Tar Bucket Bill

Willie, I was looking at the photos of your nice display and noticed the wrapped bottles of different sizes and shapes. I tried do this with my onion bottle one time, but it turned out like two monkeys making love to a football. What is this wrapping process called, and where can I find detailed instructions that tell me how to do this? I have looked and looked and looked in the past, but I just can't find anything specifically devoted to wrapping a bottle in this fashion. I appreciate the help. -Tar Bucket Bill

I found this website that has tavern drink prices for Salem, New Jersey circa 1729. That's at the end of the GAoP but maybe still a bit useful for us. www.2020site.org/drinks/punch.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In Salem, New Jersey, in 1729, tavern prices were regulated by the Court. They were thus:-- "A rub of punch made with double-refined sugar and one and a half gills of rum . . . . 9d. A rub of punch made with single refined sugar and one and a half gills of rum . . . . 8d. A rub made of Muscovado sugar and one and a half gills of rum . . . . 7d. A quart of flipp made with a pint of rum . . 9d. A pint of wine . . . . . Is. A gill of rum . . . . . . 3d. A quart of strong beer . . . . . 4d. A gill of brandy or cordial . . . . 6d. A quart of metheglin . . . . . . 9d. A quart of cider royal . . . . . . 8d. A quart of cider . . . . . . 4d." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Prices are mostly in Pence [d]. A pint of wine, however, is 1 Shilling [1 bob]. Another site for good photos of some of the English coins in circulation during the GAoP are at this website. No diameters of the coins unfortunately. But I am working on that information. R. Ingram Coins www.ringramcoins.com/antique_coins_catalogue.shtml -Tar Bucket Bill

I did some pokin' around on the Internet in an endeavor to unwrap the mysteries of English coinage and their values during the GAoP period. Being a Yank in the 21st Century, it's all new to me, but the late 17th Century/early 18th Century Devonshire landsman-turned-sailor in me wants to understand these coins, so that they can possibly be used at living history events. This seems like a rather good website that explains things well and shows images of coins. http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/ Can someone please spare half a guinea to a poor old seaman who wot lost his way and all his belongings at Port Royal in 1692 in the Service of His and Her Majesties King William and Queen Mary? -Tar Bucket Bill [not worth a farthing]

Success!! It is working for me again today. Thanks for your diligence Stynky! -Tar Bucket Bill

The thoughts of some sawbones pokin' into me dead-lights with sharp, pointed metal tools that resemble nut picks does make me ill at ease --- like awaiting trial at the Old Bailey. Very interesting information. I had no idea they treated cataracts during that period of time. Keep up the interesting research! -Tar Bucket Bill

Okay, this is now as clear as the Thames. Let me see if I have this right. There was no coin called the "pound", but the coin whose value was one pound was the [gold] "sovereign", correct? And its symbol could be either "£" or "li". Was there a "Silver Sovereign" too? And a "tanner" meant 6d? Was the term "sixpence" also used alot for this amount in that period? "Tuppence" for two pence? Now I wonder if "Quid" or "Bob" is correct to use for the period. Maybe that slang was used at a later time? I have no idea. I have never heard of an "Angel" coin before, although I have heard of "groat" coins. Interesting. I'm also not having any luck finding many reproductions of these coins from the period. It seems like alot of farthings and pennies and shillings would be what would mostly be used to pay for food and drink and such at an inn or tavern, etc. Someone of my ilk probably didn't carry around any "sovereigns" or "guineas". Maybe a "half crown" or possibly a "crown" now and then though. -Tar Bucket Bill

I only knew the English Pound by "Pound Sterling", or just plain "Pound", or even "Quid" in slang. I had never heard of "Sterling Lira" or "Pound Sovereign" for the same monetary amount. They are all the same thing though, right? The only "Sovereign" I had heard of before was a "Gold Sovereign". I learn something new all the time on this forum. By the way, besides the two slang terms "Bob" and "Quid", were there any other slang terms used for English coins at that period of time? How much was a "Bob" back then? I have seen different amounts mentioned for that term. -Tar Bucket Bill

