tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51701693306129224162024-03-11T18:02:33.307-07:00For the Love of HistoryJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-13794286943606454152013-11-18T07:39:00.000-08:002013-12-20T05:12:25.280-08:00Eureka Moments Revisited, Part 9, How They Turned a Washbowl Into a Gold Pan Way back in January of 1999, I purchased a copy of "At the Extremity of Civilization" by Israel Shipman Pelton Lord. Lord's diary turned out to be one of the most descriptive and detailed accounts of the overland journey to California and life in the gold fields I had ever read.. His meticulous observations and recorded details of a classic Gold Rush cradle, enabled me to build the authentic recreation that I blogged about in Feb. 2012 ( Eureka Moments Revisited Part 3, A Divine Project or "The Lord's Cradle"). The following story is about something else but the credit for inspiring it goes to Lord and his drive to document the details of his experience.<br />
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In Appendix C, on page 429 of the book, there is a crude sketch and accompanying description.<br />
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"Round pointed shovels, light and strong, light steel picks and strong tin pans holding about 2 gallons are in most demand. The tin wants to be of the heaviest kind. When made on purpose a strip of tin about an inch wide and made convex outward is soldered under the rim or wire on the outside making a smooth round projection to take hold of. Imagine this fragment of a pan in diagram (<em> Lord's reference to his sketch, seen below </em>) to be bottom side upward you can see the roll of tin on the outside. Such pans bring 6 dollars here, plain ones 5, old worn, bruised light ones 3 1/2 to 4."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfLeYB8wszNvj0HIKrNCUKVFVdD8NZ-3HK4dtTlZHEsd00FM9YjdikOhu15zYxIoEQa7reYZvDlWWxzm2Kh_u6m_-a-chBwxciRHRuVq94UiYjSvWucuqa7YCz-HZhlYvKoU53K6euZuC/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130292035733527322.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfLeYB8wszNvj0HIKrNCUKVFVdD8NZ-3HK4dtTlZHEsd00FM9YjdikOhu15zYxIoEQa7reYZvDlWWxzm2Kh_u6m_-a-chBwxciRHRuVq94UiYjSvWucuqa7YCz-HZhlYvKoU53K6euZuC/s320/Aviary+Photo_130292035733527322.png" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Lord's sketch</span></strong></td></tr>
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When I first read this back in 1999, I wasn't quite sure what Lord was describing having never seen an actual example of this style of pan. I didn't think much more about it until my friends Nick Kane and Jon McCabe discovered physical evidence of these pans while metal detecting for Gold Rush relics.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKFiovfYG4DvWjtf1_LViGrFcd-Prvhv_5h9pQX3S68s0AEjV4gDoPA1KDPwuZ_hmS_Yz-Ll5v07yD-kCmNCFTxlC2OI4fZh22JTkZOWH3_20WLIcjUQYadBtlsvabn9GJamgnhaxkETd/s1600/black+miner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKFiovfYG4DvWjtf1_LViGrFcd-Prvhv_5h9pQX3S68s0AEjV4gDoPA1KDPwuZ_hmS_Yz-Ll5v07yD-kCmNCFTxlC2OI4fZh22JTkZOWH3_20WLIcjUQYadBtlsvabn9GJamgnhaxkETd/s400/black+miner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>African American Gold Miner with His Long Tom</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"> Gold Pan to the Right</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Museum of African Diaspora</span></td></tr>
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One of the primary resources for Gold Rush material culture study is the incredible photographic record that has survived. As these pans gained our interest, we wondered if there were any images of them in use ? You know the old saying, once you know what you are looking at, things start popping up. Right there in one of the most published Gold Rush daguerreotypes, was the pan of interest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZyP1q0RPihszD6pw_MFtn7KjHWUXCd1vTM9SUW-y76qgPiqiv8VL1IxpE5FtVuKv7XH5a17mKCqtTrmawwsq7Q0XaCKAZq2lmsqz6r8pZAatJ_VPYOdlH4vBXBm85p_8n9On5XXVXqpO/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130287354138196929.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZyP1q0RPihszD6pw_MFtn7KjHWUXCd1vTM9SUW-y76qgPiqiv8VL1IxpE5FtVuKv7XH5a17mKCqtTrmawwsq7Q0XaCKAZq2lmsqz6r8pZAatJ_VPYOdlH4vBXBm85p_8n9On5XXVXqpO/s400/Aviary+Photo_130287354138196929.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Detail of Pan from Above Image</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Note the Roll under the Edge</span></strong></td></tr>
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Some time later, another amazing image surfaced as the perfect document of this "improved" wash bowl / gold pan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtJ66tv8o8-IA-TcxU8XPVq4TVWLRvjpLwArkjdrSIL26aquWmh-rilB2kgrjj_6j2PZinkICWLwUifx-NlOJzFX8bYzkRWpZRgJarlqriThm0DcKijDB-eFfV2rTP5gsYfNCZ8GQPQxB/s1600/pan4_zps57cac677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtJ66tv8o8-IA-TcxU8XPVq4TVWLRvjpLwArkjdrSIL26aquWmh-rilB2kgrjj_6j2PZinkICWLwUifx-NlOJzFX8bYzkRWpZRgJarlqriThm0DcKijDB-eFfV2rTP5gsYfNCZ8GQPQxB/s640/pan4_zps57cac677.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>A Truly Remarkable Portrait of a Gold Miner</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"> There's That Gold Pan !</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Treasurenet</span><br />
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My friend Nick sent me this illustration by contemporary artist Charles Christian Nahl, which appears to depict the pan. Nahl is well known for his accurate portrayals of Gold Rush life and was one of the most prolific artists of the period.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo6JCU1Brx6iriUpo2WM-DavleCC_TJJGEuILbmj3ORsjq9At9GJJPsA6bbcR-csitFIzQ2eJtKPHD9IcdXw_PLQsgjI5FlgUtEOk09jdtUl-Xs_bcgB1FFqCGYbYYFPqeDSAKYukjR5d/s1600/pan+nahl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo6JCU1Brx6iriUpo2WM-DavleCC_TJJGEuILbmj3ORsjq9At9GJJPsA6bbcR-csitFIzQ2eJtKPHD9IcdXw_PLQsgjI5FlgUtEOk09jdtUl-Xs_bcgB1FFqCGYbYYFPqeDSAKYukjR5d/s640/pan+nahl.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Nahl illustration courtesy of Nick Kane</strong></span></td></tr>
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What more could I want ? It took awhile but I finally decided that the time had come for me to make a replica of this pan. My friend Jon McCabe gets the credit for recreating the first one though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcTsGWyVelFpSrgokHS07_J6n7z7Sp7gajhQIwm11SVoeT4u4Tc1hs2RkhdBpeFThZlfEClxf19SpX1z1B2G7qavYw8xU9DHZ32sxRBbYJQlF2JWRusQXXz2FoTgbQ7jzOpQAaZm3T6oY/s1600/Original+pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcTsGWyVelFpSrgokHS07_J6n7z7Sp7gajhQIwm11SVoeT4u4Tc1hs2RkhdBpeFThZlfEClxf19SpX1z1B2G7qavYw8xU9DHZ32sxRBbYJQlF2JWRusQXXz2FoTgbQ7jzOpQAaZm3T6oY/s400/Original+pan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Original Pan with Remnants of the Shaped Ring</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Images Courtesy Jon McCabe</span></td></tr>
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Jon copied his original 5 section, pieced pan shown above. It was recovered from a mining camp site on one of his metal detecting adventures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWjW9bbl-p32YKY0B70LeEyarIekU-H6M7mBtk2uxjovGBMhohjnCLoZV7cTknNIyMQj1nA6v5cGI202EPxS8VKp7ny0TLO4ON38fE9HFnxMAkuh2kuocYqZJ9J5OXu6GRTZRwMGmNmnF/s1600/gold+pan2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWjW9bbl-p32YKY0B70LeEyarIekU-H6M7mBtk2uxjovGBMhohjnCLoZV7cTknNIyMQj1nA6v5cGI202EPxS8VKp7ny0TLO4ON38fE9HFnxMAkuh2kuocYqZJ9J5OXu6GRTZRwMGmNmnF/s400/gold+pan2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's another view that show the remaining sections of the original pan.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq1vmJf24O7FkP5D22GUtgR-4X7OEtbTgRjUeErunvM-G-rBFh3zJzvDvw1tSrK3NLCTBPK0TsBXkV9w0T8IBSL3L6MDZl26iH-66yc-obLFWFpoEmC2l1L4D6Kbl00bMDdAFMKG_-Lsr/s1600/gold+pan+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq1vmJf24O7FkP5D22GUtgR-4X7OEtbTgRjUeErunvM-G-rBFh3zJzvDvw1tSrK3NLCTBPK0TsBXkV9w0T8IBSL3L6MDZl26iH-66yc-obLFWFpoEmC2l1L4D6Kbl00bMDdAFMKG_-Lsr/s400/gold+pan+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And another closer view.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4xZ1dCgFOY_DwLtfyjHr4q4r_akVCO-xyaMiqx3OoatW5HUx6cwrcKTx6dEl-_nuH_sqkyQuyaQCciEJIEjgcb9P6ibba2Xbv0ZWOQ9Cl7xti8lUL15CWGM3AU1AFOdnbSWm5KnGN9CQ/s1600/pan+4.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4xZ1dCgFOY_DwLtfyjHr4q4r_akVCO-xyaMiqx3OoatW5HUx6cwrcKTx6dEl-_nuH_sqkyQuyaQCciEJIEjgcb9P6ibba2Xbv0ZWOQ9Cl7xti8lUL15CWGM3AU1AFOdnbSWm5KnGN9CQ/s400/pan+4.5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Jon's Reconstructed Pan</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Inside View</span></strong></td></tr>
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He was also fortunate to have a neighbor create a die which helped him form the curved sections needed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRbDQf5yRtPuP0mGC_3JDLwV-ay_kE_it15kDAPSxE4aw7sL66_0RdYfdLvq84aeCiN9lOLheErrueqthIagA9Va_jxmNpTPkyz8rE37tIg5VKsFuFdZpX-vRgcVW9puI4COhAAzbsit-/s1600/pan+5.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRbDQf5yRtPuP0mGC_3JDLwV-ay_kE_it15kDAPSxE4aw7sL66_0RdYfdLvq84aeCiN9lOLheErrueqthIagA9Va_jxmNpTPkyz8rE37tIg5VKsFuFdZpX-vRgcVW9puI4COhAAzbsit-/s400/pan+5.5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Outside Bottom View Showing the Ring</strong></span></td></tr>
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Jon's example gets the prize for most authentic and as such now resides in the El Dorado County Historical Museum. Great job McCabe !!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrLzxqsSsVe74eLl1AHghRWhu_8nIvjHv1_jdwQxVR5TOdnQAHO7ABySyZrRFQtDlBEi7dzUf8weiU4VrI8dQsi5kZbld43asjT1-cJjpkSCQzWdwSw58gW_eoq5e8tW8BRYj1k2-7B6H/s1600/McCabe+pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrLzxqsSsVe74eLl1AHghRWhu_8nIvjHv1_jdwQxVR5TOdnQAHO7ABySyZrRFQtDlBEi7dzUf8weiU4VrI8dQsi5kZbld43asjT1-cJjpkSCQzWdwSw58gW_eoq5e8tW8BRYj1k2-7B6H/s320/McCabe+pan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>View of the Ring from the Side</strong></span></td></tr>
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Eons ago, I made a historic style, pieced pan using an original 4 section wash bowl that I own for the pattern. It is 15" in diameter and about 3 1/4" deep and made from unplated sheet steel. It holds 2 gallons exactly as Lord described. I've even used it for recreational panning over the years and discovered that my hands would tire from holding the narrow rim. When you consider that a good panner needed to wash about 40 - 50 pans a day, any improvement in comfort would have been welcome.<br />
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I decided to use this existing pan and alter it to recreate the "improvement".After some experimentation, I finally arrived at a pattern for the convex sections. The hardest part was the compound curves, as the pieces have to fit two different arches, while resting on the tapered side of the pan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrPxjYnSaJ5v47jsVxoKwq-b-_WyxEsA3-2A5uSDRrlrYx7pwOODvVLeRpf47cWgPeUMyC7z2UmXym4dXud3XhQ50c7mbP3BHCd228Xo33HBr-iRIVLC5tbbyiQUN33xSE_fzwWQUKBav/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130292083124736358.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrPxjYnSaJ5v47jsVxoKwq-b-_WyxEsA3-2A5uSDRrlrYx7pwOODvVLeRpf47cWgPeUMyC7z2UmXym4dXud3XhQ50c7mbP3BHCd228Xo33HBr-iRIVLC5tbbyiQUN33xSE_fzwWQUKBav/s400/Aviary+Photo_130292083124736358.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Version of the Pan</strong></span></td></tr>
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Without an original example to copy, my version would be an impression at best but still faithful to the historic pattern. I formed the pieces over a curved piece of 3/4" pipe using a rawhide mallet. It took some stretching to form the compound curves. Eventually the sections were soldered in place on the bottom edge only, as they tucked neatly under the rim. Jon McCabe informed me that on one of the relic pans he studied, the wire was absent from the rim entirely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqML5JYWbLbgGfJx0tVZFvqfQ-YfnTqQ-2N8ZIW2EXhBG7eokx_wulI0O70Ct8v-HhUD5ozbzLyeLOL-nzhO6G1LJXFZk2-Sun_ySHNpgJIJ8pQYO96ssOzDrYROmoV2xFlGKtmvRFtBt/s320/Aviary+Photo_130292039877470793.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Another view</strong></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqML5JYWbLbgGfJx0tVZFvqfQ-YfnTqQ-2N8ZIW2EXhBG7eokx_wulI0O70Ct8v-HhUD5ozbzLyeLOL-nzhO6G1LJXFZk2-Sun_ySHNpgJIJ8pQYO96ssOzDrYROmoV2xFlGKtmvRFtBt/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130292039877470793.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><br /></div>
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When my pan was finally finished the best part was taking it into the field and using it. With the pan loaded with water and material, it is noticeably easier to "take hold of" as Lord described. I love it ! History you can get a grip on.<br />
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-79112319312779239462013-10-12T06:39:00.001-07:002013-11-10T06:14:01.115-08:00Eureka Moments Revisited, Part 8, Amazing Feats of Levitation or How Ancient Technology Met Gold Rush Challenges I've always found it curious that very few "new" placer mining techniques came out of the California Gold Rush. The reinvention and application of existing and often ancient technologies was apparently the norm. It makes perfect sense when you consider the diversity of the mining population with its collective world-wide experience suddenly faced with new challenges in California.<br />
That pool of knowledge would provide the curriculum for this new " School of Mining".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRglCF5rV6hmACTO2obUgU279zGxydNrKUzs980mcDrNRzlWstJ_te1N0sxHhGd5Lu9Ui0uoo9jCFCqA16Xi_i_2ZF_Uz5jrqnP5sKBcw-lVHhOKmQDz9sZS1XH6nfmtaoLbv_rDfkcNP6/s1600/800px-Gold_seeking_river_operations_California.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRglCF5rV6hmACTO2obUgU279zGxydNrKUzs980mcDrNRzlWstJ_te1N0sxHhGd5Lu9Ui0uoo9jCFCqA16Xi_i_2ZF_Uz5jrqnP5sKBcw-lVHhOKmQDz9sZS1XH6nfmtaoLbv_rDfkcNP6/s400/800px-Gold_seeking_river_operations_California.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Classic California Gold Rush</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">River Mining Scene</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Note the paddle wheel and pump in the foreground</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Image courtesy examiner.com</span></td></tr>
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Sometimes the pooling process led to daringly large scale operations like river mining, where entire water courses were diverted into artificial channels for miles and miles. To keep those exposed river bottoms dry and mineable, long chain pumps worked furiously, powered by enormous paddle wheels driven by the captured river. Putting water to work was a key element in effective placer mining at all levels in the 1850's. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUH31H0fNFkqbp7gVfjt7dbPymrG-ocbqLj7UNT2dDOY9OlkOX4KVZl-fgzSnijiuAtMFxOdYO7E-BiRyvgk3NnuhToBnGbRr-KbQhQfLzvk1IJsScRi3xsT1U6ujSnZDLjGQUS6jeFgev/s1600/river+mining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUH31H0fNFkqbp7gVfjt7dbPymrG-ocbqLj7UNT2dDOY9OlkOX4KVZl-fgzSnijiuAtMFxOdYO7E-BiRyvgk3NnuhToBnGbRr-KbQhQfLzvk1IJsScRi3xsT1U6ujSnZDLjGQUS6jeFgev/s400/river+mining.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Daguerreotype of River Mining</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Note the wheels (background) driving pumps</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">in the left foreground of the picture</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Image courtesy publishing.cdlib.org</span></td></tr>
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Jumping forward to the mid 1990's, this whole water management issue in the Gold Rush got me thinking. The surviving historical evidence suggests that miners often exploited some sort of pumping device to support their appetite for water, or to mitigate a problem with water. Once you know what you are looking at, you start to see these pumps all over the place in early images. When water needed to be lifted to flown, these simple devices could feed Long Toms, Quick Silver Machines and Rockers. I decided to research the three most common pumps used and make replicas for my living history placer mining demonstrations.<br />
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I chose the simple siphon pump for replication first, then I built a flutter wheel and finished the project 6 years later with a chain pump. Initially, I gathered as much primary research material as I could find, mostly images and some brief accounts until thanks to my friend Larry Baumgardner, I discovered the "Descriptive and Historical Account of Hydraulic and Other Machines for Raising Water" by Thomas Ewbank. Published in 1842, it has it all, including the history of my focus machines. There is no doubt this text guided some of those original Argonaut / Engineers in their creations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwW-aJTdfxQjR8O_EqF2YTYOJe0O8x6Bs94YkfZdue-D5wgTJx-ekj5hfdCCxTIU2pwKpGWlvSCOruqmmo_V1Sa5Lq3sQuVFBG9BZ-WLATZ6uq8O_hH4d06hqw5oNE-Y_qpxa0qEMwGQ-/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130258007417064403.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwW-aJTdfxQjR8O_EqF2YTYOJe0O8x6Bs94YkfZdue-D5wgTJx-ekj5hfdCCxTIU2pwKpGWlvSCOruqmmo_V1Sa5Lq3sQuVFBG9BZ-WLATZ6uq8O_hH4d06hqw5oNE-Y_qpxa0qEMwGQ-/s640/Aviary+Photo_130258007417064403.png" width="372" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Detail from Gold Rush Daguerreotype</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Showing a Miner Working a Tall Siphon Pump</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Image source unknown</span></td></tr>
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Most of the original images of siphon pumps suggest a hollow log was used for the main body with a rude handle and plunger mounted to pivot at the upper end. Ewbank shows and describes a Sailor's bilge pump that incorporates a leather cone on the inside, fixed to the plunger, point down. On the down stroke, the cone collapses into the water. On the up stroke, the cone fills with water and swells to meet the inside of the hollow tube. This way the water is lifted up and eventually exits up the tube. This simple pump goes back as far as ancient Greek and Roman mariners, who used it to manage unwanted water in their ships.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>From Ewbank, pg. 215</strong></span></td></tr>
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Ewbank also illustrated a more sophisticated liquor pump that incorporated two flapper valves to isolate and lift the fluid. In my earlier research I had decided on this dual valve idea although I now feel the simpler Sailor's version might have been more commonly used.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEvMSYY0JCTC4L91qZ1pHZqR9CvcS-yIxjf4DXfTB9H780uuY_MNNv25Daq5VfXocCf7sJQ6nS21kFvzloHjxLh7waG5wgFGqudSmh-Q2Pp1_mJfqZIw_C5WlxgEZBHZtp0RLc6SNIaaC/s1600/siphon+pump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEvMSYY0JCTC4L91qZ1pHZqR9CvcS-yIxjf4DXfTB9H780uuY_MNNv25Daq5VfXocCf7sJQ6nS21kFvzloHjxLh7waG5wgFGqudSmh-Q2Pp1_mJfqZIw_C5WlxgEZBHZtp0RLc6SNIaaC/s640/siphon+pump.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Replica Siphon Pump and Long Tom on the American River, 1997</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"> Left to Right, Bill Dunniway</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Derek Manov and Floyd Oydegaard</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Lindy Dubner</span></td></tr>
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For my log body, I purchased a large peeled log and sawed it lengthwise in half. Once halved, I hollowed out each side and eventually wired the log back together around the mechanism. I cheated a little on authenticity by opting for modern abs fittings and aluminum for my valve parts. Since none of the mechanics were visible, the interpretive value as a recreation wasn't compromised. The pump proved itself but never really delivered the volume of water I expected.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYFJIO5nNtc7yfuPxnvjTphS5h-yMcpSjX5dayc6j3EDAfvpifDOFANmfYPb7bZnfmkih6kqsOOzaow1UsztXfqhCDXl5qerOYzAPzZRjIMPcxAUyJ40xWiWSx-r-fUvYYd1S86uhzTzw/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130259808756213968.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYFJIO5nNtc7yfuPxnvjTphS5h-yMcpSjX5dayc6j3EDAfvpifDOFANmfYPb7bZnfmkih6kqsOOzaow1UsztXfqhCDXl5qerOYzAPzZRjIMPcxAUyJ40xWiWSx-r-fUvYYd1S86uhzTzw/s640/Aviary+Photo_130259808756213968.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Original Gold Rush Letter Sheet Illustration</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Depicting a Noria (aka flutterwheel) Lifting Water to a Long Tom</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image courtesy westernbitters.com</span><br />
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Part 2 of this water lifting exercise, was to design and build a flutter wheel or Noria. Used in ancient Egypt, Rome and China, this wheel depended on a good flow of water from below in order to function properly. In the form I chose to copy, large paddles are needed to engage the moving water and attached boxes do the work of lifting the water. If the current is strong enough, the boxes lift and deposit their contents into an elevated flume or trough as the wheel turns (see above).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxC6USZ_4wDzGipcRYOPPWuL6kIDvOGoDLqvFvNBW4b5Johxm-_pioBwfhRLXRRIzg4_RWNKyXB7hPII9UJaeDOykuy1uGdbgFoagDvaj45v0wJylPCYclAHSwRMXwmbatD35YX3R6Wvx/s1600/water+wheel.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxC6USZ_4wDzGipcRYOPPWuL6kIDvOGoDLqvFvNBW4b5Johxm-_pioBwfhRLXRRIzg4_RWNKyXB7hPII9UJaeDOykuy1uGdbgFoagDvaj45v0wJylPCYclAHSwRMXwmbatD35YX3R6Wvx/s640/water+wheel.jpeg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Replica Noria / Flutterwheel</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">on the American River 1999</span></strong></td></tr>
