campaign furniture

[Dutchman]

so looking around, it seems that a nice galley chest would be nice. mr wobble had a nice practical one compliments of the boyscouts engineering program, which he graciously shared it source. I was wondering if anyone had an example of a campaign furniture one. I have seen a copy of the british campaign furniture book and it is a bit out of my price range at $260. does anyone have any pictures or repros or drawings or written descriptions of such a creature?

[hurricane]

I came across http://www.britishcampaignfurniture.com -- they seem to have a bent on the historical pieces of which you speak. I'm drooling over the campaign desk they have.

Here's an article that the book's author wrote on Georgian Campaign Furniture:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m102...157/ai_63333012

Hope this helps.

-- Hurricane

[Dutchman]

yeah, i've been drooling over that site for a while now and keep hoping that a galley piece of some sort will show. no luck yet. I had not found the authors notes yet. thanks for finding it. i'll peruse it tonight and maybe can find a lead burried in there somewhere.

[Captain Jim]

I just love the Lewis Drake site. Look over thier antique guns for sale. I use this as a research source for my gun cases as there are no better pictures anywhere. I don't think you'll see a cook box though: these pieces are meant for those that sit back and sip Scots whiskey while someone else cooks the elephant.

The guns are at drake.net.

Edited December 15, 2008 by Captain Jim

[LadyBarbossa]

They are nice. Pricy as the devil but nice.

Which pieces are period correct to the 18 c though.

Lady B

[Dutchman]

from what i've been able to piece together so far... campaign furniture did not come into vogue as we see it untill the very tail end of GAOP, beginning of F&I. Now there was camp furniture, but apparently not as elaborate, detailed, or as common as the examples in the above links.

So my rationale is this. the stuff existed, but its just a matter of finding an example. The techniques and practicality would be similar to the later versions. although not PC there is a need in the camp for such things and there very well could have been an earlier version of campaign furniture present onboard a captured ship. I'm not much on flashy bobbles, but a solid working piece of furniture to use as a galley box is my end goal. I would just like something to get ideas from.

Come to think of it "a solid working piece of furniture"... hmmm Amish, quaker, or menonite maybe- can't get much more practical or utilitarian than that. maybe i should broaden my search.

[Rumba Rue]

Whoa, talk about over-priced items!

[Captain Jim]

Dutch, a thought. Look at what was on ship, especially in the captain's quarters. In keeping with the whole "careening camp" model, one would expect on shore what was already on ship. The "cabin" ranks would have had tables, chairs, desks, writing boxes, candelabra and a whole plethora of what we "yacht-minded" moderns would not think of as ship stock. Today we think of "built-in" furniture as shippy but I seem to remember period paintings and recreations of cabins with dining tables and side chairs in them.

As for a cooking box, I think that "kitchen" is more the operative word as to what the galley would have looked like, especially on a larger ship.

Still, I'm not saying don't make a galley box (it would be very convenient) just that you would need to rationalize it somehow. I think that Mr. Brand has a pattern for a cook's box.

And all that lovely campaign furniture? Used by those unfortunate landsmen, I think, not us fortunate sailors.

So what we need on the beach is more period dining tables and chairs, china and glassware. And a huge cast-iron stove "brought in from the ship."

Did I just highjack your thread? Sorry, mate.

And yes, that stuff from Drake is expensive and, except for the wood itself, not all that well-made. Drake puts up a lot of really large picture files so one can get up close and detailed with the joinery. Some of what I saw in the tables that they chose as representative I wouldn't send to a customer.

Edited December 15, 2008 by Captain Jim

[Dutchman]

no hijacking seen mate. good ideas are all ok. i've got scads of shipboard furniture designs and knocked in accomodations of the period. Over the years I've collected some nice furniture out of boats going to the eternal burn pile or being restored, heck I even have the guts of Manitau (one of JFK's last sailboats) in dads barn--don't ask. I'll have to bring my captains writing box down next year for show and tell. I've always had problems with kitchen storage in the field though and would love to make a period military piece... if we can find one.

As far as a stove....our crew has gone around on that one and come up with a documented solution. I'll send you a picture--- aw heck, no i'm not. come to the blackbeard festival and i'll show you in person I can't recall running into Mr. Brand. if you could point him in my direction I'd be grateful.

[Silkie McDonough]

but again ...affording all of this.

[Captain Jim]

I can't recall running into Mr. Brand. if you could point him in my direction I'd be grateful.

AKA William Red Wake. Stop trying to convince me to come to Hampton; I'm sold already. Now to work out the logistics.

[Silkie McDonough]

I know I am not the captain of the Arch Angel but I am pretty sure the captain will be happy to press you into service. Logistics? What logistics? Canvas, oar, spikes ...that pretty much covers it ...covers you. I would offer you share my tnet but I still don't have one. lol

Edited December 15, 2008 by Silkie McDonough

[William Brand]

Some time ago someone mentioned having access to a period camp/cook's box. This person had come across plans for one in German or Dutch I believe, but they never got back to me, and now I can't remember who it was...