But most importantly, what monetary denomination does "li" stand for?! Look at the rum lads, the rum! On your list a barrel of rum, 30 gallons, costs 3li. Not that I was actually going to pay for it. Hehe. Seriously, does that "li" stand for "Livre"? Was the "Livre" used in conjunction or mixed with English currency? One of the products you show is even so many "li" plus so many shillings? It seems odd to me to mix currency, but if silver coins work, silver coins work I guess. If England were at war with that country, would they have still accepted that "li"? -Tar Bucket Bill

Yes! That is the website that prompted my interest in trying to find out about period simple, safe leather dye recipes, since this particular website does not go into much detail for the do-it-yourselfer. I really like the mellow brown colors of his leather. VINEGAROON There seems to be plenty of information on the Internet regarding making and using Vinegaroon leather dye, but that is a black dye. I would prefer brown for some of my projects. Black walnuts ---- very interesting. Have any of you used this for dyeing leather? Were they in fact used in the period for making a brown leather dye? If so, that sounds like that would be safe and simple as well. I would prefer dye ingredients that are relatively safe to use for the home do-it-yourselfer. -Tar Bucket Bill

Wow, nice collection of period surgical instruments! It almost makes me want to have some of my teeth extracted or my skull trepaned at the next event I see you at. Congratulations on your dedication to this area of history for reenacting and living history. -Tar Bucket Bill

I don't know if this has ever been discussed before, but does anyone have information regarding leather dyes used during this period of time for GAoP? I believe I have heard that some black dyes were made from Iron Gall, and that another type of black leather dye was made by soaking iron nails [or steel wool today] in vinegar for a certain length of time. I would like to make a nice period brown or tan dye for some leather projects, like a baldric or so --- if at all feasible. Are there any recipes out there that any of you recommend? I'm sorry if this new topic double posted, but the first did not seem to take, so I have tried again. -Tar Bucket Bill

<<I can't afford to go more than once, maybe twice a month ($45 a visit) but it's definitly worth it when I can go.>> We are lucky to have Red's Classic Barbershop here in Indianapolis. They keep the place in a kind of 1940s style. They do straight razor shaves for $25, but I've never treated myself with one yet. My shipmate grows his whiskers so quickly and thickly, you can hear them grow. Every time he walks into Red's for a haircut, the barbers practically salivate wanting to tackle his tough beard stubble with a straight razor. He hasn't treated himself yet though either. Nice place. I bought some nice bay rum after shave there too. Here's the website. http://www.redsclassicbarbershop.com/contactus.html They just opened another shop recently in Nashville, TN as well. -Tar Bucket Bill

<<“The services of a Barber to shave were more often used in the past than today.>> Yes, this is what I have even heard about as late as the 1800s as well. A man who might not shave himself, might only go to the barber for a shave once or twice a week. So ...... I gather that it is not uncalled for to go to an event with a week of beard stubble then. I usually get my scruff on for about a week or so before going to an event. Coupled with the fact that one might be a sailor and out to sea for some time, it would seem to me that it might even be longer between shaves. It's difficult for me to imagine going to the ship's barber on a regular schedule on a rolling, pitching ship to have a straight razor shave. Was 'clean-shaven' more the norm for the GAoP time period? It seems like I thought I heard it was. Are there many accounts of sailors with short beards and such? -Tar Bucket Bill

Unfortunately, Terry 'Blunderbuss' Blaine and I were not able to make it to Paynetown until late Sunday. We still had fun talking to you Michael --- and others! And Terry was already buying wood supplies yesterday to start on his sailboat. Does anyone know who the ropemaker at the event was? John somebody. Is there any contact information? -Tar Bucket Bill

<<well, the way i would produce these types of glass would be as rondells.>> The process you use to make 'rondells' sounds like the process used to make 'bullion' [or 'crown'] glass that I have recently read about. I don't really know the different glass blowing terminology at all, but maybe 'rondells' are the same as 'bullion' and 'crown' glass. If I am remembering correctly, stuff that I have read recently online said that the outer edges of this type of glass was used for making leadlights for casement windows and such, because the outer edges were flatter and less wavy, etc. But only small pieces of flat glass could be made from these circular pieces --- usually in 2-inch squares or lozenges. The center circular part was used for decorative purposes since it was a little more difficult to use for pieces to see through as well as flat pieces. If I remember correctly, I think a form of "Broadsheet" glass was made by first blowing a cylinder, then cutting off the ends to make it a tube, then cutting the tube lengthwise once and then unrolling the tube and laying it out flat on a hot, flat iron plate. Other than those two methods, I have not found any other method that was used during the late 1600s for making flat glass for windows. A 12 by 12 inch size piece of flat clear glass was a real luxury I guess. And a mirror of that size was REALLY a huge luxury. <<bill: i will work up some samples and get some pics up asap.>> I look forward to seeing them! -Tar Bucket Bill