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When I designed my replica wheel, I had to take into account how I was going to transport it to any living history events. I'm sure that most of the originals were built in place but for me, that wasn't a choice. I ended up building it in sections that could be bolted together on site. The wheel was an imposing 10 feet in diameter and taller yet when cradled in its moorings .<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_URUpsPxk-ApE5k8FroIS3FTT3ApOowEkFZbWdpl6hyphenhyphen39dnVURYFtjcX-FBovb1GRvQRdwtsCc9Quk3YK7-frniGmbyAOD1nwU90YGeQhQiP2wkYI1_qe78m56INRyfz2-Y4dXwI0fA1/s1600/1coloma400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_URUpsPxk-ApE5k8FroIS3FTT3ApOowEkFZbWdpl6hyphenhyphen39dnVURYFtjcX-FBovb1GRvQRdwtsCc9Quk3YK7-frniGmbyAOD1nwU90YGeQhQiP2wkYI1_qe78m56INRyfz2-Y4dXwI0fA1/s640/1coloma400.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <strong><span style="font-size: small;">Nice Arty Shot of My Replica Wheel </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">at the Sesquicentennial of the California Gold Rush</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Coloma California Jan. 24, 1998</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image courtesy the Modesto Bee</span></td></tr>
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This was quite a learning experience as I quickly found out that a strong current or fall of water was essential to even move the wheel, let alone fill the boxes. Sorry to say, it never met its full potential on the slow moving American River (seen above) but kicked butt on the swift Tuolumne River later that year at a movie shoot. It had a very brief but illustrious part in an educational film from Cambria Productions called "Fountains of Columbia".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL2KKQamJwjYcNaCKItwVk2X9XEhyphenhyphenSoulMLoZOqv3bxpeLVWB1TTW3Du8dbGjiKDTX_jOZVyWXH40Vf6ovwXaEwb0nB6Z_rQ1ESUsTZu-HzDDHQVTKU4WilKmSzVIApkKlzhd8Ifg_Rrw/s1600/Tiangong_Kaiwu_Chain_Pumps2+wiki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL2KKQamJwjYcNaCKItwVk2X9XEhyphenhyphenSoulMLoZOqv3bxpeLVWB1TTW3Du8dbGjiKDTX_jOZVyWXH40Vf6ovwXaEwb0nB6Z_rQ1ESUsTZu-HzDDHQVTKU4WilKmSzVIApkKlzhd8Ifg_Rrw/s640/Tiangong_Kaiwu_Chain_Pumps2+wiki.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Various Forms of Chain Pumps from Tiagong Kaiwu</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Chinese Encyclopedia 1637</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Image courtesy wikipedia</span></td></tr>
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For the final part of this quest, I turned my attention to the chain pump. Originating in China, it found widespread use in California and appears in numerous images of the time. Some examples appear to be quite long, especially when used in river mining operations as I mentioned at the beginning of this posting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw04wIrqtqTVp0z2i3lw520iUUWIiUztHADMaJp7y6pXye5yRJ4j3Q1iV60aVbgd05FmOCBYPSEmYKHlQsWR3Smzrc37gPiVmyw03raq3kNBb03elvTbUVMeLOyW99OydHSRQz5DFL0mvq/s1600/PlacerMining1852.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw04wIrqtqTVp0z2i3lw520iUUWIiUztHADMaJp7y6pXye5yRJ4j3Q1iV60aVbgd05FmOCBYPSEmYKHlQsWR3Smzrc37gPiVmyw03raq3kNBb03elvTbUVMeLOyW99OydHSRQz5DFL0mvq/s640/PlacerMining1852.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Original Daguerreotype Showing Multiple Chain Pumps in Use</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">( left center of the image)</span></strong><br />
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Image source unknown</td></tr>
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I first gained insight into how these simple but efficient pumps worked by studying the diagrams in "Gold Mining in Siskiyou County 1850-1900, Occasional Paper No.2" by Gary D. Stumpf. What's involved is a long box or tube with round drums mounted at each end. The upper drum has a large crank or cranks to turn it. A continual belt runs over the drums and through the long box. Spaced along this belt are paddles sized a little smaller than the interior dimension of the box.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg897s9lof6vSp4rFAEs4hBj7sMv1Sh6i3iYHfU4wLrsqqhhH_GoR5WuAl6qlnJHdGvnCloAO1OV7D0UQFCG5UpOSM3oCF8zB14M5Is0dImg7oTqS66LDWuiANFWC7M86S-fesbGm5-49_Z/s1600/0410-dredge-kids-799222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg897s9lof6vSp4rFAEs4hBj7sMv1Sh6i3iYHfU4wLrsqqhhH_GoR5WuAl6qlnJHdGvnCloAO1OV7D0UQFCG5UpOSM3oCF8zB14M5Is0dImg7oTqS66LDWuiANFWC7M86S-fesbGm5-49_Z/s640/0410-dredge-kids-799222.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Replica Chinese Chain Pump</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Kid Powered on the American River</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">My friend Jon McCabe in the middle<strong>.</strong></span></td></tr>
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Here's how it functions, with the lower end in the water you crank the upper drum and engage the belt in a forward motion towards the water. At the lower end the paddles drive the water into the box and drag it up the tube to exit at the upper end. Even if the water leaks back, the next paddle in line catches it and moves it forward.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pmEIOGhempyQV_ZAnBBLrUM8BxeCbeGh7ttzA0wvHW2TGqU_sdLaFQ6vn_M0v73ZQjw5W1E7GYCh3c8ANSySLryBdtmtg-wWc9QoAdkp29bBLF5rGNiT7Cb80wyNUbLqNZrPil0uWsLo/s1600/P1060447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pmEIOGhempyQV_ZAnBBLrUM8BxeCbeGh7ttzA0wvHW2TGqU_sdLaFQ6vn_M0v73ZQjw5W1E7GYCh3c8ANSySLryBdtmtg-wWc9QoAdkp29bBLF5rGNiT7Cb80wyNUbLqNZrPil0uWsLo/s640/P1060447.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>The Pump at Work at Columbia SHP During the Annual</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Columbia Diggin's Living History Event 2010</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ian McWherter in the foreground</span></td></tr>
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What I discovered during the designing process of my replica was the critical part drum fabrication and mounting played in the pump's function. The belt needs to track evenly as it enters the box, otherwise it will bind and wear out early. Quite by accident I chose the best fabric for the belt. Hemp canvas shrinks a little when wet and this kept the belt tight while running in the water. I had to assume that the paddles had some sort of backing in the way they were mounted upright, so I used steel straps on the opposite side of the belt when I nailed them in place. It worked like a charm !<br />
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You might have seen the pump in action in "Save Our History" series from The History Channel. It was used in the "Gold Rush Ghost Towns" episode ( Season 1, episode 30). My friend and fellow historian Nicholas Kane and I taught host Steve Thomas about early placer mining one chilly morning on the Mokelumne River in 2005.<br />
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Or you can check out this YouTube short I just discovered. Just click on the link below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLlnFPsw7lI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLlnFPsw7lI</a><br />
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From my experience with the three pump, I have to say, hands-down my favorite is the chain pump. It has the interactive option when engaging the public (kids love it !) and it pumps water like crazy. All in all this was a great project and learning experience beside being just plain fun. Thanks for looking.<br />
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-18614996830547200062013-09-28T04:29:00.001-07:002013-09-30T06:38:21.260-07:00More Reconstructed History as 19th Century Baitquest Continues My adventure into mid-19th century artificial baits continues with a focus on critters that hop. In his 1849 edition of "The American Angler's Guide or Complete Fisher's Manual for the United States", John J. Brown makes several references to the use of artificial frogs and grasshoppers as bait. He even kindly provided engravings of said baits in his book. Brown was also an established tackle dealer in New York and advertised that he carried faux frogs and hoppers so their availability is not in doubt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQducGvm4rEzdbmMdkyOAbct8EM3FWkjrVo_2Xueejo2_qjbrLyB-h28SM4Bdj5Q7realKkDgS1RGqC_Q4pevIYPYKAWMdHTMxT2zS3MI9s6dukR4FJaUiAHiW0B2Q8OwsVfKaukyhQ7w/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130245309299298083.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQducGvm4rEzdbmMdkyOAbct8EM3FWkjrVo_2Xueejo2_qjbrLyB-h28SM4Bdj5Q7realKkDgS1RGqC_Q4pevIYPYKAWMdHTMxT2zS3MI9s6dukR4FJaUiAHiW0B2Q8OwsVfKaukyhQ7w/s320/Aviary+Photo_130245309299298083.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Brown's Artificial Frog Bait </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">from 1849</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Note the position of the two hooks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To my eye though, Brown's depictions seem closer to nature than what the actual baits might have looked like. I thought it would be a good challenge to reconstruct these baits using period materials and from what I could gather, period techniques.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5sXA4aw7ue0DNVpPLPEpkFgilSBotLDJPJ00iRHWYq-EBwhlqTwY08n6eNq16pgCyI41z4AyA4YCOL4JffWc1E2sx7XKuHBiAL7pwjegRj6w2SHtLNevsWXbdES8uaL3l_B8a31WXcn1/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130245310394975895.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5sXA4aw7ue0DNVpPLPEpkFgilSBotLDJPJ00iRHWYq-EBwhlqTwY08n6eNq16pgCyI41z4AyA4YCOL4JffWc1E2sx7XKuHBiAL7pwjegRj6w2SHtLNevsWXbdES8uaL3l_B8a31WXcn1/s320/Aviary+Photo_130245310394975895.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Brown's Grasshopper Bait</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Note the one hook and how the line</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">exits the head</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
While researching this subject I discovered the work of Louis Rhead, a successful and well respected artist in the late 1800's and early 20th century. What caught my attention was his work as a devoted and published angler. Late in life he wrote the "Fisherman's Lures and Game Fish Food" which has oodles of info on his work as a tackle maker.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyhb-4AoJvqZl51gq3NQ6R95BL3c3EVP8MjPuMLy7FVdGjYFHZ6kQpzll1bim8Cwc0KuyeKITjEDBoNCP_wYi7vMQIrOmQvktjF_IBKY23bu24k-lPjHFoXwCntVP2PZ9MO5eFnDuB_VE/s1600/XII-How-To-Use-Nature-Lures-By-A-New-Advanced-Meth-86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyhb-4AoJvqZl51gq3NQ6R95BL3c3EVP8MjPuMLy7FVdGjYFHZ6kQpzll1bim8Cwc0KuyeKITjEDBoNCP_wYi7vMQIrOmQvktjF_IBKY23bu24k-lPjHFoXwCntVP2PZ9MO5eFnDuB_VE/s400/XII-How-To-Use-Nature-Lures-By-A-New-Advanced-Meth-86.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Frog "How-to-do" from Rhead's</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">"Fisherman's Lures and Game Fish Food"</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Chest of Books</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In this book Rhead kindly shares details of how he made many of his nature baits, including frogs and grasshoppers. His complete descriptions including materials, sketches and photographs encouraged me to consider this resource as the best chance for my project to proceed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnm2O3cRUWM5TbTJ5nTObW2b7UybcTEMGx1aBqThj_ZydTtK8H6LGH81uZxbAwOX24QVK9IvMsA0i7IPY51mz53Y0nP7f2rW1xDPXy0fJ8CvAIfW4TRBoGYFo0WxaWOn7fqDWTU7i3mTmK/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130247707788950019.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnm2O3cRUWM5TbTJ5nTObW2b7UybcTEMGx1aBqThj_ZydTtK8H6LGH81uZxbAwOX24QVK9IvMsA0i7IPY51mz53Y0nP7f2rW1xDPXy0fJ8CvAIfW4TRBoGYFo0WxaWOn7fqDWTU7i3mTmK/s400/Aviary+Photo_130247707788950019.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Original Rhead Frog</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Lang's Auctions</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
Although of a later period, the handmade nature of Rhead's baits continued the crafting tradition, so evident in surviving early tackle. Besides, I haven't been able to locate any documented artificial frogs or grasshoppers from the mid 1800's so this reconstruction will have to stand on its own merits.<br />
<br />
For my version of Brown's 1849 Frog Bait, I chose cork as my material and Rhead's technique of wrapping the body parts with brass wire. Aware of the fact that an actual bait should survive numerous strikes, I made sure my design was literally "wired together". For hands and feet, I used hemp cord, wrapped with fine copper wire.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAmo97bbtNX2CzhD46FpRl_7ZVRyGPZKcLff_WfL8vGNYplD5euCVRasan_aZ8SXdSYc2zUigXSnLYKfjutiVo35LRAmEeyXXZsG1UVyNVFWrKZ8XLDSYxQNSWd5N0EdfjSFZWQAn7nHh/s1600/IMG_3803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAmo97bbtNX2CzhD46FpRl_7ZVRyGPZKcLff_WfL8vGNYplD5euCVRasan_aZ8SXdSYc2zUigXSnLYKfjutiVo35LRAmEeyXXZsG1UVyNVFWrKZ8XLDSYxQNSWd5N0EdfjSFZWQAn7nHh/s400/IMG_3803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here you have the first parts coming together with the two hooks imbedded in the thighs and anchored to the front loop (barely visible).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbURMj5Ia-pQ296OHRzFciD8v5NgfA1GMp5CHpE9A_wexNMBbr5ubJ3R6bNghlSFz2NXodZPm2VkrMPcwg28YCQqAIvleNlTkt86u1XvU0YYucQUTjJ3NmphFxpWsFHE_3cf4StKOZ7QWr/s1600/IMG_3804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbURMj5Ia-pQ296OHRzFciD8v5NgfA1GMp5CHpE9A_wexNMBbr5ubJ3R6bNghlSFz2NXodZPm2VkrMPcwg28YCQqAIvleNlTkt86u1XvU0YYucQUTjJ3NmphFxpWsFHE_3cf4StKOZ7QWr/s400/IMG_3804.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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More parts are added and it starts to look like something.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRdIUpypwZQcPQZmV5cxMLEjGdp60io5WGgaODW2bwEZLkD7Ly8Qie-Q4gfgj-BLH_IqYUIyvBY6UrHJjqdJb_45l6n1kGTmujhyphenhyphenhNEK7o85lNoiWxzpnQdy8ORqYdFJKFfqnEePP_Fqt/s1600/IMG_3805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRdIUpypwZQcPQZmV5cxMLEjGdp60io5WGgaODW2bwEZLkD7Ly8Qie-Q4gfgj-BLH_IqYUIyvBY6UrHJjqdJb_45l6n1kGTmujhyphenhyphenhNEK7o85lNoiWxzpnQdy8ORqYdFJKFfqnEePP_Fqt/s400/IMG_3805.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Underbelly view showing the front legs in place before lower body was wired on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VaY-u8WIwZvEqCuYf_cPWF8gGd2IIgWQsoscVmh7kHc7Rxg-5eUDyq9e3CAjWW9sQCAQKx2FFPxz5yorkllQUTl6GkdzIy0BvrBwFXLx1ibKfdBs35Q5IbxJrE04P8Q2xZxQbicgWim-/s1600/IMG_3810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VaY-u8WIwZvEqCuYf_cPWF8gGd2IIgWQsoscVmh7kHc7Rxg-5eUDyq9e3CAjWW9sQCAQKx2FFPxz5yorkllQUTl6GkdzIy0BvrBwFXLx1ibKfdBs35Q5IbxJrE04P8Q2xZxQbicgWim-/s640/IMG_3810.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Finished, painted and ready for Mr. Bass' last meal. I think today's collectors might call this a "Folk Art" frog.<br />
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Part two of this project, the reconstruction of a mid-19th century artificial grasshopper bait, started with research. Some time ago I had discovered several "vintage" hoppers that caught my attention as nicely crafted deceivers. Built around a single hook, they all appeared to have wrapped cork or wooden bodies and quill wings and legs. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwjckNetldZTcmU5QsPvNbPl8TKDXAjexPwB8go1wbGT6KmYwkVXjOzsgzH3WVE-RtrJt3HYFsFyBjIrcACbaQZApoxultNuB7mQmGOhiY5HRxKeaj4jtfFXqlw8tK3uvpgCfU-CCjF61/s1600/grasshopper+fly.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwjckNetldZTcmU5QsPvNbPl8TKDXAjexPwB8go1wbGT6KmYwkVXjOzsgzH3WVE-RtrJt3HYFsFyBjIrcACbaQZApoxultNuB7mQmGOhiY5HRxKeaj4jtfFXqlw8tK3uvpgCfU-CCjF61/s400/grasshopper+fly.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Vintage Grasshopper Bait</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Online Auction</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Two of these vintage grasshopper lures used a bent feather spline to suggest both back legs and antennas, which is pretty sweet (see above). In contrast, Louis Rhead tied his rear leg splines to the bend in the hook for a more realistic pose (see below). Who knows what mid-19th century tackle-crafters used or did exactly, so for my recreations I decided to try both ways.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ceBMK1yyc9Qrm3NmKrXVcb2vTXKJ13T2X_-ktLecpKzpR51UzJH4mqC2HQE-KuqlmdXCtTPS-XNKxUpAR3kVnXfzqcFO971YRGUS_CAe6goP_xnBt13n0Ky06zvGJS4maz9lAPuuQeJT/s1600/rhead+hoppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ceBMK1yyc9Qrm3NmKrXVcb2vTXKJ13T2X_-ktLecpKzpR51UzJH4mqC2HQE-KuqlmdXCtTPS-XNKxUpAR3kVnXfzqcFO971YRGUS_CAe6goP_xnBt13n0Ky06zvGJS4maz9lAPuuQeJT/s400/rhead+hoppers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Louis Rhead Grasshopper Baits</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Lang's Auctions</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVI0th2kxnn8ZCbiurGLY46QAf9iEKneAH2dSas55EigJBj6XI2A8n1Ga5lsUHggjTTQbtS043A9nUmEfMaszhWpMAroHHvvzl3LGJi5wZEjynbUOkHtq0TTHKKGjG9MChdmtrbvqMWNq/s1600/1900+hopper2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVI0th2kxnn8ZCbiurGLY46QAf9iEKneAH2dSas55EigJBj6XI2A8n1Ga5lsUHggjTTQbtS043A9nUmEfMaszhWpMAroHHvvzl3LGJi5wZEjynbUOkHtq0TTHKKGjG9MChdmtrbvqMWNq/s320/1900+hopper2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">A Very Green Circa 1900 Hopper</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">from the UK</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Online Auction</span><br />
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</tbody></table>
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One exceptional turn-of-the century hopper showed up on an online auction from the UK. It appears to have legs (at least in part) made of green painted cordage. Maybe I'll try that on the next example I fabricate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT0Ww0e27A2HNHzopp0N2W4e4EKqb_vvInB4TmmA-QfiqzGB4Fy4xfx8tr3vF1hAdSoQDPoGN1h1O2-pjhn38iEXWnUQGh655fvmCn7z3nLwpPA7tw5MSWTVhDwvjyhDGdmqSs4zHwNFw/s1600/IMG_3816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT0Ww0e27A2HNHzopp0N2W4e4EKqb_vvInB4TmmA-QfiqzGB4Fy4xfx8tr3vF1hAdSoQDPoGN1h1O2-pjhn38iEXWnUQGh655fvmCn7z3nLwpPA7tw5MSWTVhDwvjyhDGdmqSs4zHwNFw/s400/IMG_3816.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">My Take on a Mid-19th Century Grasshopper Bait</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Upper version built around a spade-end hook I made</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">tied to a plaited horsehair snood.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Lower version ala Rhead with a horsehair eye tied on</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">an antique #26 Mustad blind eye hook. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Grouse wing quills and tips used on both.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for looking !</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span> </td></tr>
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<br />Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-16581778684872942402013-09-14T06:26:00.001-07:002013-09-20T06:55:12.210-07:00In Search of Spinning Caterpillars and Spoon Minnows, 19th Century Angling Redux<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As my journey to recreate early angling implements continues, I'm often reminded of the mysterious origins of some of today's tackle. Take lures as a good example. Known in the 19th century as "artificial baits", some historians believe that early American anglers avoided them in favor of natural baits. I've also read that a change in attitude didn't come about until American tackle manufacturers like Julio Buel started marketing artificial baits after 1848. One popular story has it that Buel came up with the idea of a spoon bait after witnessing how a fish responded to a teaspoon accidentally dropped in the water. Some have him making spoon baits for friends as early as the 1820's after his serendipitous discovery.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Sy0NVFfs3vOQaZAg34N6XCH01JcjdI5-_gQ9NMMm_Olw8x2Mz0urbXiIRV3eptNieVePfdvZIaCCuhz0V5DKd841yGif5usmyJGD8JQ0AcamKiK8rLwTBrhem6N4fbRrH4xJRtFB_Nf_/s1600/Buel+picture.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Sy0NVFfs3vOQaZAg34N6XCH01JcjdI5-_gQ9NMMm_Olw8x2Mz0urbXiIRV3eptNieVePfdvZIaCCuhz0V5DKd841yGif5usmyJGD8JQ0AcamKiK8rLwTBrhem6N4fbRrH4xJRtFB_Nf_/s640/Buel+picture.png" width="433" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">First American Patented Lure</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">J.T. Buel's Arrowhead Spinner</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">April 6, 1852</span></strong></td></tr>
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Even though it's popular to assume the spoon is 100% American, I think there's a possibility it may have been sprung from different locations around the same time. Some contemporary literature suggests it came out of Sweden early in the 19th century <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=sYk9AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA387&lpg=PA387&dq=Who+made+the+first+spoon+bait&source=bl&ots=R8j6gohfs9&sig=egIVpJYgHNXdWGVNvcj1-FKZUYc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QOQ6UoveBuS0iQKG-oHwCA&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBTgo#v=onepage&q=Who%20made%20the%20first%20spoon%20bait&f=false" target="_blank">(see "The Fisherman's Magazine and Review", Jan. - Oct. 1865, Vol. 2, Chapter XIII).</a><br />
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Contemporary evidence also suggests that American anglers were, at least to some degree, using available British baits before the introduction of domestic patented baits in the early to mid- 1850's. The focus of this post will be the British spinning caterpillar bait known as the "Kill Devil" and the earliest form of an "American" spoon bait that I could find.<br />
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My introduction to the Kill Devil aka the Artificial Caterpillar, came from an illustration in the 1823 edition of T.F.Salter's "The Angler's Guide", seen below as number five.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIjGRFG_MfWWIohNTdydp_pZiBg1PdPUcM-U8U65AZ7GyrM_1eZIn80DY-QNLaRKBATpOk03OAvmMazPiSUJ9vPkt3p-4wKYXnSlzVHn1TBxZ9yNCm89OyOu5gjGuSerkZ7mOxQi_woSZ/s1600/salteranglers7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIjGRFG_MfWWIohNTdydp_pZiBg1PdPUcM-U8U65AZ7GyrM_1eZIn80DY-QNLaRKBATpOk03OAvmMazPiSUJ9vPkt3p-4wKYXnSlzVHn1TBxZ9yNCm89OyOu5gjGuSerkZ7mOxQi_woSZ/s400/salteranglers7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Illustration from Salter's 1823</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">The Angler's Guide</span></strong></td></tr>
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It gets even better, as Salter goes on to describe in detail (see below) how the Devil is made, suggesting that these baits may have been homegrown as well as a commercial product..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJx3MJNtHfeNRo9c23AduaWtW-LjqvuCzUOhymFlUKgk11WYSDmQzAJxE__umbsoIEFWgdkaQph7HatKZOcwoUru10FuE6FPwUK-T6cP9KTMtS93gswLyI4f4YFNMVAOYOS8VzjPQN1lX1/s1600/books.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJx3MJNtHfeNRo9c23AduaWtW-LjqvuCzUOhymFlUKgk11WYSDmQzAJxE__umbsoIEFWgdkaQph7HatKZOcwoUru10FuE6FPwUK-T6cP9KTMtS93gswLyI4f4YFNMVAOYOS8VzjPQN1lX1/s640/books.png" width="364" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Note the use of leather for the body and the way </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">it's shaped, with the tail downward.</span></strong></td></tr>