Whoever it was, please step forward and remind me! I'll lie awake tonight if you don't!

[Dutchman]

well an after hours phone call put me in touch with the quartermasters museum at fort lee. about 30 minutes south of me. i'm hoping to hear back from the archives officer tomorrow and see if they may be of any help. if i can arrange a visit is anyone close by and interested?

[William Brand]

I want to say that it was someone I spoke to prior to PIP 2007, so it might have been Hawkyns...maybe. I remember talking about it to Willie Wobble and Captain Sterling.

[Dutchman]

willie wobble got me started on this project and shared his information. sterling was too busy avoiding cousin robbie to be of any use, actually i think it was a cunning ploy to avoid saying i dunno. so here we are.

[Dorian Lasseter]

Ah, th' building of chests, boxes, benches, and tables...

There are plenty more plans and such for later period, I know of some knock-down table and bench combos that all pack away nicely, but once again, would be a landsmen thing.

http://www.smoke-fire.com/camp-furniture-patterns-1.asp

I've read (in too many different books to remember which) of furniture aboard ship to be somehow bolted to the decks so as not to crash around in high seas, yet be easily removed and knocked down to be either put into the hold, or into the ships boats to be trailed behind the ship during a battle.

I'd suggest go looking for some Queen-Anne style furniture at your local flea-markets or second hand shoppes, good-will, etc...

On another note, going along with the cook's chest thing Dutch wants, I've a mind, but not the skill to put together a Ship's Arms Chest. This is a nice portable and lockable place to stow weapons. I've looked over the one image in Borders Away II to try and figure out it's construction. The one in the book holds 12 Muskets, Bayonets, pistols, & cutlasses. (If you own said book, it's on Page 188) I had hoped I could make one to hold 6 muskets, etc. I have some nice planking that is being aged at present, but no hardware yet, nor do I possess the fine skill to dovetail the joints, etc.

I'd like ta see this at PIP.... sheesh!!!

http://www.antiquity-furniture.com/x%20010.jpg

Edited December 16, 2008 by Dorian Lasseter

[Capt. Sterling]

sorry can't make them bigger, and can't remember the dates... but I think they are close... We need to contact GoF to see what he has on these..

[Dutchman]

dorian, can you fire me the details? I don't have the book and wont be able to get to the library till next week.

talking slightly post GAOP, the common merchantmens shipboard furniture was knocked in or very basic and screwed to bulkheads. the larger warships had amazing furniture in the wards and higher ranking officers quarters. a lot of this was foldable and stowed against the bulkheads or hull in bad weather or battle. As far as the picture- dont anyone EVER EVER EVER show that to my much better half!!!!! I'll never finish unpacking!!!!

sterling- where those come from???

[Capt. Sterling]

I'd like ta see this at PIP.... sheesh!!!

http://www.antiquity-furniture.com/x%20010.jpg

Hey looks like Bob and Ted's excellent tent adventure... we need to get them down to PiP to play Merchants along with Mary Diamond... the rest of us can stand around and drool...

[Dutchman]

eh the mattress is not that impressive. can't compare to the tempurpedic 9000 with memory foam option and folding legs capabilities.

[Capt. Sterling]

dorian, can you fire me the details? I don't have the book and wont be able to get to the library till next week.

talking slightly post GAOP, the common merchantmens shipboard furniture was knocked in or very basic and screwed to bulkheads. the larger warships had amazing furniture in the wards and higher ranking officers quarters. a lot of this was foldable and stowed against the bulkheads or hull in bad weather or battle. As far as the picture- dont anyone EVER EVER EVER show that to my much better half!!!!! I'll never finish unpacking!!!!

sterling- where those come from???

I believe they are Spanish items from some German site... I bet you Gentleman of Fortune knows it... one of these days, I will better organize my research on this computer... still hunting through bookmarks... there is one illustration all of officers' cabin furniture, including canopy beds... and I think these have been discussed before here in Twill...

Edited December 16, 2008 by Capt. Sterling

[Captain Jim]

eh the mattress is not that impressive. can't compare to the tempurpedic 9000 with memory foam option and folding legs capabilities.

Oh, stuff it, mate. If I had a tent like that I would 'ave 'ad the devil's own time keeping the ladies out...tempurpedic...silly puppy...Choice: tempurpedic on the ground or that tent with a feather mattress?

Damn, my wife saw the picture...doomed, I say, doomed! No longer will the Oar House be a landmark in the Old Village in Tayloristan...

Edited December 16, 2008 by Captain Jim

[Capt. Sterling]

damnation, I actually found the link

now I can go to bed...

[Jack Roberts]

Wow! I would love to have a tent like that. I've got an inkling to do that.

If'n I can find the means. And yes based off of my experience at PiP 07 and

Blackbeard '08, better camp furniture would be in order. Now that I have a house....

I have a whole garage to mess up!

By the way Jim. Should you find your self going to Hampton, I know that Brig and I are planning on it.

Maybe we could ride up or something. It's still aways away. Lets see.