Alright, Stynky. The best of luck to you with that. I look forward to seeing my shipmate's links, downloads and postings again soon. -Tar Bucket Bill

The "Members" link is still only showing me my profile this morning when I click on it. I'll try again later this afternoon as well for you. Good luck with the overhaul. -Tar Bucket Bill

Am I a monkey with me brain covered with barnacles and infested with toredo worms, or is the "Members" link not functioning properly? I was trying to pull up the list of all the members on the forum and see what some of my shipmates have posted over time, etc., but every time I click on "Members" I only get my own profile. Maybe you are still careening the Pub, and it's not quite shipshape in Bristol Fashion yet??? Thanks for looking into it, and for your reply. -Tar Bucket Bill

If I recall correctly from looking online a few years ago, alot of leather jacks and wooden tankards and mugs and such in England were often pitched with pitch made from boiled Birch tree sap --- only the interiors of course, not the outsides. I think heating the Birch sap to melt it turned it black. I don't think Pine sap turns black when you heat it to melt it. And I thought maybe I saw Birch tree sap or resin for sale online in England at one point in time. I don't remember where though. But it seems like it was rare to find, and expensive if you found it. And it also seems like I was finding differing opinions whether it was foodsafe or not, so I do not know if it is or not. By the way, what kind of pitch was used to pitch a tent? /;^) -Tar Bucket Bill

Now I did it. I started doing a bit of research on the history of window glass. It seems for our time period there would have been maybe about 3 different production styles of glass produced for the intended use in windows. 1] Broad Sheet Glass 2] Crown Glass [sometimes referred to as Bullion Glass] 3] an early form of cydrindrical glass Do any of the historic-minded glass blowers produce Broad Sheet Glass or Crown Glass? Each of these have a very distinctive appearance. Matty, do you produce either of these types of glass? -Tar Bucket Bill

Matty, SODA GLASS Can you post any photos or links to what this soda glass looks like? And what is the general pricing on this type of glass for 2" square sizes? MICA I coated my lantern lights [glass panes] with lick layers of orange shellac to try to duplicate the appearance of mica. It's better than just clear glass, but still not quite there. I have since bought a few little modern mica lampshades in an antique mall and will cut the mica to size for my lantern. Sometimes you see mica for sale on Ebay, or you might see it online by places that sell lamp-making parts --- especially for the Arts & Crafts Style of lamps. Cool stuff. COW HORN Where can thin sheets of cow horn be found and purchased? TRANSLUCENT PAPER I think thick, waxed paper was also used in lanterns. Mix beeswax with turpentine and brush it on a thck paper or card stock, and it makes the paper translucent. I would be concerned about the waxed paper accidentally catching fire though. I've tried it as an experiment, and it works. But it's not nearly as bright of a light as clear glass. Neither is mica. Anyway, I like and prefer the idea of an authentic, period glow from lanterns to give that authentic ambience. Anyone else have any suggestions for period looking lantern lights? -Tar Bucket Bill

Thank you very much Mission. Your advice and assistance have been great! Maybe they'll put it under a more appropriate topic, like you suggested. -Tar Bucket

Does anyone know where the topic "Post Yer Colours" [or something like that] was moved to? I rather enjoyed looking at people's artwork of the pirate flags they are designing and using. I have looked and looked, but can no longer find the topic. Has it gone to Davy Jones, or have I had too much rum and it's doin' funny things to me deadlights? If so, I still ain't givin' up me rum. -Tar Bucket

That's a nice reenforced banded chest Mooseworth. Are there any photos of the bottom, back with hinges and the insides? -Tar Bucket Bill