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As I continued my research, I discovered additional information on this bait in John Jay Brown's "The American Angler's Guide or Complete Fisher's Manual for the United States" 1849 edition. In Chapter XXXII on page 327, Brown writes, " An artificial bait called a Kill-devil, which has been in use a number of years in England, has been proven successful with some of our sportsmen, in trolling for trout or pike. In appearance it is similar to a caterpillar: the body is composed of coarse thread windings finished over with the most gaudy silk colors and wound with silver tinsel: the hooks, numbering seven, are arranged according to the usual minnow rigging; the tail is composed of tin or bright metal, split up or bent at an angle, to insure swift spinning. They are made strong and durable, and their cost is trifling: they are worth a trial."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtouQZ3I60ywkdt-I7WEMNSqyHjRlXjuUYAN8ml8rpBqiR-ZKlQ-kU656JdHoJC1jHv5lQch44s6vMQ87UY6Hy1gtbc2Qaf1fR5SZR9hXbqpLQMO-BnjBMqpWI_QNszAgpmYAWUvA30Ok/s1600/Aviary+Photo_130237168665281312.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtouQZ3I60ywkdt-I7WEMNSqyHjRlXjuUYAN8ml8rpBqiR-ZKlQ-kU656JdHoJC1jHv5lQch44s6vMQ87UY6Hy1gtbc2Qaf1fR5SZR9hXbqpLQMO-BnjBMqpWI_QNszAgpmYAWUvA30Ok/s400/Aviary+Photo_130237168665281312.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>From Brown's 1849 The American Angler's Guide</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Page 318</span></strong></td></tr>
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Brown included this illustration of the Kill-devil and although similar to Salter's it lacks the intentionally curved body and resembles a minnow bait more or less.<br />
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I decided there was enough information to create my version of a Kill-devil bait. For my example I chose kid leather for the body and tin for the tail. In order to produce the curved form of the body, I experimented with various patterns until I could roll the leather up into the desired shape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ768DGaVxpAyUNbt2jrNPW3OLJxC7huSnqKRjaRS_TM1NoxmGpkG-HOdvy5s87j15K0AqeaDto9H0MWS66tu-sAvw1kyvwO8SugSjPKym5mpDoutIENX419UrtPUtWTufOyl6L4Y2zTk/s1600/IMG_3747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ768DGaVxpAyUNbt2jrNPW3OLJxC7huSnqKRjaRS_TM1NoxmGpkG-HOdvy5s87j15K0AqeaDto9H0MWS66tu-sAvw1kyvwO8SugSjPKym5mpDoutIENX419UrtPUtWTufOyl6L4Y2zTk/s320/IMG_3747.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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My plan was to glue and then sew the leather edges down secure. It would have been easier to make a straight body with an internal wire armature but I like the idea of a softer, more natural body for Mr. Fishy to chomp..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcMZlPCytS9H7WdaDsr3hY1IYXFPrPVF_q4DVvijDIf8ZsymWBNfWPk9QerjwHU5gRmJ2kS9D8wk7AOgcecWrmnZxHvrxIkaiuHSLtZ7vyMQZmTCNZ-RHiG3v6CrX2ZrDBdlcPuW_p4ij/s1600/IMG_3751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcMZlPCytS9H7WdaDsr3hY1IYXFPrPVF_q4DVvijDIf8ZsymWBNfWPk9QerjwHU5gRmJ2kS9D8wk7AOgcecWrmnZxHvrxIkaiuHSLtZ7vyMQZmTCNZ-RHiG3v6CrX2ZrDBdlcPuW_p4ij/s320/IMG_3751.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Once the body was sewn, painted and the tail attached, I crafted a brass wire staple/loop for the front. An antique box swivel was added before I crimped the staple into the leather. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KPy8-JYwoPFthn75HhSYi42frQg0C8tPWAPeFP0b74fVn8_WuTEhj1-eXwQ9bLyoKlEJH1zHPrPkoFX7WZ0HfcJ_Vz-hIm59oyrsIPILOX4OPQ9SAeo9fVHSkXTXc60jR9sShcYqq5eG/s1600/IMG_3761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KPy8-JYwoPFthn75HhSYi42frQg0C8tPWAPeFP0b74fVn8_WuTEhj1-eXwQ9bLyoKlEJH1zHPrPkoFX7WZ0HfcJ_Vz-hIm59oyrsIPILOX4OPQ9SAeo9fVHSkXTXc60jR9sShcYqq5eG/s320/IMG_3761.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Replica Kill-devil #1</strong></span></td></tr>
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All that was left was to wrap the tinsel and rig the hooks. For the tinsel, I used waxed silk thread first, to get the pattern and then followed with the more fragile tinsel. <br />
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For the hooks, I bound blind-eye hooks into two doubles and one treble (the requisite seven hooks), all tied with silk thread onto plaited horse hair lines.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHAcjf3Ou-hIn4RJb97K5NXXy6fL_qkUPvWbtXhIoQTTrn1pv_LnS4Z9fy0_9tm_G5DDLic1sY6qfGO_-wDApKdULM4QzprJEcQIcTrj-NElLI3fqcL2l-UKd06XSDg_Ibbmhyphenhyphene11m8ly/s1600/IMG_3759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHAcjf3Ou-hIn4RJb97K5NXXy6fL_qkUPvWbtXhIoQTTrn1pv_LnS4Z9fy0_9tm_G5DDLic1sY6qfGO_-wDApKdULM4QzprJEcQIcTrj-NElLI3fqcL2l-UKd06XSDg_Ibbmhyphenhyphene11m8ly/s400/IMG_3759.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">My Replica Kill-devil #2</span></strong></td></tr>
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I was pleased enough with the way it turned out, that I made another one in red. Seen here next to Salter's original illustration. These baits haven't had their chance to kill any fish yet but I did take them out and drag them through a running stream to check their action. I discovered that the bent shape is an important factor in making them spin. In fact, they spin like crazy and with all those hooks flying, they have to snag a strike.<br />
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The next project was to recreate an early Yankee spoon bait. Even though the spoon idea is often credited to Julio T. Buel, his first patent of April 6, 1852 is not really for a spoon but rather a spinning bait, know to collectors as the arrowhead spinner. In the text of the patent, Buel states, "I do not claim what is called a spoon minnow .....th<strong>ese having been used before</strong>." We may never known whether he got the idea of a spoon from one dropped in the water but he was likely making spoon baits when he opened for business in 1848. Evidence suggests that maybe others were making them as well.<br />
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In Brown's 1849 "The American Angler's Guide", Chapter VII on Spoon Baits, he states, "It was first invented and used by a gentleman in the vicinity of Saratoga Lake for Black Basse." Brown goes on to describe how this unnamed gentleman altered a spoon bowl by adding a swivel at one end and then soldered a pair of hooks to the concave side on the other end, after cutting off the point of the spoon. I wondered, is this the earliest American spoon bait ? Was the "gentleman" Buel ?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbfnhyphenhyphenZK8sbvywcG3TsiwVz9nFzQXWe6f0IdxaDOsUp6rKrvQoI2lNHh2GrIZ9ulQvN-vcCwnTvNN_ZCY1ME4q6rgpT9BlGNBC7QChbSStMFSLzJRmaZFaoFyDGRvbD8KX5rP6kVjpAfQ/s1600/spoon+bait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbfnhyphenhyphenZK8sbvywcG3TsiwVz9nFzQXWe6f0IdxaDOsUp6rKrvQoI2lNHh2GrIZ9ulQvN-vcCwnTvNN_ZCY1ME4q6rgpT9BlGNBC7QChbSStMFSLzJRmaZFaoFyDGRvbD8KX5rP6kVjpAfQ/s400/spoon+bait.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Spoon Bait Illustration from Brown's</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">1849 American Angler's Guide</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Note the watch stem swivel</span></td></tr>
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Brown continues, " It has since been made-up in various styles, with one two and three hooks and is made with silver plate or brass on the convex side, and painted red (decidedly the best color) on the concave."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKDLE85OCFuVOrWKTch8n6HAaWyP9-k6J9rmRdTL9B-U2fT10MwnwNBPELUvWQ6i14v04n87YQlZ1vS336mH2un5pIBWEYGuyO_4qeQZGGLbjW5j8mfNOMaQNpInWK2LYE2f555QiD98N/s1600/IMG_3764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKDLE85OCFuVOrWKTch8n6HAaWyP9-k6J9rmRdTL9B-U2fT10MwnwNBPELUvWQ6i14v04n87YQlZ1vS336mH2un5pIBWEYGuyO_4qeQZGGLbjW5j8mfNOMaQNpInWK2LYE2f555QiD98N/s320/IMG_3764.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">My Replica</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedYeP3oOfqSiQg4PPiNgEwItfEVbJnyMmeupU43MjZFSSVuu7I5bdExYzWQqs19AsiIba1FMWae7VWMKHoBudAHgdlAFnKo-NjkzpZtZnMpzQWV6A7hy0NTQN-PLJcK_N19T-uZ_h3s_I/s1600/IMG_3765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedYeP3oOfqSiQg4PPiNgEwItfEVbJnyMmeupU43MjZFSSVuu7I5bdExYzWQqs19AsiIba1FMWae7VWMKHoBudAHgdlAFnKo-NjkzpZtZnMpzQWV6A7hy0NTQN-PLJcK_N19T-uZ_h3s_I/s320/IMG_3765.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Concave side painted</strong></span></td></tr>
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For my replica version of this early spoon, I cut out the shape from nickel silver sheet stock and then pounded out the form. I could only guess how the watch stem swivel worked but it seemed to have turned out fine. The hooks were made from hook wire I purchased from <a href="http://www.historicanglingenterprises.com/" target="_blank">Paul Jones</a> of Historic Angling Enterprises. A great source by the way for early angling material and information. After soldering the hooks in place, as in the illustration, I painted the inside with red enamel.<br />
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I think this first spoon turned out well but I'm going to make up some smaller versions to fish with. Who knows if this is truly the "first" spoon bait but it's undeniably primitive next to what came later. All in all, both were fun projects. Thanks for looking and I always appreciate your comments.<br />
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-36593929376264221152013-09-02T14:08:00.001-07:002013-09-04T05:04:04.010-07:00Explorations into 19th Century Angling Continues With Fly Books and Boxes This post revisits and explores some of the ways 19th century anglers stored their flies and leaders (or casts, as the English call them) when stream side. One popular choice was a "fly book", which in the earliest versions, was a small, bound book with pages specifically designed to secure snelled flies, like the one Mr. Akerman is holding.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3Shq9Lx3o_7vhl87MwIBwiNOx7BW6bm7SZGJGlFFyBEmIHCZGaJixHdlQB5nzobxfh0iOJvGospXwZWLF0RtmqiBlbXqvI8Ee_dn3neaARrgTjYNOdOpop6KUxT2PcZOXDVN0U3mjT_o/s1600/300px-TheMayFlySpingTide.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3Shq9Lx3o_7vhl87MwIBwiNOx7BW6bm7SZGJGlFFyBEmIHCZGaJixHdlQB5nzobxfh0iOJvGospXwZWLF0RtmqiBlbXqvI8Ee_dn3neaARrgTjYNOdOpop6KUxT2PcZOXDVN0U3mjT_o/s640/300px-TheMayFlySpingTide.JPG" width="438" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Frontpiece from John Yonge Akerman's</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">"Spring-tide" 1850</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Is that a Fly Book or a Fly Box </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Under That Elbow?</span></td></tr>
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The pages of these fly books were natural parchment skin, fashioned into little envelopes or pockets for the flies to slip into. These pockets were created by folding the parchment back on to itself and then creasing the folds into flat, deep loops. The folds were then held in place by stitching along the outer edges of the page, often in blue thread.<br />
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In an attempt to avoid crushing the flies and allow air to circulate, small discs of cork or thick leather were sometimes glued into the outermost corners of the pages as spacers. Besides the pockets, you will see strips of ribbon or parchment mounted through slots in single pages, to secure coiled bits of line or snelled flies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5HcNox6UPmiQiL30rickth4P8muRKysJ9VjfOlcX9SpN4M9btx9C7kmGYJSymEHLxj2aptVSp3ylEtZNFef44Hz0Mz50HaLyRb4Mkcv-70gkf59FedsTArRr-cl_6kzVJ-EHC-VXC4Ku/s1600/1172230963_LOT393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5HcNox6UPmiQiL30rickth4P8muRKysJ9VjfOlcX9SpN4M9btx9C7kmGYJSymEHLxj2aptVSp3ylEtZNFef44Hz0Mz50HaLyRb4Mkcv-70gkf59FedsTArRr-cl_6kzVJ-EHC-VXC4Ku/s400/1172230963_LOT393.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Original 1820's Fly Book</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Mullock's Auctions</span></td></tr>
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The earliest surviving example of a fly book I've found was featured at a Mullock's Auction in the UK. They called it a wallet but I'll talk about that later. Attributed to the early English tackle maker Onesimus Utonson, it's literally a small book with marbled board covers and parchment pages. This extremely rare book was protected by a fitted leather slip-cover that was secured with long ribbon ties. A similar example turned up at an Angling Auctions sale (also across the pond) and was inscribed with a date from the 1820's. Very cool ! Unfortunately, none of the auction pictures revealed the design of the pages but from the description it appear that they are envelope style.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgxtPLZOTtSt-5sQMc8rZU9MgiuCt7CLonpLZNjyYL-GEd4F2Wqp_KZZpOZaQ3zee3Do-GrAFnGMg1SNRDpYP8jbCo5z-8456QkE1n3rQJ-ecQ4FqdXSdHb6q1T5ik8vSCTEdfpSLCpIC/s1600/L_FT150308_lot0326-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgxtPLZOTtSt-5sQMc8rZU9MgiuCt7CLonpLZNjyYL-GEd4F2Wqp_KZZpOZaQ3zee3Do-GrAFnGMg1SNRDpYP8jbCo5z-8456QkE1n3rQJ-ecQ4FqdXSdHb6q1T5ik8vSCTEdfpSLCpIC/s400/L_FT150308_lot0326-0.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Leather Bound Fly Book </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Showing Parchment Leaves and Corner Spacers</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>(</strong>note the sweet fly tying clamp)</span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Mullock's Auctions</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
It appears that in the mid-1800's, manufacturers began to shy away from the stiff covers and create more durable leather-bound versions. Even the early style ribbon ties would eventually give way to a sensible strap and buckle. Sometime during this inevitable evolution, the fly book became known as the fly wallet in contemporary literature. Today it seems the terms fly book and fly wallet are interchangeable.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiMnUdywYHrVJbCVsAjVwTinjVjryzZcb8-_sl8ZBb1L-4vNtl8TJqI3aO2aAFjyl3_ymcPXx9yzYGCqjPbJBLSnIe-eiaIpRPtPUnN0IVeBhMJa8sC2RPLlV_bhhcCkE4RcsMOL77ER9/s1600/1171387305_166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiMnUdywYHrVJbCVsAjVwTinjVjryzZcb8-_sl8ZBb1L-4vNtl8TJqI3aO2aAFjyl3_ymcPXx9yzYGCqjPbJBLSnIe-eiaIpRPtPUnN0IVeBhMJa8sC2RPLlV_bhhcCkE4RcsMOL77ER9/s400/1171387305_166.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Another Early Fly Book</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">With the Owner's Notations</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Gotta keep track of those killing patterns !</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Source Unknown</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In order for me to craft a rational ( and affordable !) replica of a fly book, I had to get over the notion of using actual parchment skin for the pages (I can only wish). What I ended up using ( warning for the purists, get ready to cringe ) was the modern material known as Tyvek. Tyvek is a non-woven polyethylene fabric that has many modern applications. After I lightly coated some pieces with thinned orange shellac, it looked and felt similar to real parchment. Luckily I found a ready source for this modern fabric in Tyvek shipping envelopes.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdGOKVt2hbzbDd_ECCYSuLWa7pPKkMTwoW5QirO-RVEdTIqvzUPf1JZIEZkMm6ZlkYmY46Y42N1MbgnJccIrvytO1kRONoEG3s6yFmamrXKyFvYOXdWKjfoM4FB97mykY7KDIT_G5TdN8/s1600/IMG_3739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdGOKVt2hbzbDd_ECCYSuLWa7pPKkMTwoW5QirO-RVEdTIqvzUPf1JZIEZkMm6ZlkYmY46Y42N1MbgnJccIrvytO1kRONoEG3s6yFmamrXKyFvYOXdWKjfoM4FB97mykY7KDIT_G5TdN8/s400/IMG_3739.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Replica Fly Book</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">with Linen Tape Ties</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Pictures by author</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once I decided on a pattern for the cover, I cut out the pieces from scrap leather left over from earlier projects. Black calf on the outside, sandwiched with dark brown for the lining, gave it an nice look. From my experience with bookbinding and what I could gather from photographs of originals, the parchment pages of these little creations were sewn into signatures or groupings, just like real books.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHyAehmg0pPI4_aoojLamxEoU2zugkof1QV8RvbNwCy5-14YJhKyqeuTNUblZ3uva8iDCZ__6Dmwz3ZHzpZ9NCpLRKw4075pBxiBq0lQ7kVkpNV3dY4jxmN_Mwg5AcXPfvsEcnGqfTiN3/s1600/IMG_3740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHyAehmg0pPI4_aoojLamxEoU2zugkof1QV8RvbNwCy5-14YJhKyqeuTNUblZ3uva8iDCZ__6Dmwz3ZHzpZ9NCpLRKw4075pBxiBq0lQ7kVkpNV3dY4jxmN_Mwg5AcXPfvsEcnGqfTiN3/s400/IMG_3740.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Note the Cork Spacers</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">and Stitched Edges of my </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Faux Parchment</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I also discovered that on some original fly books, the parchment pages were interspersed with felt or wool pages. These were probably intended to help dry the wet flies as they were returned to the book. My final design called for five, double-sided pocket pages, six blank pages and two wool pages.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSM_f1jJBuMDqA3-rURFciNzUVCZLubkF2fvA2_ndyYReclMlSedTD-F2ntOy0Ld0K9xxEpmr4PulmMHoOaqmjl_QwKqEj-EKbl5lxXx2CuWvRF21LFdBoWBh-COsgJpQVjmQAcNDNtd10/s1600/IMG_3741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSM_f1jJBuMDqA3-rURFciNzUVCZLubkF2fvA2_ndyYReclMlSedTD-F2ntOy0Ld0K9xxEpmr4PulmMHoOaqmjl_QwKqEj-EKbl5lxXx2CuWvRF21LFdBoWBh-COsgJpQVjmQAcNDNtd10/s400/IMG_3741.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Tools of the Trade</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Many examples of fly books also include a place for the requisite tools of an angler. For me that would be tiny scissors, tweezers and an awl to open knots. On the other inside cover, I designed a expandable pocket for extra line etc.. As you can see, my book has already provided faithful service and will continue to do so. On to the next project.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8xrpTCl0tmGhOSeKhCywWjymMAUc1o3GEfnFevvrXUCQ8r9Af0WJRgYq1tXiv9K3DJ_rS5oJypLwWiX3qdr35vEKp-fOlxOWDifqFiSET-wZWZq4asoEjUE7Rpwu-IhMl6hx9lybvTrE/s1600/cork+fly+box+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8xrpTCl0tmGhOSeKhCywWjymMAUc1o3GEfnFevvrXUCQ8r9Af0WJRgYq1tXiv9K3DJ_rS5oJypLwWiX3qdr35vEKp-fOlxOWDifqFiSET-wZWZq4asoEjUE7Rpwu-IhMl6hx9lybvTrE/s640/cork+fly+box+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Original 1860's Fly Box on the Right</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Together with an Early Fly Book </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Angling Auctions</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The second half of this post is on "fly boxes", a form more familiar to today's fly fisherman than those antiquated book things. I was curious how far back boxes go into the misty past of tackle history. Fly books served the angler well when he was fishing wets, as flattened flies aren't too much of a problem. Is it possible that boxes arrived to keep up with the increased interest in dry fly fishing and the need to keep the flies neat ? I'll leave that one to the experts. The earliest example of a fly box I've discovered is from the 1860's according to the auction specialists who sold it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxI3j7d89p2TDaSjr3ytndcOqej89j8vyXQyGSF3ch7vBWIr7s76PSyfrEftd891viR587RIAc61FjNu7Fr6XNa1sLPYYEBC2M7r-RhE06R1TECLkgSavx-Fk0LznWWFJrwwIGkyiCsZr/s1600/IMG_3742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxI3j7d89p2TDaSjr3ytndcOqej89j8vyXQyGSF3ch7vBWIr7s76PSyfrEftd891viR587RIAc61FjNu7Fr6XNa1sLPYYEBC2M7r-RhE06R1TECLkgSavx-Fk0LznWWFJrwwIGkyiCsZr/s400/IMG_3742.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Fly Box Closed</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Nice Ties Eh ?</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
.<br />
<br />
The idea of creating my own version of this early box seemed very doable thanks to its simple design and a good photo to work from. The original is described as made of leather covered cardboard. For mine, I chose painted cloth over book board as a slightly cheaper version. If you study the picture of the original, it's easy to see how one side of the box hinged into the other. Pretty darn cool !<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxy8PXb3BCE-Hx1WQ4jkwfWnzUv21nf1l60-sE4Xvzit-S4jdv1YC8cnYi0idIBZQ6KFnq0DPyLwKwtnVOpdkXhXBkCgsnweg-QwWHFAMIahqGEdT0K2EcluYNSnRu939Jqly1CCUg0wq/s1600/IMG_3743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxy8PXb3BCE-Hx1WQ4jkwfWnzUv21nf1l60-sE4Xvzit-S4jdv1YC8cnYi0idIBZQ6KFnq0DPyLwKwtnVOpdkXhXBkCgsnweg-QwWHFAMIahqGEdT0K2EcluYNSnRu939Jqly1CCUg0wq/s400/IMG_3743.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Interior View</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Notice how the cork panel on the right is smaller</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">to allow the box halves to seat inside each other </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
One of the things I loved about this rare survivor, was the cork interior. A simple, classic and effective solution to fixing the hooks. I had trouble finding 1/4" thick natural cork sheets so I opted for modern crushed cork sheeting that still has a good look and function. I think it turned out great and my flies like it too. I would recommend making this style fly box just for the fun and affordability of it. Fish on !!<br />
<br />
<strong>Thanks for looking !</strong><br />
.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-49938375648168647732013-08-19T19:37:00.001-07:002015-06-26T04:47:03.678-07:00More 19th Century Angling, This Time It's A Reel Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
