps pattern for when I want to be all spiffy... and maybe a Brandenburg for cooler weather and a great coat for really cold days... Am I forgetting anything? Oh, the new black powder weapons have been whispering my name late at night...

Shall I just start having my boss deposit my paycheques to the RH's account?

Hi there, I've done a brief search on the Ladies riding outfit, and have found that there hasn't been a really good converstaion about this style of outfit here yet. After getting most of my authentic(ish) garb together, my other half is bugging me to help her get hers started, and she has chosen to go with the ladies riding outfit (pattern bought from none other than Reconstructing history of course ).

So I have a number of questions, and I hope I don't take up too much digital real estate with this post...

What reasonable context(s) would a woman wear this type of outfit in near or around pirates? Perhaps a travelling merchant woman? Any other suggestions or thoughts?

And would it be reasonable for a woman of modest means (middle class, as in the merchant lady example above) to have an outfit of this type in a plain wool rather than a brocaded fabric?

As for colour, is a dark peacock blue pushing the limits of the reasonable period colour wheel (so to speak)?