This post continues my revisit to early 19th century angling with a little more information on reels. In my original post of February 2011, I outlined my quest to recreate typical coarse fishing tackle in use during the 1840's but left out a lot of the fun stuff I learned along the way. One thing I discovered was that sophisticated multiplying reels were crafted by watchmakers in Kentucky as early as the 1820's but that style of reel was actually invented in England in the18th century.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGub2tDcfCDta63JBMm5NaxqLkLR7SC-Ul68T6xyAqbL6sFlslAX_rsfogN7nPUUiOrYEMUxQ2TKCnIoL8xtLtojnp8Uu_XMcOFnmGXS0PkFR6oGxTKBgqwk66K5QR3sikslrHDygl0mST/s1600/ClerkGreenBakerBH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGub2tDcfCDta63JBMm5NaxqLkLR7SC-Ul68T6xyAqbL6sFlslAX_rsfogN7nPUUiOrYEMUxQ2TKCnIoL8xtLtojnp8Uu_XMcOFnmGXS0PkFR6oGxTKBgqwk66K5QR3sikslrHDygl0mST/s400/ClerkGreenBakerBH.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">A Clerk, Green & Baker Classic New York Style</span></b><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Ball Handle Reel</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Image Steve Vernon <a href="http://www.antiquefishingreels.info/">www.antiquefishingreels.info</a></b><br />
<br />
Even though these reels represent the finest offerings of their time, I realized immediately that they were a little beyond my "shade tree" machinist's ability to recreate. Besides, even if I thought I could pull one off, I don't own the lathe to make it happen. What I was looking for was a simple and typical "winch" of the period that I knew I could copy and use. Multiplying reels were revolutionary and allowed for direct casting of line off the reel whereas simple winches were just for storing line.<br />
<br />
First, a little history is in order. It's believed that the fishing reel originated in China, sometime around 300-400 AD based on depictions in surviving art.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3TverPiFgo_qSysgTM-Yfk4MoKFtDZSE8goNU7XtQFyOb4rD5wgpxmJ6ar-YTpNAmZdYASxZ76BK7g3C-ZB9bzTmf6Oo8ct3m76cJpsv6BvUsi_4DwvCewMpHVJPvISTyU1jYzdlZMBH/s1600/First-fishing_reel_Angler_on_a_Wintry_Lake_by_Ma_Yuan_Wikipedia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3TverPiFgo_qSysgTM-Yfk4MoKFtDZSE8goNU7XtQFyOb4rD5wgpxmJ6ar-YTpNAmZdYASxZ76BK7g3C-ZB9bzTmf6Oo8ct3m76cJpsv6BvUsi_4DwvCewMpHVJPvISTyU1jYzdlZMBH/s320/First-fishing_reel_Angler_on_a_Wintry_Lake_by_Ma_Yuan_Wikipedia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">First Fishing Reel</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Image courtesy www.realreels.com </b><br />
<br />
Taking a giant leap forward to England, Thomas Barker mentioned a "wind" and provided a cryptic drawing of some kind of reel in his 1651 publication "Delight or the Art of Angling" and a little later Robert Venable used an illustration of a clampfoot reel in the front piece of his 1662 " The Experienc'd Angler or Angling Improved".<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeWMKcY56EZlB720szMQCt-1CIxbqS5SOpkUdAD7xGAigRgWkyBdOIiG2vuhO0j6ERjxeh4-9fwlfbbR95RA68w2zXdfB9FeU78ZdALsfxdQYAHZ9ewaGs-nDs2Qsyiz90iY0YmEeMM7D/s1600/Venable's+reel.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeWMKcY56EZlB720szMQCt-1CIxbqS5SOpkUdAD7xGAigRgWkyBdOIiG2vuhO0j6ERjxeh4-9fwlfbbR95RA68w2zXdfB9FeU78ZdALsfxdQYAHZ9ewaGs-nDs2Qsyiz90iY0YmEeMM7D/s1600/Venable's+reel.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Venable's Front Piece, Clamp-Foot Reel detail</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Image courtesy flyfishinghistory.com</b><br />
<br />
<br />
By the late 18th century, it appears by all accounts that the reel was an accepted part of the angler's kit in Europe and in use by at least some gentlemen anglers in America.<br />
<br />
I think it's safe to say that by the 1840's, the reel was considered an angling essential and I would imagine a typical American tackle shop might have offered a range of reels of varying qualities and styles. I assumed from the evidence that early reels were typically crafted of nickel silver or brass until a well crafted wooden version caught my eye.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrH4tbnwQXKKH7aDopkRbzo-xEPNjrXt4s45XcjBX_hQyEwEbN5EAYBsqYCNntoRr31ix-RuLbPDBu39wB-IEY_PYBesMTdx7EFjPgY08dEdnm5jo0ilf1-3LNVCPr3wQFez0gxYNBrp_/s1600/early+wooden+clamp+foot+reel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrH4tbnwQXKKH7aDopkRbzo-xEPNjrXt4s45XcjBX_hQyEwEbN5EAYBsqYCNntoRr31ix-RuLbPDBu39wB-IEY_PYBesMTdx7EFjPgY08dEdnm5jo0ilf1-3LNVCPr3wQFez0gxYNBrp_/s400/early+wooden+clamp+foot+reel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Fantastic Early Wooden Reel</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Image Courtesy Mullock's Auctions </b><br />
<br />
This particular wooden clamp-foot reel is quite rare and turned up in an auction in the UK. As cool and early (perhaps too) as it is, I decided to make mine a reproduction of an all metal reel. I chose brass since it's easy to come by and easy to work with and I already have a brass scrap pile to dig through.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb4Db_mDX4MjZNolzctAlYHkA-JZJod2lp00J-xdIL2W_Y4jvgyKGQNtiuZFWu9wVgDcJLaZV-vWbFWEnlguL4WA7xOWEgRS8p1sNlwvgi_OjSce_4SPslUryrxxL4Qz80Wejg7ngJ9Gb/s1600/spike+foot+reel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb4Db_mDX4MjZNolzctAlYHkA-JZJod2lp00J-xdIL2W_Y4jvgyKGQNtiuZFWu9wVgDcJLaZV-vWbFWEnlguL4WA7xOWEgRS8p1sNlwvgi_OjSce_4SPslUryrxxL4Qz80Wejg7ngJ9Gb/s400/spike+foot+reel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">A Classic Mounted Spike-Foot Reel </span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Image Courtesy Mullock's Auctions</b><br />
<br />
Style wise, early 19th century winches can be categorized according to how they attached to the rod. According to some historians, the spike-foot reel may have predated the clamp-foot which predated the plate-foot. Are you with me so far ?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnVwdno5le2oHaZ98iTsH3xygbzKVhbmakhKCbPVQc_TkeK3UWqf9I1ZaCeFHLMqylo46F91NBZoxPhOd1kmc8pMfSEFbo64KUZrL2Uf7tTfJ44GfrX8o2cOmBSM3LZTgKFVhIargi3Ow/s1600/salteranglers5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnVwdno5le2oHaZ98iTsH3xygbzKVhbmakhKCbPVQc_TkeK3UWqf9I1ZaCeFHLMqylo46F91NBZoxPhOd1kmc8pMfSEFbo64KUZrL2Uf7tTfJ44GfrX8o2cOmBSM3LZTgKFVhIargi3Ow/s400/salteranglers5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Salter's Plate and Clamp-Foot Reels</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
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<b>Image Source Unknown</b><br />
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What I know is, at the time of T. F. Salter's "The Angler's Guide" (1823) the clamp-foot and plate-foot co-existed as seen in his illustration. Salter's plate-foot is early enough in style to have a padding attached so as not to mar the rod. These stitched on pads are fairly common on surviving clamp-foot reels.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGh4Sxnv4nIKoJ7u30AJj-7s57KbuXlc5VoYSLRkq_KqTIcn66OSJXnOzludFe_meGFAafMPPlEOhQiVg5-pchI2QoILiGm2mkM774FNlQfUTbGBj9IE49WgJtWfejzDdCrorLqaOWLxx/s1600/clamp+foot+reel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGh4Sxnv4nIKoJ7u30AJj-7s57KbuXlc5VoYSLRkq_KqTIcn66OSJXnOzludFe_meGFAafMPPlEOhQiVg5-pchI2QoILiGm2mkM774FNlQfUTbGBj9IE49WgJtWfejzDdCrorLqaOWLxx/s400/clamp+foot+reel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">A Nice Classic Clamp-Foot Winch with a Missing Knob</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b><br /></div>
<b>Image Source Unknown</b><br />
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I started to warm-up to the clamp-foot variety as it was certainly around in the 1840's and even up to the 1860's by some accounts. Once I gathered enough information, I made a scale drawing of my reproduction and began scrounging up the brass stock. I previously mentioned the absence of a lathe in my shop. A considerable deficit for the well-rounded craftsman of today but for me there's always room for improvising a substitute.<br />
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Years ago I discovered that you can center and spin small, flat pieces of metal on a drill press if you support the arbor from below. My arbors usually consist of a small diameter bolt with nuts and washers to clamp the work. The support from below is held in a vise that I clamp to the drill base. Most of my milling and cutting is done with a well-braced Dremel tool using their cut-off wheels and circular files. Safety goggles are a must as is a steady hand. Laying everything out first with a sharpie is also very helpful. <b> </b><br />
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<b>Warning</b>, <b>I do not recommend this as a practice but included it here as a document of my work.</b><br />
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<b> </b>When all the circular pieces of the reel were finished, I cut the pillar rods to length and turned their ends diameters down for eventual peening. The other end of the pillars were drilled and tapped for screws.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX81-l9bZS_KVHnaAfmmhbFOl3BzyOgyHnbRUE6Ew5WG-AjMjGtYzhhkuxRsZL74NT2xYdYodTZUZ4JR7I8IzWWNtXE1XzlNJRna0WdQdhycqvcyD_NA3Gs2ELvIu8-9HKd6G4HCN11vH/s1600/IMG_3722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX81-l9bZS_KVHnaAfmmhbFOl3BzyOgyHnbRUE6Ew5WG-AjMjGtYzhhkuxRsZL74NT2xYdYodTZUZ4JR7I8IzWWNtXE1XzlNJRna0WdQdhycqvcyD_NA3Gs2ELvIu8-9HKd6G4HCN11vH/s400/IMG_3722.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">My Finished Clamp-Foot Reel</span></b></td></tr>
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<b>Note the Horn Knob and Leather Lining on Clamp</b><br />
<b>Images by Author</b><br />
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One of the little challenges was to accurately die stamp the cupped ends of the reel's spindle so they could rotate smoothly on center, in their proper recesses.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26S_8u4zogaBTUK2ZwQCVbZbnLrxhlc1EoLgbxmDbnGo_eqD5K-V74TIIEl-gNYqM4zMcxodiaK5pO1u5A6Bc5LPnfu_jEzquwZwwHTnVH82iH4Ek3ot-2oZAE88yDdSw5-gLHa1s32SC/s1600/IMG_3724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26S_8u4zogaBTUK2ZwQCVbZbnLrxhlc1EoLgbxmDbnGo_eqD5K-V74TIIEl-gNYqM4zMcxodiaK5pO1u5A6Bc5LPnfu_jEzquwZwwHTnVH82iH4Ek3ot-2oZAE88yDdSw5-gLHa1s32SC/s320/IMG_3724.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">View of the Opposite Side, Showing Screws</span></b></td></tr>
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The clamp foot part of the reel is riveted to a stout bar that helps to maintain the reels integrity as a stable cage for the spindle. One end of this bar was riveted to the outside plate with two pins to prevent twisting. When it came to making the actual clamp, I found it difficult to get a tight bend at the bottom, so I cheated and hard soldered on separate pieces at the proper angle. I really love the way the heart shaped screw turned out. It's a great period detail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEgcCBoQ6PJjX6LzBorziTanV_d__lGJXUfV_riFMtC6zjGnYz3E_l5yavjmgPZt3tnOMcAU5dh2pqtCBtCh9f16olOuWNp4elX78_uSsX46XWidvxAEKivVSRJdoVZEP2uWrm8YT5TrY/s1600/IMG_3726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEgcCBoQ6PJjX6LzBorziTanV_d__lGJXUfV_riFMtC6zjGnYz3E_l5yavjmgPZt3tnOMcAU5dh2pqtCBtCh9f16olOuWNp4elX78_uSsX46XWidvxAEKivVSRJdoVZEP2uWrm8YT5TrY/s320/IMG_3726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The final challenge on this project was creating a functional clicker mechanism. Luckily I had made some notes and a drawing of my antique English reel's clicker when I rebuilt it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRxs3fVkHTGaDs5ddqg4FI47yiKDMZcWPJZ_6U9eDaY28X-u1ec2CkRXyqVPFHQI2TU2qPx_ZBO0qA6YDodCu54txaiBUgDLtGcr1TupPHeWVECk6fMbXKIE_JJK_KmM2DHtYn1bEir59/s1600/IMG_3727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRxs3fVkHTGaDs5ddqg4FI47yiKDMZcWPJZ_6U9eDaY28X-u1ec2CkRXyqVPFHQI2TU2qPx_ZBO0qA6YDodCu54txaiBUgDLtGcr1TupPHeWVECk6fMbXKIE_JJK_KmM2DHtYn1bEir59/s400/IMG_3727.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The Inner Workings of My Clicker</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
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<b>Please Excuse the Sloppy Solder</b><br />
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So there you have it, it turned out to be a "real" adventure after all but worth it.<br />
<b> </b>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-67993043929167360202013-08-02T18:06:00.001-07:002013-08-11T09:23:12.308-07:0019th Century Angling Revisited - A Closer Look at Creels <span style="font-size: small;"> Back in January of 2011<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> when I posted on my exploration of mid-19th century angling, I barely touched on most of the subjects. In the next few posts I hope to revisit some of those topics with a little more depth. This first return visit is on early creels and as you will see, my research turned up some interesting varieties.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Before I made my own version of a classic "pot bellied" creel, I wanted to study some of the material options available at the time. Creels made of leather seem to be some of the earliest and rare forms to have survived. Experts date some back to the 18th century but as you can see below, they were still being used in the late 1800's as well. Most of these are English in origin but who's to say they didn't make it to the States.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDkrC0pPa5s21VYUGN8Jw5Jgx0ae7mSG3c9Qcz0uiAF4hEsIKLS9Um1wjIw-dSfPN0fF7RxOEBM-suuXQLenXMg0Wqa9WAlvuo0n1Q9kyvxuLALH1YZcvbXELLGzE3yvWeuqL2ewQZMcu/s1600/18th+cen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDkrC0pPa5s21VYUGN8Jw5Jgx0ae7mSG3c9Qcz0uiAF4hEsIKLS9Um1wjIw-dSfPN0fF7RxOEBM-suuXQLenXMg0Wqa9WAlvuo0n1Q9kyvxuLALH1YZcvbXELLGzE3yvWeuqL2ewQZMcu/s400/18th+cen.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Leather Creel Listed as 18th Century</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
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<b> Image Courtesy of <a href="http://mullocksauctions.co.uk/">mullocksauctions.co.uk</a></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I found one fine example adorned with the former owner's fishing triumphs, celebrated with brass plaques dating to the 1890's. Maybe the 90's angler was using a family heirloom.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7s9hZ3SBi8PN31KctG9XvrbSUI7hgB-gVODCfQMk5uz3eUcEqe1i0043zf2GQOl6SPwlmTuIYkXK3C9LTLYS9kUYyuo2aZy6qG81QkQHuexlDesa_ADLlWwKyMzZtZ3HLOn5bzivQPnVP/s1600/kovels_fishing_creel_world_record.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7s9hZ3SBi8PN31KctG9XvrbSUI7hgB-gVODCfQMk5uz3eUcEqe1i0043zf2GQOl6SPwlmTuIYkXK3C9LTLYS9kUYyuo2aZy6qG81QkQHuexlDesa_ADLlWwKyMzZtZ3HLOn5bzivQPnVP/s400/kovels_fishing_creel_world_record.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy <a href="http://kovels.com/">Kovels.com</a></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> As much as I love to work in leather, the challenge of a large molded form was a little intimidating to say the least. I also had a problem with the idea of putting slimy little fishies into a leather container, so I decided to pass on leather.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I imagined the possibility of a wooden creel but wasn't sure how that might have worked. The weight issue of a wooden form caused me to think that a lightweight, bentwood design might have developed. Bentwood storage boxes were very popular in the 19th century but I couldn't find an early example of a bentwood creel and I wasn't interested in creating a fantasy piece.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKL0sQmWB90AbHW1-ZYCCeMZgvlGKJIgrSLuCu6KGI7_izSIXHwXHlVPnmqcuX9LYRLKtfEg-KXLW_467tsz6ISJx2-Ov3XFFDZlMd67Yo0aKRF1Qpck01FB2zT5gixH-q3bUhyQCDbYf/s1600/634-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKL0sQmWB90AbHW1-ZYCCeMZgvlGKJIgrSLuCu6KGI7_izSIXHwXHlVPnmqcuX9LYRLKtfEg-KXLW_467tsz6ISJx2-Ov3XFFDZlMd67Yo0aKRF1Qpck01FB2zT5gixH-q3bUhyQCDbYf/s400/634-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy <a href="http://mullocksauctions.co.uk/">mullocksauctions.co.uk</a></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Long after my creel project was completed, a bentwood creel did turn up and proved my hunch. As you can see in the pictures it does possess round storage box characteristics. Perhaps a fun project in the future.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjCrY0rIv_dHW_Gk9uextFU9_sYFhkst-L7EzbUvKC2f2JD29t98fhyphenhyphensVIZyem2qmh2kUzbyu8QwjUDjwA6WiHDo62EXFZRWjiuqKCtj6MTKUpb6Q0bTkGtjeI6rl6W_JM5VR-hPkWMLB/s1600/634-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjCrY0rIv_dHW_Gk9uextFU9_sYFhkst-L7EzbUvKC2f2JD29t98fhyphenhyphensVIZyem2qmh2kUzbyu8QwjUDjwA6WiHDo62EXFZRWjiuqKCtj6MTKUpb6Q0bTkGtjeI6rl6W_JM5VR-hPkWMLB/s320/634-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy<a href="http://mullocksauctions.co.uk/" target="_blank"> mullocksauctions.co.uk</a></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Continuing on, I toyed with the idea of metal for creel material. Tinsmiths could make almost anything imagined so it seem plausible. My research didn't turn up a datable example, so I continued on with my quest. Never say never as I recently discovered what may be a rare tinplate (or zinc?) creel from the mid to late 19th century. I'm no expert but its potbellied form is undeniably classic and combined with the construction details, screams "early". Hmmm, maybe another future project ?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAFtP9-uQZ79FOtaSQP1Kn7PJZ0PTFEOYwhvpvioAqjmSqlI75xCAD1Qj8LDX8L5tPDafo-dHrliIsctqRvGYpXNlDB4CxlkKWiXNp1q9-atP2kfRjE4-mRJRcc6cuGMvGmB44hYyaG_5/s1600/tin+creel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAFtP9-uQZ79FOtaSQP1Kn7PJZ0PTFEOYwhvpvioAqjmSqlI75xCAD1Qj8LDX8L5tPDafo-dHrliIsctqRvGYpXNlDB4CxlkKWiXNp1q9-atP2kfRjE4-mRJRcc6cuGMvGmB44hYyaG_5/s320/tin+creel.jpg" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Sheet Metal Creel, Unknown Age</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"> Image Courtesy <a href="http://collectorsweekly.com/">collectorsweekly.com</a></span></b><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I finally decided to reproduce a basket creel. Many early 19th century angler's guide books describe creels as baskets and the earliest photographic and print evidence supports their popularity as well. I know that center hole basket creels have been around at least since the 17th century. Robert Venable's book "The Experienc'd Angler", published in 1662, shows one in its front piece illustration seen below.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIjZIFx61oPDpdX9WVRyGrOxUJYBKtL-zkCL-L67ybtAHw4a8ohTq2fvtYLk7xK8KCXma5EIQp3Sm2iB8pWw5JTuIutVaDL3EsXZoITO-WEYgTrKhCviTN2iz2vC-As6VxqDGrRKtEj-K/s1600/Venables7398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIjZIFx61oPDpdX9WVRyGrOxUJYBKtL-zkCL-L67ybtAHw4a8ohTq2fvtYLk7xK8KCXma5EIQp3Sm2iB8pWw5JTuIutVaDL3EsXZoITO-WEYgTrKhCviTN2iz2vC-As6VxqDGrRKtEj-K/s640/Venables7398.jpg" width="369" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-size: small;">Image Source Unknown</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Centuries later the popularity of baskets as creels continued as seen in the print below.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnLsYr9KVi0H900k39xgzht0-3FVm0lML15jxhWUryG-XWAo9HgIqCweGCISNRj9IIRyzuLpjHVSW3lD67CvSYIN5n-ObGfy-nhq58MkvgrL9VSWXWE_BigYIsC27C_hd0EnuHiPkKJ4D/s1600/Antique-Angling-Print-of-Fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnLsYr9KVi0H900k39xgzht0-3FVm0lML15jxhWUryG-XWAo9HgIqCweGCISNRj9IIRyzuLpjHVSW3lD67CvSYIN5n-ObGfy-nhq58MkvgrL9VSWXWE_BigYIsC27C_hd0EnuHiPkKJ4D/s640/Antique-Angling-Print-of-Fishing.jpg" width="404" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">1831 "Implements for Fishing" Print, Note the Creel at Top</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> Image source unknown </b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Some of the most appealing 19th century basket creels were made of finely split willow and according to some accounts, many of the earliest were French in origin. Later imitations of French creels were apparently produced in Japan. Imitation or not, they are beautifully made and way beyond my skill level to reproduce.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXW9BdwzAwLzAnn24HMV8ulxruj58rn24nw8u5wrCfK7gF0zbAsW3BqtYywpz0E1ceHMBRPpcUPgu-j7BB9mWogip44WaaHaKAz3cTV-Pdj560xJTLh5u3QzLQp7ltGCLGcMaGxuER70D/s1600/fb2cfeaad988e114839e69470e67affa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXW9BdwzAwLzAnn24HMV8ulxruj58rn24nw8u5wrCfK7gF0zbAsW3BqtYywpz0E1ceHMBRPpcUPgu-j7BB9mWogip44WaaHaKAz3cTV-Pdj560xJTLh5u3QzLQp7ltGCLGcMaGxuER70D/s400/fb2cfeaad988e114839e69470e67affa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">A Classic Early Split Willow Creel</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b>Image source unknown</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93YLXrC9EZgLTCyRkWiYlbw4FT_75kxJ32IZB4q4g4ux5voaqhIFl0Op3nZHDU5cTwCC4iWa4NRhse3Ql2Wdvmm8GKlwppbDy4eTuLgbvGWs7uinUnM1hIvd6naonvGyPkkPHn66MBKT0/s1600/salf%2520anglers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93YLXrC9EZgLTCyRkWiYlbw4FT_75kxJ32IZB4q4g4ux5voaqhIFl0Op3nZHDU5cTwCC4iWa4NRhse3Ql2Wdvmm8GKlwppbDy4eTuLgbvGWs7uinUnM1hIvd6naonvGyPkkPHn66MBKT0/s400/salf%2520anglers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Mid-19th Century English Angler's Club</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> Note the Variety of Basket Creels</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> When I finally turned up a little less refined 19th century willow creel, I felt there was hope for my reproduction project to continue. Apparently, not all creels were works of art. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhls6XQ4RlERRW7pFQ0r-S-wSqZ1rGpAyadhdc2-GtD-9CADy-WEdhOvqbK4ECY-qcIcQTKByC9BYNPWYxluV7mcY4QJVFWnUzr5jnjneIejYy4y4oWbT7mSNK1MkhVyzYL4MvwOgMoPGAZ/s1600/1172228708_461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhls6XQ4RlERRW7pFQ0r-S-wSqZ1rGpAyadhdc2-GtD-9CADy-WEdhOvqbK4ECY-qcIcQTKByC9BYNPWYxluV7mcY4QJVFWnUzr5jnjneIejYy4y4oWbT7mSNK1MkhVyzYL4MvwOgMoPGAZ/s400/1172228708_461.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Early English Willow Creel</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> Image Courtesy <a href="http://mullocksauctions.co.uk/">mullocksauctions.co.uk</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> All I was left to do was locate a source for the proper willows and a pattern for a creel. Just that. I lucked out when I discovered Bonnie Gale's <a href="http://www.englishbasketrywillows.com/" target="_blank">English Basketry Willows</a>. Not only did Bonnie sell the exact willows I needed for the project, she also offered a beautiful basic creel pattern seen below.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheumOiRejZXd94_rystHgmCKzqx25_lRr4MPbfZqkGuGczS_pVC2JG37sQMsKldaf9nyzlW7Hcg8AXDEvyjjxd5ty_6sNBx5kR723b4Z70XfqGVV_nN2e47CppqPzy-ajaeq5aDkTuJ9CF/s1600/Fishing_Creel_450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheumOiRejZXd94_rystHgmCKzqx25_lRr4MPbfZqkGuGczS_pVC2JG37sQMsKldaf9nyzlW7Hcg8AXDEvyjjxd5ty_6sNBx5kR723b4Z70XfqGVV_nN2e47CppqPzy-ajaeq5aDkTuJ9CF/s400/Fishing_Creel_450.jpg" width="322" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I figured the pattern would give me the basic form and I could amend as I built the creel to get closer to the pot-bellied shape. That was the "plan" at least. After the willows arrived in a very l-o-n-g bundle, I did a little experimenting to discover what I had gotten myself into. The willows have to be soaked to be pliable but not too long mind you. Too long and they get all mooshy. They needed to be just right. After their soaking and while they are waiting to be woven, you wrap them in a damp towel to keep them pliable. Good thing we have two bathrooms, as the only place that I could soak the willows, was in my bathtub.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> First I needed to grade the willows by size and make some choices on weave designs. Bonnie's pattern was awesome but in truth, I had no idea what I was doing. That's never stopped me before and so armed with excellent instructions, I plunged ahead. One thing I learned right off was that you need to have strong fingers, about five more than nature provides. You also need room to swing the willows around as you weave. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I'm pretty happy with the way my beginner basket / creel turned out but I can almost hear Bonnie saying, "your third one will be even better".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b> Front view</b> of my finished English Willow "Pot - Bellied" Creel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> Back view</b> showing the hanging ring seen on early examples. Note also the curved</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> shape to hug your hip and the holes for the strap</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> Side view </b>showing the narrow profile</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxl_W-7nzfsV0774DoLWmntRkLmQJnelCL08YS6A0jNomp98HLooahDpEI-yxRmd8LDthhMED6CZRNokkaZ2oucEKOFf_K14jPvtELpANQjxQl4MgImyvrnKTnZsI9OT_kophmkvDi5tp/s1600/crl+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxl_W-7nzfsV0774DoLWmntRkLmQJnelCL08YS6A0jNomp98HLooahDpEI-yxRmd8LDthhMED6CZRNokkaZ2oucEKOFf_K14jPvtELpANQjxQl4MgImyvrnKTnZsI9OT_kophmkvDi5tp/s320/crl+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> Top view</b> showing the detail of the latch pin</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjyv0PVwA79Ty0jmbRb2i9W53AjGm5PfZ2eh_BTPyUo7F7lQXYyUzSbeuVO3yUNt8EBQfHkgBaIAFQQmrSrlRkpkdy6lN53yXdAWZ1mfI4xNWroMSM5HmBWW-pMqeGZEetwSpkDwgT-cB/s1600/crl+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjyv0PVwA79Ty0jmbRb2i9W53AjGm5PfZ2eh_BTPyUo7F7lQXYyUzSbeuVO3yUNt8EBQfHkgBaIAFQQmrSrlRkpkdy6lN53yXdAWZ1mfI4xNWroMSM5HmBWW-pMqeGZEetwSpkDwgT-cB/s320/crl+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> Inside view</b> showing construction details</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> What.......no fish ? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b> Thanks for looking !</b></span><br />
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<br />Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-63921289190564354122013-07-16T05:34:00.001-07:002013-07-17T05:40:13.806-07:00More 19th Century Angling or Tackling Obscure Tackle I lucked out recently and won a piece of early 19th century tackle known as a Clearing Ring, on an online auction. I recognized it from the illustration in T. F. Salter's 1823 "The Angler's Guide". It's a simple device designed to unsnag your line when it's caught on some underwater obstacle. Apparently snagged lines have been plaguing anglers since there's been anglers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RgsMFHp9I8JXsfDQa4QlX5pf4iwauboKCrkE2QecdyUvh_39_XHb4NVCHGUwaxUDFvD9Uyvmpr2Oa7_ju4RKUtNld00J_7iKox-2tTz9c6VDcj9JOeU6V4TLRT5RYaTDfVmTa6mp4HnZ/s1600/salteranglers6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RgsMFHp9I8JXsfDQa4QlX5pf4iwauboKCrkE2QecdyUvh_39_XHb4NVCHGUwaxUDFvD9Uyvmpr2Oa7_ju4RKUtNld00J_7iKox-2tTz9c6VDcj9JOeU6V4TLRT5RYaTDfVmTa6mp4HnZ/s400/salteranglers6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Original Illustration from T.F. Salter's "The Angler's Guide"</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Note the Clearing Ring on the right </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">and the Disgorger </span></strong></td></tr>
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The way it works is pretty straight forward. Once your line has snagged, you pop-up the latch on the top of the ring and open it up. With your rod at an angle, you place the ring over it and close the latch. By dipping the rod down and letting out the ring's tether cord, the ring descends off the rod and over your line. By its weight, it will continue to slide on down to the snag and hopefully, with a couple of tugs on the tether, free the snag.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUvq9hJi8dKeuFTlCxwU6PaBlkgueulpQrQE5iDdcWRPx4cW3KlY3G7j7-aTC8V9gtKt-AKyBFXxABQ04CYvhjr8G2EZgw18VVDRctXIpa949Gq1FT7ezEsJ1dmk-k3OyudZqqZzmPTfB/s1600/IMG_3642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUvq9hJi8dKeuFTlCxwU6PaBlkgueulpQrQE5iDdcWRPx4cW3KlY3G7j7-aTC8V9gtKt-AKyBFXxABQ04CYvhjr8G2EZgw18VVDRctXIpa949Gq1FT7ezEsJ1dmk-k3OyudZqqZzmPTfB/s400/IMG_3642.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Original Clearing Ring</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">photos by author</span></strong></td></tr>
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From my research, it appears that most of the original Clearing Rings were made of brass. Salter even called it a brass Clearing Ring. I was determined to make a replica for my own use but having a foundry cast the parts in brass was beyond my budget. Instead, I opted for a bi-metal version that would still function and look the part. Over the years, I've had pretty good luck casting linotype metal in a plaster mold and having the orignal Ring to mold from, made it almost easy. For the latch mechanism though, I decided to go with brass for its toughness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYoKCuqjwC0KbHQtNAkmSOVNtLb8bg8doBTVZ__wQ9LArbSSCsfO7z2TMUE73aZos4c3eoIHq3Z514swBorlJa0Sabr4gt66B6lneIabBmWmVM-_EANvDckPzuBNlFKGP7DQhw9JzJ4pC/s1600/IMG_3641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYoKCuqjwC0KbHQtNAkmSOVNtLb8bg8doBTVZ__wQ9LArbSSCsfO7z2TMUE73aZos4c3eoIHq3Z514swBorlJa0Sabr4gt66B6lneIabBmWmVM-_EANvDckPzuBNlFKGP7DQhw9JzJ4pC/s400/IMG_3641.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Replica Clearing Ring and Thumb Winder</strong></span></td></tr>
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Along with the Ring, I needed to secure the tether line to some sort of spool. The original Clearing Ring I purchased, used an old float for a winder. As cool as that was I decided to make what Salter called a Thumb Winder. Basically, it's a wooden spool that spins on your thumb. Is that fun or what ? I turned my Winder out of a piece of birch that I had laying around. After it came off the lathe, I carefully drilled the hole through, big enough for my fat thumb. A little stain and some burnishing and it was ready for service. For the tether, I chose a strong hemp cord.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9kLDVx5JaUJvPZtpNMRN6OAlvcfWMGbtSsv6Khc0il503r6wVfVDPicHl7lPavJ5DDBxoDtI5MGD_G4bXaydDxl5P7v1VrKBkMgplXLvCo9B9HYvOjDK80XF6ZHIjZ7ZWAirZhJshL7i/s1600/$T2eC16N,!zQE9s3srYOoBRDqk4DgCQ~~60_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9kLDVx5JaUJvPZtpNMRN6OAlvcfWMGbtSsv6Khc0il503r6wVfVDPicHl7lPavJ5DDBxoDtI5MGD_G4bXaydDxl5P7v1VrKBkMgplXLvCo9B9HYvOjDK80XF6ZHIjZ7ZWAirZhJshL7i/s320/$T2eC16N,!zQE9s3srYOoBRDqk4DgCQ~~60_1.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">An Original Bone Disgorger</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Online source unknown</span></strong></td></tr>
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Just before I launched into the Clearing Ring project, I carved a bone disgorger ala Salter from an 8" bone folder that I purchased online. So there you go, a couple of fun projects and more period gear in my cluttered creel. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPggjn0SLHyTkKezDulIW2CXtItgf29E4entluhBx_3t3G9FyCKsl_MPzlZbASDA3Om2m4r31iHxrZmZ5yzw3U2YpW0o7eJlzHGnBmlgLVWeIBVfkeWDrLhyphenhyphen_ir4GF-xCAxxUs-iV8Tsq/s1600/IMG_3640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPggjn0SLHyTkKezDulIW2CXtItgf29E4entluhBx_3t3G9FyCKsl_MPzlZbASDA3Om2m4r31iHxrZmZ5yzw3U2YpW0o7eJlzHGnBmlgLVWeIBVfkeWDrLhyphenhyphen_ir4GF-xCAxxUs-iV8Tsq/s320/IMG_3640.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Bone Disgorger ala Salter</strong></span></td></tr>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-70708971525728062872013-06-12T10:19:00.000-07:002017-04-04T17:29:00.184-07:00Making a Working Model of Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin My wife's consuming interest in history rivals mine at times and her latest endeavor is a good case in point. She is currently raising a mini-crop of naturally colored organic cotton to learn about the plant and its product.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNGQS6B62E2RU1jZYKyifb8zM9Go90s7eTmGxwSSA1dG96dTY_ODhcShoh2bMN5tlmyuIANRJr_jTcgXrveTwQD_YEpTFTwKuOwMAeLKNPVh4U1jkfOWzwcHR_PIQLuXANTWP19tlnYbl/s1600/IMG_3545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNGQS6B62E2RU1jZYKyifb8zM9Go90s7eTmGxwSSA1dG96dTY_ODhcShoh2bMN5tlmyuIANRJr_jTcgXrveTwQD_YEpTFTwKuOwMAeLKNPVh4U1jkfOWzwcHR_PIQLuXANTWP19tlnYbl/s400/IMG_3545.jpg" width="300" xya="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Some of Lindy's Cotton, Day 67</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Lindy Miller 2013</span></b></td></tr>
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Further along into this project she hopes to become a good cotton spinner as well. Since cotton comes with seeds mixed in the fibers, my part in all this is to build her a working model of Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin .That way, she can process her anticipated cotton bolls with historic flair and eventually do demonstrations as well. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAggidICVmoi9id3czfWVA8OEAu61H2zFRoF_7BPd2oEqtD3Yc2A9bRHi2n0vjwWNEueMpeweolsUU4t-1EgubDqe9Jo1t6hUl2nfc5HzhR6In-Irw6qeNQZz5uhpmMSdbtWTQvna5KvjG/s1600/439px-Patent_for_Cotton_Gin_(1794)_-_hi_res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAggidICVmoi9id3czfWVA8OEAu61H2zFRoF_7BPd2oEqtD3Yc2A9bRHi2n0vjwWNEueMpeweolsUU4t-1EgubDqe9Jo1t6hUl2nfc5HzhR6In-Irw6qeNQZz5uhpmMSdbtWTQvna5KvjG/s400/439px-Patent_for_Cotton_Gin_(1794)_-_hi_res.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Patent Drawing for Eli Whitney's</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Cotton Gin</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy en.wikipedia.org</span></td></tr>
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Patented in 1794, the Cotton Gin in retrospect has a dark side to its history. Before its invention, cotton seeds had to be laboriously removed from the fiber by hand. In general, this time-consuming process held back any large scale production of cotton until Whitney's revolutionary machine arrived. <br />
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Once mechanical ginning was established, cotton production soared in the South. Some historians today name the Cotton Gin as the root cause of the Civil War. I think that's a bit of a stretch but it did play a part in the expansion of slavery even though it was intended to reduce labor.<br />
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In order to build a working model, I had to understand the basic function of the Gin. The three key elements in Whitney's design are the rotating claw-like hooks (that grab the cotton fiber), the slotted comb that they rotate through (the narrow width of the comb's spacing keeps the seeds from being pulled through by the hooks) and the rotating brushes that remove the seedless (ginned) fiber from the hooks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfwHje7L5Te3R-Gk7Qjy1Xb8REXLllECyFyHigYJk3L5wHVb3vVgddkTgfsXD3CwUSodKp9KpdCayJ5B_I0rrmg_Wx_zFYI1gBYw4TPj8THwzuqZesKbZgtfqUfqoJSRrLFKDHSxh1owV/s1600/eli-whitney-cotton-gin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfwHje7L5Te3R-Gk7Qjy1Xb8REXLllECyFyHigYJk3L5wHVb3vVgddkTgfsXD3CwUSodKp9KpdCayJ5B_I0rrmg_Wx_zFYI1gBYw4TPj8THwzuqZesKbZgtfqUfqoJSRrLFKDHSxh1owV/s320/eli-whitney-cotton-gin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Original Patent Model</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Note the Ginned Seeds in the Lower Front and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">the Cleaned Cotton in the Upper Rear</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy history.com</span></td></tr>
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I started by studying the 1794 patent drawing but was disappointed to learn that the accompanying description is unavailable. Two original models of the Gin have survived, one is the patent model and the other a later version used in the court battles against infringement. After studying the few pictures of the models online, I finally figured out the mysterious curved, springy comb that allows the ginned seeds to fall through.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc46IHHrZOPT0ytOeZPBmHpTvzRUPpAzndnNCfIGCQ8ZBUwDO9o-xbUr-964V0RURAgWFJD3N3uJKc155So5yJagisgNSDl6rnT5OoldBC72qUBxGcJOOfOBj-p0j9PIudP-tSsx2jfgsB/s1600/1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" cya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc46IHHrZOPT0ytOeZPBmHpTvzRUPpAzndnNCfIGCQ8ZBUwDO9o-xbUr-964V0RURAgWFJD3N3uJKc155So5yJagisgNSDl6rnT5OoldBC72qUBxGcJOOfOBj-p0j9PIudP-tSsx2jfgsB/s1600/1_1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Close-up View of Another Early Model </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Note the Hooks, Slotted Comb and Springy Wire Comb</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy of newsdesk.si.edu</span></td></tr>
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My first attempt at making a wooden drum with hooks was a dismal failure. I drove wire nails into a large dowel and cut them to length. After bending them all into directional hooks, it started to look pretty good. What I discovered was, the hooks tended to rotate, which doomed their chances of proper alignment with the all important comb. Whitney had used flat metal hooks but I didn't see myself cutting out a bazillion of those little things.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFqgIlxcPTtVIoNKH_tmiJSWPEkvpud_b3HdtGOUoaR-kzTGaiAbV9Dnk8_Qog2cvOjcPph2e6I2VD-Q9g56GrTtxagwNc64TrPejl4mDBNiFvswd45Tj5GPFCLJpFJW8ApVkg9UxpGeY/s1600/IMG_3493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFqgIlxcPTtVIoNKH_tmiJSWPEkvpud_b3HdtGOUoaR-kzTGaiAbV9Dnk8_Qog2cvOjcPph2e6I2VD-Q9g56GrTtxagwNc64TrPejl4mDBNiFvswd45Tj5GPFCLJpFJW8ApVkg9UxpGeY/s320/IMG_3493.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My Version of the Hook Drum</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Photos Courtesy Lindy Miller</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2013</span></td></tr>
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Instead, I created little circular saws in sheet steel similar to what was used in a later patent improvement by Hogden Holmes. In order to build up a cylinder, I sandwiched my little sawblades between discs of 3/8" plywood. Once stacked, I ran two small steel rods through on either side of center and riveted their ends over washers. I squared the center shaft hole by driving a piece of 1/4" square stock through the existing 1/4" round hole. The finished drum turned out to be about 4 3/4" long by 3" in diameter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxcaPD2EL_Cv_vtz0ADheJzRUnVFBM_FVl1aav8dySTiptkHLNZdihF6OX9Q_q3MvG6h5u61XkJ8yEtmre2uHUcVaEwR-cA4_gg_eg8k9giSTvjyxtXJWhSOPuEO4Qs3eAaCDhZh2BNvY/s1600/IMG_3500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxcaPD2EL_Cv_vtz0ADheJzRUnVFBM_FVl1aav8dySTiptkHLNZdihF6OX9Q_q3MvG6h5u61XkJ8yEtmre2uHUcVaEwR-cA4_gg_eg8k9giSTvjyxtXJWhSOPuEO4Qs3eAaCDhZh2BNvY/s320/IMG_3500.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>View From the Top</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Showing Hook Drum in Place, Spring Comb</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">and One Brush Section</span></b></td></tr>
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The rotating drum is the heart of the machine and everything else is built around it. I constructed the housing box of 1" x 6" #2 pine and sized the inside to accomodate the length of the drum. I could only guess at the overall size of the box as this was quickly becoming a design as-you-go project. Next came cutting out the steel comb, which had to be curved to hug the drum but still allow the free motion of the hooks.<br />
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The rotating brush drum was created using a 2" dowel and four sawed out sections of a new scrub brush. Little by little, it was starting to come together. The previously mentioned curved, spring comb thingy had to angle into the rotating hook drum at such a degree to cradle the raw cotton. I made mine removable as that's what the orignal model appears to have.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9Q430dCVOpPxDNPGlprLR5E1oxegTDRF8VNkXl2AYHTMyQgw_M6ka3sBiNfDT8CMqGKrmYPy_7YyLHp6qPMflbIatYHw9Hw3RxCo4bKyZYCd0Lw5ztkprGxsbB2rDkbfluelQRm7pz08/s1600/IMG_3513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9Q430dCVOpPxDNPGlprLR5E1oxegTDRF8VNkXl2AYHTMyQgw_M6ka3sBiNfDT8CMqGKrmYPy_7YyLHp6qPMflbIatYHw9Hw3RxCo4bKyZYCd0Lw5ztkprGxsbB2rDkbfluelQRm7pz08/s400/IMG_3513.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Finished Model Cotton Gin</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Showing the Completed Brush Drum and Pulleys</span></b></td></tr>
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Last but not least was the crank handle (mounted on the hook drum shaft) on one side and the two pulleys on the other. The ratio of my pulleys is approximately 2.5 to 1. For a belt, I used a rubber band and twisted it in the middle to reverse the direction of the brush drum pulley as per the orignal design.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6BOOmN_rPHDSK-np6nT_Ew8O8_NpZLjkMReamTK93lcwafAU7oWmLU9klyU0B97XuNEpafSL_zIEI-z-lj-E56XHca9ejXOEd7i87OfD_MGgrC-Vde_k4-jHikEqXNNC_mGDRroDRnvs/s1600/IMG_3512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6BOOmN_rPHDSK-np6nT_Ew8O8_NpZLjkMReamTK93lcwafAU7oWmLU9klyU0B97XuNEpafSL_zIEI-z-lj-E56XHca9ejXOEd7i87OfD_MGgrC-Vde_k4-jHikEqXNNC_mGDRroDRnvs/s400/IMG_3512.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>View From the Other Side</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Showing the Crank and Slotted Comb</span></b></td></tr>
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Now came the test. Luckily, my wife had some unginned cotton bolls so we didn't have to wait months for her crop to mature. Cranking away, it made this great primitive machine noise and the best part was.....................the darn thing WORKED and................. my wife is happy. Mission accomplished !<br />
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<strong> To see a demonstration of the model, use the link below to go to Youtube:</strong><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPPfFHF7nvg" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr></wbr>v=QPPfFHF7nvg</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>If you would like to build this working model, you can purchase a complete plan from us on Ebay. Just search Ebay for Cotton Gin Plan.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-22879733106188486342013-05-08T11:33:00.000-07:002013-05-13T06:08:24.008-07:00Making a Spectacle "for" Myself, A Revisit to 17th Century America Once apon a time I was quite the collector of old stuff. Apparently I had more disposable income back then or antiques were more affordable. Much of my accumilation focused on early to mid 19th century personal items like men's clothing and accessories. One of my favorite accessory catagories was historical eyewear. I still have a nice, small collection of spectacles including the oldest pair I could every find or afford, circa mid-18th century. Spectacles have been around for 700 years but the further back you go, the rarer and pricier they become.<br />
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Lately I've been interested in the kinds of spectacles that might have been worn in 1600's Colonial America. With auction prices around $3,000.00 to $4,000.00 for early Nuremberg wire or leather nose-bow spectacles, it's pretty certain they won't find their way into my humble collection. Oh darn !! But then, would I deny myself the fun of replicating a pair ?....... not likely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4k4Vb0jiAKqhRJNXLQc8-4Zyq1rDk4C2QhwA7Wfabtj8oReLUIu8nRHPByRSyeGlbcHcWDC0_8ZDDLbLIPu-jgkaOMIoD2eo4p9Lw8xS_USy2m1_uLCPLv-pWtCEVyqPpK5yQkIMUME6C/s320/$(KGrHqV,!o8FEJtgd2JGBRNN)n))0!~~60_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="306" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">A Sweet Pair of Nuremberg Wire Nose Specs</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"> From a Recent Online Auction</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"> $3,000.00 + !!</span></strong></td></tr>
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Every successful project begins with research and luckily I have a few good books on the subject. "A Spectacle of Spectacles", Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung Jena 1988, has some nice representative replica pairs. Pierre Marly's "Spectacles & Spyglasses" 1988, documents many 17th century nose besicles in whalebone, horn and brass wire. "Eyeglass Retrospective", Nancy Schiffer 2000, has a whole page devoted to 17th century leather frames. Most of them appear to be rather crudely made but I have seen more carefully crafted examples, like the one below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRunPhZ8NCkZ1XMIUDBRcf9Wv83uhwL7ipSBzMIDwouosFYYbqO7wJIu9WpvXaisIdzE5sJ1XfXhw56VAtcMT4YpaDkDHwp2TxLGKrNmqMxQpfWfoAtUmh6VfgsKZlJqe1Yk2NeS1ulcO/s1600/1999_1416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRunPhZ8NCkZ1XMIUDBRcf9Wv83uhwL7ipSBzMIDwouosFYYbqO7wJIu9WpvXaisIdzE5sJ1XfXhw56VAtcMT4YpaDkDHwp2TxLGKrNmqMxQpfWfoAtUmh6VfgsKZlJqe1Yk2NeS1ulcO/s400/1999_1416.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>A Nice Original Leather Pair With Green Lenses</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Source Unknown</span></strong></td></tr>
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An amazing opportunity for studying leather spectacles, is in the recovered cargo from what is known as the Gnalic shipwreck. Lost in a storm in 1583, near the rocky islet of Gnalic,south of Croatia, archaeologist began recovering its cargo in 1967. Included in that recovery, were 20 boxes of Nuremberg type leather spectacles in an amazing state of preservation. Each box contained 12 pairs, which greatly increased the number of know surviving examples in the entire world.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJSvtEOymGEghTvaTg2uaTAGAZRPVEmwDPnXKqpDPdBLmXgrnGR_pUQPRE7rYXqppBpHqkzr924KZv1FBCHlB7iOFGn44B2N7ccBzlx3i49XiakT3DQH3Aaw8m7QHN3WEWH_Zwuo4eCej/s1600/Gnalic+1583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJSvtEOymGEghTvaTg2uaTAGAZRPVEmwDPnXKqpDPdBLmXgrnGR_pUQPRE7rYXqppBpHqkzr924KZv1FBCHlB7iOFGn44B2N7ccBzlx3i49XiakT3DQH3Aaw8m7QHN3WEWH_Zwuo4eCej/s400/Gnalic+1583.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Treasure from the Sea</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.nauticalarch.org/" target="_blank">The Institute of Nautical Archaeology</a></span></strong></td></tr>
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Today there are some pretty awesome online resources for studying spectacle history. One recent discovery that I've been revisiting is "<a href="http://antiquespectacles.com/" target="_blank">The Online Museum and Encyclopedia of Vision Aids".</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PcbLbd8ml6EvStX5ticp5AwGJBi7bIip9W5Mzn-ykYoGvJvjuaU3uT5oqwA6yc7gztvK0eazoYzKZLOhJFKL3kRUvgCVZxgS101nsctqtYrl5Sx1gcYJXEJr3ZM3b9JWyOjRmkldmmVG/s1600/masterpiece.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">German Masterpiece Spectacles</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">The Inspiration for My Case</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">The British College of Optometrists</span></strong></td></tr>
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I finally decided on replicating a pretty typical leather Nose Bow Spectacle that might have originated in Germany (or what would become Germany) in the 17th century but made its way to America. For the leather I chose vegetable tanned cowhide, approx. 4mm thick. First I used a 1 1/4" punch to knock out the circles that would accept the lenses. Luckily, I had some vintage lenses that worked as "readers" for my weak eyes. To cut out the outside shape of the frames, I used a No. 11 xacto and carefully followed my pencil marks. The lens holes were slightly smaller than my lenses and that tension kept them in place. I then dampened the leather and molded it nicely around the lens edge. When you carefully study the Gnalic specs, it appears that they might have been two pieces of leather,sandwiched together but I'm no expert.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkp-XL93ILhyphenhyphen_IcO4Qm6c6mZHLh5LBelehCV9YVOw3jyJ8wxsaVScvxwRQTkat0xXf5Z22zgFf2-UPA-miLAp2-liZaMpB43snep6vxSAcpnIgucdX6keSeJKDxnt2R03vQk4NzBcj0bQ/s1600/IMG_3300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkp-XL93ILhyphenhyphen_IcO4Qm6c6mZHLh5LBelehCV9YVOw3jyJ8wxsaVScvxwRQTkat0xXf5Z22zgFf2-UPA-miLAp2-liZaMpB43snep6vxSAcpnIgucdX6keSeJKDxnt2R03vQk4NzBcj0bQ/s320/IMG_3300.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Case Closed</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Author 2013</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Note the Stapled Hinge Pins and Hook</span></strong></td></tr>
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The case I decided on was a simple wooden version with some typical features that I had seen in several original examples. I found that wire loop-pin hinges and a simple wire hook closure suited my needs. For the body, pine seemed like a good choice for carving because it's a common wood that's easy to work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBItApBNfjdkOPDruN_OGlOZOgjp852zPnxR69GJy8y2fAra6kf4Fix4QbzrVps3PL1YQsfu_WRZQXxufrSV4u5lt4S-xwF-IOVaeJbYFgXNYT4cLgK142gLSa-nHLziA1vv6MM8LLqlSn/s1600/IMG_3302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBItApBNfjdkOPDruN_OGlOZOgjp852zPnxR69GJy8y2fAra6kf4Fix4QbzrVps3PL1YQsfu_WRZQXxufrSV4u5lt4S-xwF-IOVaeJbYFgXNYT4cLgK142gLSa-nHLziA1vv6MM8LLqlSn/s400/IMG_3302.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I couldn't resist the look of the marbled paper for a lining. This shows my replica leather specs inside their case.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzU-X6hGzO0MM7j98KIE9zeoopX7913k8SBt9LAhj-wULi9t2D1okeENgfZ9U8eHFqjthyphenhyphenJmOkLA3VEkI3G23W3Nh0mZAZWu71FCloSxMNp1_RNrlF662w5lXg7osmeJJw9Wp_bOfFcHKX/s1600/IMG_3308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzU-X6hGzO0MM7j98KIE9zeoopX7913k8SBt9LAhj-wULi9t2D1okeENgfZ9U8eHFqjthyphenhyphenJmOkLA3VEkI3G23W3Nh0mZAZWu71FCloSxMNp1_RNrlF662w5lXg7osmeJJw9Wp_bOfFcHKX/s400/IMG_3308.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>And Outside Their Case</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5nlZTOhR1gpL7fXRmt7NulGIL6HWaMqNjtleD1Udt0OQrxESQRBnSRTfqxGJ085xwbK6huDTIsjt6d9c2g8wQFhr_1O_qIUlspgWYifKBbj0Me-agLE73b-7DCw9RST1l14zsiNFjBih/s1600/IMG_3303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" mwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5nlZTOhR1gpL7fXRmt7NulGIL6HWaMqNjtleD1Udt0OQrxESQRBnSRTfqxGJ085xwbK6huDTIsjt6d9c2g8wQFhr_1O_qIUlspgWYifKBbj0Me-agLE73b-7DCw9RST1l14zsiNFjBih/s400/IMG_3303.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Thanks for looking !</strong></span></td></tr>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-19293222369142466612013-05-05T08:41:00.000-07:002013-05-09T08:44:33.064-07:00Eureka Moments Revisited, Part 7, A Gold Rush Gun Rig for a Colt Navy When I recently aquired an Uberti 1851 Colt Navy, it occured to me that the belt and holster that I made for it might make an interesting blog posting. This story starts several years ago, when I was researching the common use of web belts and military style buckles in Gold Rush California.<br />
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Stamped or cast brass tongue and wreath (aka spoon and wreath) buckles are fairly common artifacts found in gold rush camp sites. I have several friends with large and varied collections, which is strong evidence of their popular use in the period. Dagguereian scholars consider them a key element when trying to identify "Gold Rush" portraits. In fact, it was one of those incredible, documented images that actually inspired this project.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wiQzesjEnXZ1FNBjiUrDkfRT1Qamo23bpkXeIe2Yb04W-ihhv9GDz9I9pQnSMGwL0m3PCc69KN_q6Z7MLPyohzRzgbb6tP_NR3UUwp4foD21QEPxiDPVSCgfQwkk478lrnywkj28LBaN/s1600/k4073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wiQzesjEnXZ1FNBjiUrDkfRT1Qamo23bpkXeIe2Yb04W-ihhv9GDz9I9pQnSMGwL0m3PCc69KN_q6Z7MLPyohzRzgbb6tP_NR3UUwp4foD21QEPxiDPVSCgfQwkk478lrnywkj28LBaN/s640/k4073.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Cowan's Auction</span></strong></td></tr>
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What I love about this image is how it captures the spirit of the age. These guys knew they were making history and proudly left us a record of their part in it. I feel that the buckle on his belt is likely a stamped brass version, possibly Taussig - Pollack & Co., San Francisco, similar to the example below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdI-mxFWFzwy7hu5G4YOzTpcUo3g2g6eLhYx1M_75x6-8bV6nVgy_nY-QghxYohyphenhyphenZvu9dZSOaPsYVlse3rShv4hwSS_INYBmEn3Ub5fx1uo1pmA8K987kXT_4bQOlTCpGdpD83QozF8fT/s1600/imagesCA18XJNA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdI-mxFWFzwy7hu5G4YOzTpcUo3g2g6eLhYx1M_75x6-8bV6nVgy_nY-QghxYohyphenhyphenZvu9dZSOaPsYVlse3rShv4hwSS_INYBmEn3Ub5fx1uo1pmA8K987kXT_4bQOlTCpGdpD83QozF8fT/s1600/imagesCA18XJNA.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy of</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">findmall.com</span></strong></td></tr>
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The belt in the image appears to be made of webbing and a clue to it's actual weave and color came from an associated artifact that I had previously blogged about. The contemporary "gold porter" below, has what looks like the same webbing to join the two buckskin halves of the vest, as you can see in the picture. The most compelling evidence that it's the same webbing, comes from the historic record that Taussig - Pollack & Co. were selling gold porters in San Francisco. The only flaw in my theory is that the original porter below is unmarked.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XNTRZt6ErA2F6YVZbtObX7cRUQXYql_vyXRxESklEcQ2vlX2xDgaorcex-BelSm7Ep2ifvmeMkgaUoI7cGUVfyWSGZN_V-ild2vb5oVVnqynEehYgFcffxoQ57o2iNw2O3_uTfdRBVHv/s1600/100_1526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XNTRZt6ErA2F6YVZbtObX7cRUQXYql_vyXRxESklEcQ2vlX2xDgaorcex-BelSm7Ep2ifvmeMkgaUoI7cGUVfyWSGZN_V-ild2vb5oVVnqynEehYgFcffxoQ57o2iNw2O3_uTfdRBVHv/s320/100_1526.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Photo by Lindy Miller</strong></span></td></tr>
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With this evidence, I proceeded to make a facsimile of a classic miner's web belt and buckle. The buckle was the easy part as <a href="http://www.hanoverbrass.com/" target="_blank">Hanover Brass</a> has been casting copies of Gold Rush buckles for years. The belt on the other hand, would take some thought. I knew I wasn't going to weave a belt from scratch but instead settled on dyeing modern cotton webbing that had a similar pronounced woven pattern. After the webbing was dyed a dark indigo blue, I picked-out the woven threads along its borders to make room for the two white stripes. I carefully wove white cotton cord back into the webbing to simulate the stripes of the original. All in all, it didn't turn out too bad. To improve the overall appearance of the belt, I applied another length of dyed webbing to the back to hide where my white stitches came through.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVKkUKlBeG1a04Ft6mO2ticjC7y4jywhSQmOcxzHTSq_Dm-_ZCDIM1PsK-5bkTU3RG0KGcskxzslnRJGrAlEPZtKjXiuBvjHnIYzSUSmxgFDSDqAePm9DoNNOkToPSEToIP9GtWntEeWB/s1600/IMG_3290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVKkUKlBeG1a04Ft6mO2ticjC7y4jywhSQmOcxzHTSq_Dm-_ZCDIM1PsK-5bkTU3RG0KGcskxzslnRJGrAlEPZtKjXiuBvjHnIYzSUSmxgFDSDqAePm9DoNNOkToPSEToIP9GtWntEeWB/s400/IMG_3290.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Facsimile Belt and Reproduction Buckle</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by Author 2013</span></strong></td></tr>
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After I made a brass keeper slide, I assembled the belt around the repro buckle. It's not a perfect replica but I consider it a good impression. Before I had started the belt part of the project, I had made what collectors call a "Slim Jim" (no relation) holster for the Colt Navy. Using origninal examples form Richard Rattenbury's classic book "Packing Iron" for the pattern, I made mine in veg tan leather, sewn with linen thread. I like the look of the straight throat on many documented examples (including the one in the daguerreotype above) and left mine unadorned as many of the earlier holsters appear to be. One last detail was to wet mold it to the revolver.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtScQHuhLVq9S8XRUxCdH6gURdDppkOAm2mDdlJqIZwYt2iietRTHrr5UEagIFUQ4c1yVivoipEEtka8p6h0Y0kad2rlF9-6AbpCGgsh8HBewdokEMTXTAZ0FUm3vpokvwh-msLEqI1DE/s1600/IMG_3285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtScQHuhLVq9S8XRUxCdH6gURdDppkOAm2mDdlJqIZwYt2iietRTHrr5UEagIFUQ4c1yVivoipEEtka8p6h0Y0kad2rlF9-6AbpCGgsh8HBewdokEMTXTAZ0FUm3vpokvwh-msLEqI1DE/s320/IMG_3285.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Photo by Author 2013</strong></span></td></tr>
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So there you have it. Now, if I choose, I can sport my shooting iron in a style not commonly seen today but very much a part of our California history.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-56137345269076697022013-04-25T19:50:00.001-07:002013-10-13T10:26:58.896-07:00I Never Knew I Could InspireWell, this certainly came out of the blue. Andrew of <a href="http://victoriantailor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Victorian Tailoring</a> has nominated me for The Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I am shocked. I never knew that I inspired anything except the wrath of the impatient. Thank you Andrew, you are one very inspiring self-taught tailor my friend. Keep it up !<br />
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To comply with the awarding process, you must<br />
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- Display the award and link back to the nominator<br />
- State 7 things about yourself<br />
- Nominate 15 bloggers to the award<br />
- Notify the winners<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5fpA2EpmLUM64pxI_B_s7DQB3dDoGLL8JJwLFCcCGoM_VwEnR9qnuHEeYSAC50KwrJyHEWLTMeoRu1_8S8cFT-u4e2aMJY9f2VhmRKLouDn4zgruumuufgAk__77ObEeMz42QSVSoOzE/s1600/very-inspiring-blogger-award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" lwa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5fpA2EpmLUM64pxI_B_s7DQB3dDoGLL8JJwLFCcCGoM_VwEnR9qnuHEeYSAC50KwrJyHEWLTMeoRu1_8S8cFT-u4e2aMJY9f2VhmRKLouDn4zgruumuufgAk__77ObEeMz42QSVSoOzE/s400/very-inspiring-blogger-award.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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1. I am a California native and love my State's </div>
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rich history and natural beauty.</div>
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2. When people ask me if there's anything I can't make</div>
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I reply, Yes.......money !</div>
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3. I'm happily married to a tolerant, like-minded woman.</div>
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4. I'm not really expert in anything but I do have a great </div>
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library.</div>
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5. I know a little bit about a lot of things.</div>
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6. I'll always be in awe of the accomplishments of our</div>
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forebearers.</div>
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7. The older I get the more I realize there's not enough </div>
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time.</div>
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My 15 nominees for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award are : </div>
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:</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<strong><a href="http://fishinghistory.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Fishing for History</a> </strong>Dr. Todd's entertaining look at out collective fishing heritage.</div>
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<strong><a href="http://commitmentocostumes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Commitment to Costumes</a> </strong>A visit to Sara's work as a Museum Professional but with tips on managing</div>
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a personal collection. Very helpful.</div>
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<strong><a href="http://robinseggbleu2.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Robin's Egg Bleu</a> </strong>If you are going to do one thing, then do it well. This lady's replica Izannah Walker</div>
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dolls are amazing. A total dedication to details.</div>
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<a href="http://theleatherworkingreverend.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"> </a><strong><a href="http://theleatherworkingreverend.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Reverend's Big Blog of Leather</a> </strong>Medieval and later leatherwork with more than the usual</div>
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"history nut" take on things. No surprise from the UK !</div>
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<strong><a href="http://thegoodwyfe.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ready to Wear ( 1640's style)</a> </strong>Just what it sounds like. The Vicar doesn't post often but when he does</div>
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it's always interesting. More fun from the UK !</div>
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<a href="http://woodrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> </a><strong><a href="http://woodrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Woodrunner's Diary</a> </strong>Keith has a very active 18th Century Living History blog from "down under". </div>
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Excellent research and lots of info.</div>
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<strong><a href="http://bearflagmuseum.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bear Flag Museum</a> </strong>Bill's very active blog on all things Bear Flag. Ties to his online Bear Flag</div>
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Museum. The ultimate source for those that need to know.</div>
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<strong><a href="http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Contemporary Makers</a> </strong>A great way to keep up-to-date with the best of historical arms craftsmen.</div>
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Lots of eye candy thanks to Jan.</div>
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<strong><a href="http://dressingthe1840s.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dressing the 1840's</a> </strong>My friend Chandra's pesonal devotion to "getting it right". In love with</div>
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the 1840's (give or take) and it shows.</div>
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<a href="http://frontiercarpenter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> </a><strong><a href="http://frontiercarpenter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Frontier Carpenter</a> </strong>Ron proves that the homegrown, carpenter/blacksmith of the past,is alive </div>
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and well today. Great work that has inspired me !</div>
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<strong><a href="http://villagecarpenter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Village Carpenter</a> </strong>Kari is amazing ! When I want to be inspired, I go visit what a truly gifted </div>
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woodworker is capable of.</div>
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<strong><a href="http://steamboatarabiamuseum.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Steamboat Arabia: A Historian's Blog</a> </strong>Elizabeth shares her affection for one of the greatest </div>
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treasures in America. The Steamboat Arabia Museum in Kansas City.</div>
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<strong><a href="http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/" target="_blank">Minstrel Banjo</a> </strong>Where early banjo geeks go to learn and share. All fun, with no fretting !</div>
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<strong><a href="http://pfollansbee.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Peter Follansbee, joiner's notes</a> </strong>17th Century joinery beautifully executed.</div>
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<strong> <a href="http://thevanburenboys.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Van Buren Boy's Blog</a> </strong>Documents a truly incredible project.</div>
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Thanks for looking !</div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-33924536348170745282013-03-14T18:05:00.000-07:002013-03-16T05:50:24.623-07:00How They Kept Their Clays Safe, Revisited I recently stumbled across an interesting example of an antique tin pipe case, on an online auction. You often see late 19th and early 20th century tin cases in the shape of the clay pipes they protect, but this one was different. Not only did it safely stow the pipe but housed the tobacco as well. There's even enough room in it for a match safe which suggests it might have been a sort of traveling smoker's kit. From the construction details, I would date it early to mid-19th century.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjTeB9DSw8Y4lMPloHu1O4EYNLCUEHJdIOHD9PDNgwGaw6O9IvaprMIP9qzhNptoSFFh7oROcqtaC_MV7uLas1pEmxRoDML7FYGi8W_8QA81XF4L3mdbX8vTRnuueZ-0I5XadTlJkb8yw/s1600/230924126414_7_0_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjTeB9DSw8Y4lMPloHu1O4EYNLCUEHJdIOHD9PDNgwGaw6O9IvaprMIP9qzhNptoSFFh7oROcqtaC_MV7uLas1pEmxRoDML7FYGi8W_8QA81XF4L3mdbX8vTRnuueZ-0I5XadTlJkb8yw/s320/230924126414_7_0_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture Source Online Auction</td></tr>
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The design is pretty straightforward, so replication was not going to be a problem. Luckily, I had a nice English clay that I purchased from Columbia Booksellers. It was one of the last Pollock pipes that he had. I decided to build my replica around this pipe instead of copying the exact dimensions of the original.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXu-7B-aDLGb37zt002-BVruLnFedV7s3k__E5VLa_7WjJ8VYg0z8X0RYaT8N2c3Qz-8W_weArKHmw-Bp4WTqw4YOXSzNyCpk4zjRO_oHrKPUlIeE2EmHieNIWqvxLikoLpqyjMV0Fbg7G/s1600/$T2eC16N,!)0E9s37E29dBRC,u9kzNQ~~60_57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXu-7B-aDLGb37zt002-BVruLnFedV7s3k__E5VLa_7WjJ8VYg0z8X0RYaT8N2c3Qz-8W_weArKHmw-Bp4WTqw4YOXSzNyCpk4zjRO_oHrKPUlIeE2EmHieNIWqvxLikoLpqyjMV0Fbg7G/s320/$T2eC16N,!)0E9s37E29dBRC,u9kzNQ~~60_57.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The original case is 6 1/2" long by 2" wide. It's an elongated box with one closed end and the other with a hinged lid. Under the lid, you find a compartment sized for the pipe's bowl. Inside, at the back of this compartment, is a panel with an attached and extended tube, to protect the pipe's stem. On the top center of the box, there is an opening for access to the tobacco etc. and a hinged lid to cover it. That's pretty much it, a simple yet effective way to keep your fragile clay pipe safe and your tobacco handy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IEiiwIKQraEdSwemT6_WunBKGTgVLri_dbd4F0Jp0-x-wtix9kAClbFdpGGuK7ZSAnPqfVXbZSFIzYS2L0sMc6Ma3oz2wzckWuwrgC03WVU5LoRGt1Uv1Yc-vDQzavi05PUUUGoHhDpN/s1600/230924126414_11_0_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IEiiwIKQraEdSwemT6_WunBKGTgVLri_dbd4F0Jp0-x-wtix9kAClbFdpGGuK7ZSAnPqfVXbZSFIzYS2L0sMc6Ma3oz2wzckWuwrgC03WVU5LoRGt1Uv1Yc-vDQzavi05PUUUGoHhDpN/s320/230924126414_11_0_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In some of the pictures of the original case, you will notice a fire steel and flint. At one point in this object's history, it had been repurposed as a tinder box or..................was the smoker lighting his pipe with flint and steel, hmmm?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAAjVCxcv0rH6G6kkTTm8RjekiCrWTG8j7CUx3Unr50Vv0j2UwL8uFhmH7pAvfHWKWj3aSJOGpprjZwuTbNVdW9vdyBwi2S2kmgnzrJXZ_796rF_KwU3g-hw98pGs8yW_H2cRPW1_lxTz/s1600/230924126414_2_0_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAAjVCxcv0rH6G6kkTTm8RjekiCrWTG8j7CUx3Unr50Vv0j2UwL8uFhmH7pAvfHWKWj3aSJOGpprjZwuTbNVdW9vdyBwi2S2kmgnzrJXZ_796rF_KwU3g-hw98pGs8yW_H2cRPW1_lxTz/s320/230924126414_2_0_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here you see the beginings of my replica with the shaped and tapered tube and the above mentioned panel. I had to keep in mind that the pipe shouldn't rattle, so my dimensions were determined by the space occupied by the pipe bowl, while it rested in the tube. Do you follow ?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguatjLzezer391TirqxEJILlUnFjFNIABtb6HmswpJLyAZyHnKFKPh2jDVaoNv7N1YFZZCreHz78rx_NTvBVFz1059yydPqt9PxD9Th_7zdmeOfrSK_l_Y5tSunkX9KNMaVm_NYNHeUyss/s1600/IMG_2989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguatjLzezer391TirqxEJILlUnFjFNIABtb6HmswpJLyAZyHnKFKPh2jDVaoNv7N1YFZZCreHz78rx_NTvBVFz1059yydPqt9PxD9Th_7zdmeOfrSK_l_Y5tSunkX9KNMaVm_NYNHeUyss/s320/IMG_2989.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Author 2013</td></tr>
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Further along now, you see the beginings of the case body. It ended up being 7" long and 2 1/4" wide. Note the raised ring on the right, that will be the seat for the pending lid. You can also see the tube running along the inside back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-94iwYcLB1BIRFY1CIKkkGayYXni6IiaZwOfdJP-WOfV2Q6n3D7msp9Sey16NiblcaHmo1O_KZqUpgiwnSPAMI9EJOcVpEY6LEACy9VwdSZ-m_wsXsTNBUZ3SZPFgccCcH_NWSnN2_i3/s1600/IMG_2991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-94iwYcLB1BIRFY1CIKkkGayYXni6IiaZwOfdJP-WOfV2Q6n3D7msp9Sey16NiblcaHmo1O_KZqUpgiwnSPAMI9EJOcVpEY6LEACy9VwdSZ-m_wsXsTNBUZ3SZPFgccCcH_NWSnN2_i3/s320/IMG_2991.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now we have the end closed and we are ready to craft a hinged lid. It's starting to look like something.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0dAoEbe-7eXOGXR0cwD-p7m_uAwME72YFkjGEYQz5adeTEEONluIXnQQdARL6QaQVjNCoOkCqE5PfEq7z_CZDHlFq-aE2hGI8VsYT1uvP_IjnIktJx1wXBlISkrvFZm-LiF4k6kbaFaF/s1600/IMG_2993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0dAoEbe-7eXOGXR0cwD-p7m_uAwME72YFkjGEYQz5adeTEEONluIXnQQdARL6QaQVjNCoOkCqE5PfEq7z_CZDHlFq-aE2hGI8VsYT1uvP_IjnIktJx1wXBlISkrvFZm-LiF4k6kbaFaF/s320/IMG_2993.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The smaller hinged lid is in place and all that remains is the large, hinged lid on top, with its latching device.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6r8fijYytHqai1a4m6WeudyvB_CL-L7gukggVFrP3S0HgyeE7Nw3M7OHX_MNi3G9IRbWVmS7u9hkoT5nANpbwojgfzrzH68DUTpKdAEwwHvyk2a_blhxP5vVNyyoLYL-UVbq7I3gW4jp/s1600/IMG_3000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6r8fijYytHqai1a4m6WeudyvB_CL-L7gukggVFrP3S0HgyeE7Nw3M7OHX_MNi3G9IRbWVmS7u9hkoT5nANpbwojgfzrzH68DUTpKdAEwwHvyk2a_blhxP5vVNyyoLYL-UVbq7I3gW4jp/s320/IMG_3000.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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All finished and good for service and ready to claim it's place in my growing collection of replicated odds-n-ends from our past.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttyCUC0CYt_uIUWkV0Geskam0afPErVs9QJPklGFQviVcOx3K6u66kVFzZK5-Zb5gcNolDAuQ_1QD24ROS1xz4n-V2guSoqHzT8KAWSLJFzd4av2U4kq_tOl7GD5QY9W_hj2-tUgc_foi/s1600/IMG_2999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttyCUC0CYt_uIUWkV0Geskam0afPErVs9QJPklGFQviVcOx3K6u66kVFzZK5-Zb5gcNolDAuQ_1QD24ROS1xz4n-V2guSoqHzT8KAWSLJFzd4av2U4kq_tOl7GD5QY9W_hj2-tUgc_foi/s320/IMG_2999.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-82140618598279571562013-02-08T14:09:00.001-08:002013-02-08T17:51:19.953-08:00A Replica Artifact To Illuminate Young Minds As Education Coordinator of the Angels Camp Museum, it's my job to translate and present information about the past in an interesting and informative way. For my money, one of the best ways to enhance the learning experience is through the use of replica artifacts. While developing the gold mining lesson for our 4th grade education program, I realized that our interpeter could use a special prop to help with a critical point in the story. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrUh7TM5H6isYoWVcnR_J9X4YzQ_1WvkoU8K6eiZNfwIjbRT6Ko79g5TbZD6Ygu5cbA_-hSOWaE8u3EKMknTN3zkRmYF_4FwTglDnNeet2mUa8_qUlM3YjFTufnoHJgmfJE8ILcIjG3dz/s1600/imagesCAXZOQ3Y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrUh7TM5H6isYoWVcnR_J9X4YzQ_1WvkoU8K6eiZNfwIjbRT6Ko79g5TbZD6Ygu5cbA_-hSOWaE8u3EKMknTN3zkRmYF_4FwTglDnNeet2mUa8_qUlM3YjFTufnoHJgmfJE8ILcIjG3dz/s320/imagesCAXZOQ3Y.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Classic Combination</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>An Original Cap and Lamp, Circa Late 1800's</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy lebint.com</span></strong></td></tr>
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During the early phase of the California Gold Rush, most of the mining activity involved surface deposits of Placer Gold. As these deposits grew scarce, some miners began exploring for Lode or Vein Gold deposits below the earth's surface. Miners literally had to change hats and that simple fact lead to my idea for the perfect prop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvAz9A-LA6JH4roncgF_reSfhotlC8IL_rpA7TeYhvwP4TozaSTXng6mbeYsv5jVtJ2dSR-b-SFpefii_N8-NbjzzFMVswOVbUZKtRCjV-0l6n2PJrBFBHzC6wYxpIiUN9N6m3EkoYloE/s1600/imagesCAME477Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvAz9A-LA6JH4roncgF_reSfhotlC8IL_rpA7TeYhvwP4TozaSTXng6mbeYsv5jVtJ2dSR-b-SFpefii_N8-NbjzzFMVswOVbUZKtRCjV-0l6n2PJrBFBHzC6wYxpIiUN9N6m3EkoYloE/s320/imagesCAME477Q.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>A Original Cap Sans Lamp</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Note the Leather Peak and Metal Part to Secure the Lamp</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image source inknown</span></strong></td></tr>
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I'm familiar with the classic cloth cap of the late 19th century underground miner, as we have a nice example in our Museum's collection similar to the one above. We also have a rather comprehensive collection of the lamps that were worn on the front of these caps, from oil burners to later battery operated versions. After studying several examples of caps online, it seems that a generic style with a cloth covered peak, might have been most common.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ljdWdp8mSNBdkf14O6VT1kay035fN8gnScZCJS9IpHGPRxnSrDNw6t4nToNOI4mYj6OQGqRlwdbNQsZGph0IfuqAZTe1DU1TmuwfUvFp2F2Hr-nKmry5CGutJobCei7YoulHHb6SF6hZ/s1600/IMG_2726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ljdWdp8mSNBdkf14O6VT1kay035fN8gnScZCJS9IpHGPRxnSrDNw6t4nToNOI4mYj6OQGqRlwdbNQsZGph0IfuqAZTe1DU1TmuwfUvFp2F2Hr-nKmry5CGutJobCei7YoulHHb6SF6hZ/s400/IMG_2726.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Version of a Miner's Cap and Lamp</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Ready for Work</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by author</span></strong></td></tr>
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Most of the original caps seem to be made of canvas or some stout cotton, in colors ranging from tan to grey or grey/green. For my version, I chose blue denim. The fixture that affixed the lamp safely to the cap's front, seems to vary more in materials than in shape. Some examples are leather only, others are metal and some appear to be metal and composition (?). I decided to laminate several layers of leather for stiffness in making my lamp mount and riveted it to the cap's peak and body with copper harness rivets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WAyXs9At6hNm5VfPg4sd2P1n3MJjqpAr_IUjjxtAG6Uo4s6mpXiN2ETR-1aSLaGgkkwGXmqWJ6YJWjgj-LfOBDOhLK8Xyj-Uh_VAOR_e41_vPnKGeyPuV26KzchMLMXhR14Cv4PGEEub/s1600/$T2eC16ZHJHQE9nzEy9m3BQ8J4gFwbg~~60_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WAyXs9At6hNm5VfPg4sd2P1n3MJjqpAr_IUjjxtAG6Uo4s6mpXiN2ETR-1aSLaGgkkwGXmqWJ6YJWjgj-LfOBDOhLK8Xyj-Uh_VAOR_e41_vPnKGeyPuV26KzchMLMXhR14Cv4PGEEub/s400/$T2eC16ZHJHQE9nzEy9m3BQ8J4gFwbg~~60_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Original 1885 Bill of Sale </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Showing Classic Miner's Cap-Lamp</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image source unknown</span></strong></td></tr>
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Now came the fun part, the minature oil lamp, apparently (by one period account) called a "pet" lamp. These little lamps are highly collectable and well documented as untold variations exist in form and materials. To see an amazing collection, go visit <a href="http://miningartifacts.homestead.com/">miningartifacts.homestead.com</a> . For the most part, these lamps have the appearance of tiny teapots with there spouts functioning as wick guides. They also universally have a hook device on the rear, to engage the mount on the cap.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm04VxNFE-a36Ktg6EJeaavVmHpUAdq32UQVaB-0P1fq33uhmlWXrJc364lhhxNvFmaJpz3pP24bqw-6dcDyEkPioZrFVwfZbxd8Rw8uLM8OYx33wwMqF5zu6La8ypOFRvzFnHMvLZ_pwC/s1600/IMG_2725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm04VxNFE-a36Ktg6EJeaavVmHpUAdq32UQVaB-0P1fq33uhmlWXrJc364lhhxNvFmaJpz3pP24bqw-6dcDyEkPioZrFVwfZbxd8Rw8uLM8OYx33wwMqF5zu6La8ypOFRvzFnHMvLZ_pwC/s400/IMG_2725.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Another View of My Cap and Lamp</strong></span></td></tr>
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For my close copy, I went with a basic style lamp in tinplate, with a moderately long spout. The important thing to me was to create a functioning authentic version of the miner's cap, rather than an exact replica of a known example.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNON0bO2sYwhDHuNwTeXTSv9BM_0dPGqLcVAvZoyrl5N0PSGOsL5hbCOlRxcqCutU29nHNICw_v4WA_0Vlk-0q5-CuTO-pZu5R3-Ujllikc9pjIBSrhC1RlqV_MBfCWtBiceWqAOZcOfgD/s1600/IMG_2723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNON0bO2sYwhDHuNwTeXTSv9BM_0dPGqLcVAvZoyrl5N0PSGOsL5hbCOlRxcqCutU29nHNICw_v4WA_0Vlk-0q5-CuTO-pZu5R3-Ujllikc9pjIBSrhC1RlqV_MBfCWtBiceWqAOZcOfgD/s640/IMG_2723.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Photo by Lindy Miller 2013</strong></span></td></tr>
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Speaking of function, as you can see, I couldn't resist trying the darn thing out. Contrary to my wife's opinion, having a flame coming out of your head was the least risky part of a hard-rock miner's life.<br />
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<strong>This is my 50th post and with that in mind, I would like to thank all of the viewers who have found my ramblings of some interest. I appreciate your curiosity and positive comments too.</strong>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-67853441713873344742013-02-01T08:24:00.000-08:002013-02-02T05:57:39.353-08:00"Flags of California History Project" Revisited One More Time One of the great things about pursuing historical topics is that the subjects are rarely exhausted. Just when I thought my California Flag Project was complete, I rediscovered one more historic banner, begging to be reproduced and blogged about. There are enough books written on the Gold Rush to fill a small library but near the top of the list of "must reads", is the celebrated Shirley Letters written by Louise Clappe.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdGYf1N8jyoySF-XAYfGuqNG4qa_7tySjebELjCHJZwP_dsDKrHIPrMJc5WMtQ13M3V7QY99h-Ekxm19T1GcHgBE3hpP-ESSjdTifutQ5hTIx3ZfLqzdCTUKPfZsqD52e73OPPGP_9xqH/s1600/shirley-letters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdGYf1N8jyoySF-XAYfGuqNG4qa_7tySjebELjCHJZwP_dsDKrHIPrMJc5WMtQ13M3V7QY99h-Ekxm19T1GcHgBE3hpP-ESSjdTifutQ5hTIx3ZfLqzdCTUKPfZsqD52e73OPPGP_9xqH/s320/shirley-letters.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>The Shirley Letters</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">1949 Edition</span></strong></td></tr>
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"The Shirley Letters" were first published in a San Francisco periodical called The Pioneer, starting in January of 1854. They continued as a series of 23 letters written by Louise Amelia Knapp Smith Clappe to her sister, under the pen name Dame Shirley. Louise Clappe had followed her husband Dr. Fayette Clappe to California in 1849 in pursuit of his heath and their fortune. By 1851 the Clappes found themselves in the remote mining camp of Rich Bar on the American River at the height of the "Rush". Dame Shirley's accounts of life in a mining camp, rank as one of the most incomparable documents of that rustic and wild society. Thanks to Shirley's keen powers of observation, it's also an invaluable primary resource for reconstructing mining camp culture.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2yuIspwzt23hvgn5yikRcxKehWuM089Ri51feW2V4Va-nF7_jBDVRYA-217HfgeiEugzfwIlI8114-HYLHcVligi8SaEJy-24iUrH1QbRk_f5lKkUKXjxLOc0tP0tDEAJbDiYlOO9WWN/s1600/imagesCAVS6CR3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2yuIspwzt23hvgn5yikRcxKehWuM089Ri51feW2V4Va-nF7_jBDVRYA-217HfgeiEugzfwIlI8114-HYLHcVligi8SaEJy-24iUrH1QbRk_f5lKkUKXjxLOc0tP0tDEAJbDiYlOO9WWN/s400/imagesCAVS6CR3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>An Undated Lithograph of Rich Bar</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">on the Feather River</span></strong></td></tr>
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In "Letter Eighteenth", from her log cabin on Indian Bar, July 5, 1852, she writes:<br />
"Dear M:- Our Fourth of July celebration, which came off at Rich Bar, was quite a respectable affair. I had the honor of making a flag for the occasion. The stripes were formed of cotton cloth and red calico, of which last gorgeous material, no possible place in California is ever destitute. A piece of drilling, taken from the roof of the Humbolt, which the rain and sun had faded from its original, somber hue, to just that particular shade of blue, whcih you and I admire so much - served for a Union. A large star in the center, covered with gold leaf, represented California. Humble as were the materials of which it was composed, this banner made quite a gay appearance floating from the top of a lofty pine, in front of the Empire, to which it was suspended."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY83GvOOaAXDGjnYJkAIlgOEQzPcdu7mObL1boIpLZS_R9wDmMIi2rR9RjJ1ha3cCZf_8kH4-8l99B2y4s1g6r1VKDXMmx7g6MR-kxD4BQ2onzj7cJhuePSMYdYN5LQ6H6lG1Fa0sDiZts/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY83GvOOaAXDGjnYJkAIlgOEQzPcdu7mObL1boIpLZS_R9wDmMIi2rR9RjJ1ha3cCZf_8kH4-8l99B2y4s1g6r1VKDXMmx7g6MR-kxD4BQ2onzj7cJhuePSMYdYN5LQ6H6lG1Fa0sDiZts/s320/IMG_2587.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>The Canton Finished</strong></span></td></tr>
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So now I had my challenge. What did Dame Shirley's 4th of July flag possibly look like? In previous letters, she remarks about the overuse of red calico for finishing the interior walls of the temporal, ramshackle canvas and stick shanties that passed for boarding houses, saloons and restaurants. For my flag's red stripes, I decided to use classic mid-19th century cotton prints (from my wife's stash) and plain muslin for the white. To reproduce the canton, I dyed a piece of canvas light blue, simulating the faded scrap Shirley had secured from the roof of the canvas covered building named the "Humbolt". <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_T3ii1lX-X9yjs6rbVrmNOxAhC_2nBIyVZ6c9C5462h8D14tYeFFBd41HC4hx3Du2ZCCtDnWiNONeW-jR3NzT7W3E1Sae9vzqqNnK18iFu5RvlM52PWuK-l21Fgi57QJM7Eqz6e_fZgdO/s1600/IMG_2604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_T3ii1lX-X9yjs6rbVrmNOxAhC_2nBIyVZ6c9C5462h8D14tYeFFBd41HC4hx3Du2ZCCtDnWiNONeW-jR3NzT7W3E1Sae9vzqqNnK18iFu5RvlM52PWuK-l21Fgi57QJM7Eqz6e_fZgdO/s400/IMG_2604.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Version of Dame Shirley's Flag</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Finished Dimensions 60" x 48"</span></strong></td></tr>
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What set this project apart from my previous flag replications, was the lack of visual clues. In order to manage the conjectural elements, I relied on my basic knowledge of flag history. When considering the time constraint of making a flag for the occasion, I feel that Dame Shirley may have just painted the stars on the canvas, rather than sewed them on. Even though she doesn't mention the full field of 31 stars (official after July 4, 1851), a lone, gilded star would have been a little odd. For my rendition, I chose to run the painted stars in circles, surrounding the dominant "large" star in the center. This arrangement was very popular in antebellum America. Her mention of "gold leaf" came as no surprise as it's a documented fact that even in remote camps, the saddest excuse for a building, might still sport a beautiful sign, supplied by a journeyman signpainter. She no doubt secured some "leaf" from a local craftsman to decorate that dominant, proud star. I used pigmented shellac for the white stars and 23 karat gold leaf for the center star. When assembling the elements by hand, I used a running stitch and decided not to turn any of the seams. All in all, I think it turned out swell and can now takes its place in the collection as an honest reconstruction, celebrating the lost folk traditon of homemade flags.<br />
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-83688063284129007322013-01-09T11:57:00.001-08:002013-01-31T06:40:39.936-08:00Sad Day for California It's a sad day for California, as we have lost one of our beloved promoters. Huell Howser did more to bring our State's history and culture to light than anyone else, with his "California's Gold" TV series. I'm really going to miss his folksy style of journalism and honest enthusiasm. He was amazing!<br />
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Rest in peace.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjxoNqKmcAQksyNsCbJtN-MClrd5rugE7R1b2bBtwdjFaahEyAQYwv8x44zUUSiDZQl7Xj1Po_8czh0-uYmx1By2AMm1imcLIo8O4sDt1dFjU7DQ_OF41ROPg3Xol5QDN6u7vvZSZht52/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjxoNqKmcAQksyNsCbJtN-MClrd5rugE7R1b2bBtwdjFaahEyAQYwv8x44zUUSiDZQl7Xj1Po_8czh0-uYmx1By2AMm1imcLIo8O4sDt1dFjU7DQ_OF41ROPg3Xol5QDN6u7vvZSZht52/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> Huell Howser</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"> 1945 - 2013</span><br />
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<br />Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-76836786348878661432012-12-14T09:04:00.000-08:002013-01-01T13:07:24.880-08:00Historic Costume Recreations, Part 5, Some New Thoughts on a Miner's Overshirt When I start a project to recreate something historical in nature, I make an effort to gather as much information as I can. Over the years, I've created many different interpretations of men's mid-19th century overshirts and based on my level of knowledge at the time, some were better than others. Even though these shirts were a staple commodity during the California Gold Rush, no documented original examples of actual "miner's shirts" have surfaced. What we are left with, is the contemporary photographic record of a very popular shirt. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8B43N6ch03E-7HKyqLh9EYR2uqEtIxnGym-CoJmm4a86-vAJLZaE9fztEeJ8IPO91mingbhDyOeCqV4XgDNNE10HCsk1U7JP3AAqZXd0ajgcMuDl2HyvFh6KnrYNt4ILbTb8jTyD2NOZ/s1600/hka945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8B43N6ch03E-7HKyqLh9EYR2uqEtIxnGym-CoJmm4a86-vAJLZaE9fztEeJ8IPO91mingbhDyOeCqV4XgDNNE10HCsk1U7JP3AAqZXd0ajgcMuDl2HyvFh6KnrYNt4ILbTb8jTyD2NOZ/s400/hka945.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Classic Overshirts on the Job </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">image source unknown</span></strong></td></tr>
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One of the best collections of Gold Rush daguerreotypes is found in the book "Silver & Gold" by Drew Johnson and Marcia Eymann, University of Iowa Press, 1998. I highly recommend it for anyone who is serious about studying California Gold Rush clothing. <br />
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From Gold Rush era advertisements to personal journals, I've gleaned only bits and pieces about overshirts with few details of their construction or ornament. The best period catalog illustration with decriptive text I've ever found is the REED, BROTHERS & CO. catalog of 1853, plate 19.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLT87mk1Skh7IGskh51CvlVnpfx-Hqlk_EA1bc5aFvQite7xo2ZllGapYrVh-368eziVnQOBHhDZCXVCjAHhso69Ap5kKOPBTEAzl80o3UONfNkmS0MW6kwbYnTcSTU7gk-aEJyrEJWL1/s1600/IMG_2427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLT87mk1Skh7IGskh51CvlVnpfx-Hqlk_EA1bc5aFvQite7xo2ZllGapYrVh-368eziVnQOBHhDZCXVCjAHhso69Ap5kKOPBTEAzl80o3UONfNkmS0MW6kwbYnTcSTU7gk-aEJyrEJWL1/s400/IMG_2427.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">From My Copy of the 1853 Reed Catalog</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Showing the Miner's Frock and Descriptive Text</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">photos by author 2012</span></strong></td></tr>
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So, even though none of the thousands of Gold Rush overshirts seem to have survived to the present day, you have to wonder, have any mid-19th century overshirts survived anywhere ? Yes indeedy......read on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJbiqbOk88ANjXw7iiwod3MGRoHAJ7Dub0W8CSalfAQn3tVbeF3UkDHVwhrX4TGvsb8Rm9mpFul8EHyWJE18wpg0SqkUNLupP_l-lyT0s6A6rmVLNk-qHpIJQS0L2CfPw_EpsoExCkMQJ/s1600/35776_404119116278_2843045_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJbiqbOk88ANjXw7iiwod3MGRoHAJ7Dub0W8CSalfAQn3tVbeF3UkDHVwhrX4TGvsb8Rm9mpFul8EHyWJE18wpg0SqkUNLupP_l-lyT0s6A6rmVLNk-qHpIJQS0L2CfPw_EpsoExCkMQJ/s320/35776_404119116278_2843045_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Original 1856 Overshirt</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy Steamboat Arabia Museum</span></strong></td></tr>
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I recommend that eveyone who is interested in mid-19th century American History visit the <a href="http://1856.com/" target="_blank">Steamboat Arabia Museum</a> in Kansas City, Missouri. The museum houses the recovered cargo of a sunken Missouri River steamboat, lost in 1856. It is a rare opportunity to have a full-immersion material-culture experience, second only to time travel, as the collection is literally a moment frozen in time. When I first visited the Museum, many years ago I was a bit overwhelmed by the scope of the collection. The Hawley family has accomplished an astounding feat of preservation and continue to add to the exhibits. <br />
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Years ago, during a visit to the Arabia Museum, the late Greg Hawley told us that they still had several untouched wool overshirts in frozen storage. You can imagine how excited I was, when I later heard that several of the shirts were being carefully conserved and would soon be available for public view. and that the museum's conservator Dr. Judy Wright, had posted before, during and after pictures on Facebook. The shirt, now designated as the "Border Ruffian Shirt" is also featured in a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GceiRde8SbI" target="_blank">Youtube</a> teaser promoting David Hawley's future Preservation Series of film shorts.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcplvMQfdBWn6CijCuaCI36ewboXj3Fjphqlm0xa3koPwh6PAiigWr22PRyXoshnuztc14p4ss8SpA8-JwZ5m7W3QKSOMRDwkf_EPg66uxGKWokxJ6KzbgLtXLQoakCaDDnL8BK9iI3T_/s1600/inside+neck+hole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcplvMQfdBWn6CijCuaCI36ewboXj3Fjphqlm0xa3koPwh6PAiigWr22PRyXoshnuztc14p4ss8SpA8-JwZ5m7W3QKSOMRDwkf_EPg66uxGKWokxJ6KzbgLtXLQoakCaDDnL8BK9iI3T_/s320/inside+neck+hole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Inside View of Neck Slit During Reconstruction</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">(note the gussets)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy of Steamboat Arabia Museum and </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Judy Wright</span></strong></td></tr>
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There were so many things to be discovered from Dr. Wright's pictures. I was first struck by how casually the garment was constructed. I'm not sure if this represents "cheap" ready-made goods or what but it gave me cause to reflect on my previous replica shirts, with their tiny careful stitches. It appears that a running stitch was used for much of the construction and the seam allowances were just turned over once and left with the raw edge. I also discovered that the narrow braid trim only suggested a plastron with its outline. There was also an absence of underarm gussets in the original shirt. Another detail that caught my eye was the straight neck slit, rounded by the insertion of two small gussets at either end and no shape to the front of the slit. You will notice in the photo that opening down the front begins at the neck gusset. In the picture, the narrow, tapered facing hasn't been reattached yet. There appears to be no facing on the other side of the front slit as the edge is just turned back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTWLFAZQ5XvzzmE3qWzhfChWNSLoi10XmjhgtoSZP_661zAV05UdqckBkN2cr3afz65fzGX40goNWZVFKWg-cYSm5Yj01Nd2hIHZGXkWyc210kog4G4pyNTPGYsi01Z8fjg3CPz9mHMqh/s1600/MINERS_SHIRT_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTWLFAZQ5XvzzmE3qWzhfChWNSLoi10XmjhgtoSZP_661zAV05UdqckBkN2cr3afz65fzGX40goNWZVFKWg-cYSm5Yj01Nd2hIHZGXkWyc210kog4G4pyNTPGYsi01Z8fjg3CPz9mHMqh/s400/MINERS_SHIRT_03.jpg" width="337" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">My Inspiration for the Latest Shirt</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy John McWilliams</span></strong></td></tr>
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Excitied about all of this new-found evidence, I decided to replicate another Miner's Overshirt incorporating some of these "details" I had just discovered. True to my Gold Rush interest, I would base my shirt on an unpublished image of a young miner,shared with me, years ago by John McWilliams.<br />
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I already had some madder red, wool flannel, purchased from <a href="http://burnleyandtrowbridge.com/" target="_blank">Burnley and Trowbridge</a>. I'm really glad that Needle and Thread of Gettysburg PA still carries the <a href="http://woodedhamlet.com/" target="_blank">Wooded Hamlet</a> line as they had a perfect narrow wool soutache, that I dyed a royal blue. Remember the "bright colored braid" in the REED cataloge description? My wife is still my best source for small white china buttons, thank you very much Lindy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsYT4kKEQPd2xgNRslelGqMnbab67OwPkHFD3MRQFuvM7OW-zJgwAZ4J31mbNAvxX7yJzhyphenhyphen_HAJE21XPQ7vwE7q1xBidOa1cAicVfIQxa06soyhvG1srf8cQ3JFy8EGBs38IcPO3fyynx/s1600/IMG_2416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsYT4kKEQPd2xgNRslelGqMnbab67OwPkHFD3MRQFuvM7OW-zJgwAZ4J31mbNAvxX7yJzhyphenhyphen_HAJE21XPQ7vwE7q1xBidOa1cAicVfIQxa06soyhvG1srf8cQ3JFy8EGBs38IcPO3fyynx/s320/IMG_2416.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">My Replica</span></strong></td></tr>
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Another thing worth noting in the Arabia shirt (and my replica), is that the front and back body are all one piece. This eliminates the need for a shoulder pieces to re-enforce a shoulder seam found with a two piece body.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_UGeCBdXeqYhUSX2M6YJjBt_QZVxgxn0XMPuelRtQF__3CvHSZ5oHLY_KDwkwfQY94VCJOUV0yF4xKOHksiprSVxH9sElIYVxgeuR4RSN-pR2oqZiflBny2noA14OzlqQma-gMNX-vNM/s1600/IMG_2417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_UGeCBdXeqYhUSX2M6YJjBt_QZVxgxn0XMPuelRtQF__3CvHSZ5oHLY_KDwkwfQY94VCJOUV0yF4xKOHksiprSVxH9sElIYVxgeuR4RSN-pR2oqZiflBny2noA14OzlqQma-gMNX-vNM/s320/IMG_2417.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Close-up Showing Faux Plastron ala Arabia</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"> and Patch Pockets</span></strong></td></tr>
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The Arabia shirt's front slit-facing was quite narrow. At the top, it doesn't match with the end of the collar, leaving the collar end as an extended tab. For my interpretation, I decided to have mine match, as you can see in the picture,<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yzlvQhZwh2AEa0vaZU1uW_1Q9S5zq8Y2UmUWOCQ9FSotpjwn6J0UbbuzeDje2s7w1LHoYZ6pEnQb3fcw0SnzoVaBNl_juzZ5Bgz14yQ0KhxDsb3j2lWzRDj_sbc42uQvtVHFvzoFAnaJ/s1600/IMG_2418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yzlvQhZwh2AEa0vaZU1uW_1Q9S5zq8Y2UmUWOCQ9FSotpjwn6J0UbbuzeDje2s7w1LHoYZ6pEnQb3fcw0SnzoVaBNl_juzZ5Bgz14yQ0KhxDsb3j2lWzRDj_sbc42uQvtVHFvzoFAnaJ/s320/IMG_2418.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Slit Opened, Showing Tapered Facing</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">on the Left</span></strong></td></tr>
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I also turned all of my seams twice to hide the raw edges, contrary to what the original shirt appears to have had. I felt the wool would contiue to unravel if it was left raw. Perhaps that wasn't a concern in the past. I did use a running stitch for the entire construction, even where I would have normally backstitched.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQYwF58fT-HwSZmlbd2KY3LssdpdQPzzM7cgmVQRSKp2bW90CeoT70A-20gur-pYX5VOoovx1yRWd65VSvcWX35OoyvQ1docXqrrTjXyk8nrxe0AMm6j1DQztVJhx_iGJeaKmF74hafnu/s1600/IMG_2419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQYwF58fT-HwSZmlbd2KY3LssdpdQPzzM7cgmVQRSKp2bW90CeoT70A-20gur-pYX5VOoovx1yRWd65VSvcWX35OoyvQ1docXqrrTjXyk8nrxe0AMm6j1DQztVJhx_iGJeaKmF74hafnu/s320/IMG_2419.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Small Gusset at Shoulder</span></strong></td></tr>
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What I learned from this exercise was that maybe there is a place for simply constructed garments in the "Oh so carefully " reconstructed Living History world. I'm not sure if the Arabia overshirt is typical or atypical but it taught me to think about historic shirts in a different way as there's always "new" information to be discovered. My shirts will always be interpretations but hopefully reflective of a progressive approach to recreating history.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0fmAWGwF0TMbfG4fjGwQjPNTnh8SWzSTLXcVTOfhe5bpAcePyFEdP_9Abtdsj-gbl0BxjDpoSZ5mqvrnNfB7GqYWcjY11Q0Yidh5qNJU2bpNkPGR2paOvWq8u0w5pIDGpumIPlqd9rYF/s320/IMG_2421.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Close-up of Closed Neckline</strong></span></td></tr>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-21670039675999115202012-11-16T11:18:00.000-08:002012-12-26T12:23:56.642-08:00Shedding a Little Light on a Favorite Subject<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been interested in early lighting devices for a very long time. Over the years, I've been lucky enough to find a few original pieces but I wouldn't claim to have a comprehensive collection. I recently decided to explore a few of the many styles of fluid lamps that existed just before the Age of Kerosene and blog on their use.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlozlarbBf-jZmsVb5j2IwnZFEO2dZ4Q7lj5zk_ntNgPji3Kg13u3ByCRE4HapWSFVUhg57HKjx774JN-_zk-iUWWdrSUvqh4kIFfrvJyZ6N5NaaIo2b9BwBflaIz1I3pGCNimeB_nrnu/s1600/635-377_383_375_Tin-Lamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlozlarbBf-jZmsVb5j2IwnZFEO2dZ4Q7lj5zk_ntNgPji3Kg13u3ByCRE4HapWSFVUhg57HKjx774JN-_zk-iUWWdrSUvqh4kIFfrvJyZ6N5NaaIo2b9BwBflaIz1I3pGCNimeB_nrnu/s320/635-377_383_375_Tin-Lamps.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Original mid-19th Century Tinware Fluid Lamps</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">(not from my collection)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image From Online Auction, Source Unknown</span></strong></td></tr>
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As followers of my blog know, I love to practice my own version of experimental archaeology by reproducing past objects and learning from their use. For this fluid lamp exercise, I needed to put on my tinsmith hat and make a good effort with the minimal tools I have. If only I had a tinshop !<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnOaCAJ6PNTXm5Dop83pEE74dDGPDFsJZDGRPs2qKaDCbbU6Apa3BsBDbtJj4j5ojawiiA4Lq5S2bJbL02GWa5OFC8iAu7ZuJwrN-6QGZ6fdB3zu6f-LLHjaWP4fW8869Uk_z4QuzqkDv/s1600/IMG_2298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnOaCAJ6PNTXm5Dop83pEE74dDGPDFsJZDGRPs2qKaDCbbU6Apa3BsBDbtJj4j5ojawiiA4Lq5S2bJbL02GWa5OFC8iAu7ZuJwrN-6QGZ6fdB3zu6f-LLHjaWP4fW8869Uk_z4QuzqkDv/s400/IMG_2298.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Replica Lamps</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Photos by Author 2012</span></strong></td></tr>
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The key to learning about early to mid-19th century fluid lamps, is to study and understand their burners. Each type of fuel needed a specific style of burner to give the best light. For this exercise, I wanted to explore Whale or Sperm Oil burners, Camphene or Burning Fluid burners, Lard Oil burners and Fat lamp burners. Even though some of these fuels are oblsolete, I wanted to faithfully replicate the burners, in order to understand how they evolved. For the time being, substitue fuels would have to do.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4RwDBM6MpYHVm-D2NMvOz-gKHQDXRKnfoJrj0Z2T1z0HxPnOLb4wb-nYuVz8Q0hSLRUsrn2dys-qge0hTsP5gXgSxUFtpRM5bsi5GThRzKqFpIsMJr_ZdqyzqMcNufBWp_jBhTy2Mm6E/s400/IMG_2309.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Betty Lamp</strong></span></td></tr>
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My quest started with the Betty Lamp. The classic Betty Lamp has an ancestry extending clear back to the Romans but had been improved on over time. The name "Betty" itself may have originated from the German word for "better". In this twilight period of its long history, it was still giving service as one of the humblest of lighting devices. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIoMtJxHyzh-iFtGMKzIego6OKbxkHHEgFVuwnXiJyNArL04NVonGLn3ADRrlGUXN1boKPiQclCyFKN1PM5d6oPFd90jMnZrv7mineLYpDtbnIxGRCG_so9CWyw_A6DlP67OYW_sn9D-D/s1600/imagesCAO3Z11E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIoMtJxHyzh-iFtGMKzIego6OKbxkHHEgFVuwnXiJyNArL04NVonGLn3ADRrlGUXN1boKPiQclCyFKN1PM5d6oPFd90jMnZrv7mineLYpDtbnIxGRCG_so9CWyw_A6DlP67OYW_sn9D-D/s400/imagesCAO3Z11E.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Nice Original Tinware Betty</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Online Auction Source Unknown</span></strong></td></tr>
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What I learned from my replica is that the wick channel has to be mounted to the inside bottom of the lamp only and not touch anywhere else. That way it transfers the heat of the flame down through the channel to the fat. By keeping the fat in a liquid state, it allows the wick to do its job.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDJIgaLNlJzNGL5duVHWPWPqDGWTUXEIuuc6xImkBIQdf0SQPUi6HxmsUa_XobOobdl2oVUIUJ8-wLdP3mhRBfT0sD4uPsFn2JyXDkw9iuGU3-3gxWn1Lnsv5tyrjUSkhcNUWCMBOloN5/s1600/IMG_2310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDJIgaLNlJzNGL5duVHWPWPqDGWTUXEIuuc6xImkBIQdf0SQPUi6HxmsUa_XobOobdl2oVUIUJ8-wLdP3mhRBfT0sD4uPsFn2JyXDkw9iuGU3-3gxWn1Lnsv5tyrjUSkhcNUWCMBOloN5/s320/IMG_2310.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Lid Open, Showing Wick Channel</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">On My Replica</span></strong></td></tr>
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My lamp gave a constant, fairly bright light and wasn't smokey or smelly, even though the fuel I used was strained bacon fat. Maybe lesser quality fats gave the poor results that you read about. I think it's a great little lamp and will continue to use it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCIiCRVvfYtGLIWr6_mjwyd2nbtX95mgt1EfK14fDFBtdygcERJs5UGaZKqQp4s6wkn7frq4uJtMngfS4ib2CzTA3DDUJSfaeTxI5unyGqkkzxZHV6HS3kl0BcY0zDkDJOZjBY09ohFNA/s1600/IMG_2308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCIiCRVvfYtGLIWr6_mjwyd2nbtX95mgt1EfK14fDFBtdygcERJs5UGaZKqQp4s6wkn7frq4uJtMngfS4ib2CzTA3DDUJSfaeTxI5unyGqkkzxZHV6HS3kl0BcY0zDkDJOZjBY09ohFNA/s400/IMG_2308.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Whale Oil Lamp</strong></span></td></tr>
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The Whale Oil lamp is probably the most recognizable lamp style that pre-dates kerosene. Whale Oil itself was the "first" commercially produced oil and was considered the premier fuel for illumination. This precious commodity was rendered from the blubber and parts of Baleen or other whales, whereas Sperm Oil was derived from the heads of Sperm Whales. Whale Oil wasn't cheap, running as much as $2 a gallon in the mid-1800's. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_8JGeJ4-ZpkDm0mkl7ss7ILM7uxE-gL46dscSSPRQGFeRjCzo1p8thpc-PvMtMiM6Zgg56wDo9rZNa3tRwFSiAe0lKm_wi-Om8rmhGdidiYAE8zwA5y0HB3goT3JtSSBedqelaTY61T6/s1600/635-12_Whale-Oil-Chamber-La.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_8JGeJ4-ZpkDm0mkl7ss7ILM7uxE-gL46dscSSPRQGFeRjCzo1p8thpc-PvMtMiM6Zgg56wDo9rZNa3tRwFSiAe0lKm_wi-Om8rmhGdidiYAE8zwA5y0HB3goT3JtSSBedqelaTY61T6/s320/635-12_Whale-Oil-Chamber-La.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>The Original Lamp </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">That Inspired My Replica</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Online Auction Source Unknown</span></strong></td></tr>
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The typical Whale Oil burner used vertical tubes that sometimes flared under their base mount and extended down towards the fuel. This extended length would transfer a little warmth to the fuel and help it to wick properly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKwz_e1tqzh-oq1u3TxDArSN5iVDLhHKIj5McCITXjlLc7F0dAfpXgbItCqE76l-auxFkZXLfkj8_52A7NJ1k5wPKa4k3dKGLuN9mbDnKAx5RDzN4gfl2HdUdn4K5n0O5gbIK85SzuYQj/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKwz_e1tqzh-oq1u3TxDArSN5iVDLhHKIj5McCITXjlLc7F0dAfpXgbItCqE76l-auxFkZXLfkj8_52A7NJ1k5wPKa4k3dKGLuN9mbDnKAx5RDzN4gfl2HdUdn4K5n0O5gbIK85SzuYQj/s320/IMG_2306.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Whale Oil Lamp Burner</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Note the Extended Tube</span></strong></td></tr>
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Whale Oil burner tubes often have little slots cut in them, to help advance the wick with a pick. Most surviving original burners have two tubes but you do see singles. The rarest styles seem to be three and four tube burners. For my replica's pattern, I chose a Whale Oil lamp version of a candle stick. The upright "candle" is actually the fuel reservoir, which extends into the base. To one side of the base is a matchsafe with a striker lid. Way cool !!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dI64AP0hqP1psOr3CNPjW6mWpqJV_xG8IiwFgugGeRSexsgPfOGq13liNYaxUHdQ35GsDxtyOC2-SuCqO5jyGrXd41JN3o5SBTRD69CvX3EvGEVGXgf430xayanjoUkzAWJHH8MR-Yl-/s1600/IMG_2303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dI64AP0hqP1psOr3CNPjW6mWpqJV_xG8IiwFgugGeRSexsgPfOGq13liNYaxUHdQ35GsDxtyOC2-SuCqO5jyGrXd41JN3o5SBTRD69CvX3EvGEVGXgf430xayanjoUkzAWJHH8MR-Yl-/s400/IMG_2303.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Lard Oil Lamp</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Note the Wick Pick on Chain</span></strong></td></tr>
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Next in line is the Lard or Lard Oil Lamp, which in its time, was a cost-effective alternative to the Whale Oil lamp. Lard "Oil" was expressed from solid lard, but still needed to be warmed, to improve its fluidity. This need gave rise to many patented varietys of burners, each intent on improving the efficiency of the fuel. For my replica, I made a version of Archer's Patented Burner of 1842.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVskAmN-3OPu4Amful9MRblI2v7euSiK9KXMbLNvfccYQaPNXoAfpyLMkFSq2GMQMDEhcmfjMCyWJWTWXwovjnopj15Oc9BreS8sYsfECbWpAxUDyb9mW3klv1VE1cXNxe6beSra_BMjPe/s1600/imagesCA7M7VIB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVskAmN-3OPu4Amful9MRblI2v7euSiK9KXMbLNvfccYQaPNXoAfpyLMkFSq2GMQMDEhcmfjMCyWJWTWXwovjnopj15Oc9BreS8sYsfECbWpAxUDyb9mW3klv1VE1cXNxe6beSra_BMjPe/s1600/imagesCA7M7VIB.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>The Original Archer Type Burner</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">That Inspired My Replica</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy The Old Time Lamp Shop</span></strong></td></tr>
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A copper tube, mounted between the two flat burner tubes, transfers the heat all the way to the bottom of the reservoir. Many times you will see Lard Oil lamps mis-identified as Whale Oil lamps. The clue to their identity, is in the extended burner design.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEs6l82Hmfm4W11FHfU-q5a40RVuBFMh_Bd2gGqBWlu4ypnYhDizoqgMQ2oG58SL0HOIUDwNG-rLutqqMXMgRZhOk3nZLCxXW04ySk67UA5MtBZ-g_AY02-E8dza0JboKdsxfqiCjx-vL/s1600/IMG_2305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEs6l82Hmfm4W11FHfU-q5a40RVuBFMh_Bd2gGqBWlu4ypnYhDizoqgMQ2oG58SL0HOIUDwNG-rLutqqMXMgRZhOk3nZLCxXW04ySk67UA5MtBZ-g_AY02-E8dza0JboKdsxfqiCjx-vL/s320/IMG_2305.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Replica Lard Oil Burner</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Based on Archer's Patent</span></strong></td></tr>
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For my replica, I ended up using canola oil as a substitue fuel. I tried using solid Lard but it didn't work very well. Lard oil is a little hard to find, even though it's occasionally used by machinists as a lubricant. Just for fun, I painted the lamp with asphaltum varnish, a typical finish on tinware of the period.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rhvmveO-bEUUnylZQ14C4Bqvjgvcf6QawNveu0aTAPowCFSLP2GlDMDW_lphNTYDKk2TpVgt-9pUIxFsPsgiJHqQLThjt8REB-1FriAdNtKI4NfkvlDroROhtRIIpx_Srn0aL8UHaqJ9/s1600/IMG_2300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rhvmveO-bEUUnylZQ14C4Bqvjgvcf6QawNveu0aTAPowCFSLP2GlDMDW_lphNTYDKk2TpVgt-9pUIxFsPsgiJHqQLThjt8REB-1FriAdNtKI4NfkvlDroROhtRIIpx_Srn0aL8UHaqJ9/s400/IMG_2300.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Camphene Lamp</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Note the Burner Caps on Chains</span></strong></td></tr>
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The final lamp in this project is the Camphene or Burning Fluid Lamp. Camphene was the rectified oil of turpentine and was sometimes mixed with alcohol to make lamp fuel. Although Camphene gave a cheap bright light, it came with a risk. It was very explosive and needed a specifically designed burner. Camphene burners have long tapered tubes that when in sets, angle out from each other to dissipate the heat of the flame.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6HOrvPf6gydj7CGLOD0l5e_9_8j5PdevVd2sIVLFDGvXKBpGG7vMZF-MTb4cMwkLMZlR8C9k01wIMZXHrx8h0XCaypyM6wmyhIRERBpNximV2kIkUo6c-ozlpiFNbN22zi2qDAlO526b/s1600/IMG_2301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6HOrvPf6gydj7CGLOD0l5e_9_8j5PdevVd2sIVLFDGvXKBpGG7vMZF-MTb4cMwkLMZlR8C9k01wIMZXHrx8h0XCaypyM6wmyhIRERBpNximV2kIkUo6c-ozlpiFNbN22zi2qDAlO526b/s320/IMG_2301.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Camphene Burner</strong></span></td></tr>
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These tubes never extend down past the mounting plate and never have slots for wick adjustment. Apparently, any heat added to the fuel caused an accumulation of gases and the possibility of an explosion. Yikes !! Most surviving original burners have little covers to snuff out the flame and keep the fuel from evaporating. The style of lamp I chose to replicate is sometimes called a petticoat lamp by collectors for the flared shape of the base. Camphene lamps are often mislabeled as Whale Oil lamps but the difference is obvious once you know your burners. In case you wondered, my lamp burns modern lamp oil as I don't need to kill myself in the pursuit of history.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkWSEvWKCB7EVgF_ynubiEyA9eFFT55CY672MAilavS2h1f84JoANpDcGJKo6CTXuDv1Ix7BKG_pNzUz3iehGaqaH55iwbCEWb1BpzK_fmftPdH_OI6zRC_LY7ALjWsJZM-YT52nJN4YS/s1600/imagesCA8H8JLK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkWSEvWKCB7EVgF_ynubiEyA9eFFT55CY672MAilavS2h1f84JoANpDcGJKo6CTXuDv1Ix7BKG_pNzUz3iehGaqaH55iwbCEWb1BpzK_fmftPdH_OI6zRC_LY7ALjWsJZM-YT52nJN4YS/s400/imagesCA8H8JLK.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>A Classic Original Camphene Lamp</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Online Image Source Unknown</span></strong></td></tr>
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By the time of the Civil War, all of these fluid lamps were fading from the scene, as the Age of Kerosene began . Untold numbers of patented burner improvements would help make this "new" cheap fuel the most popular choice in the world. It's still the dependable choice I make every time we have one of our routine power outages but after this lamp project, that fat burning Betty Lamp is looking pretty sweet.<br />
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For more information on early lighting, I would suggest these great sites:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://rushlight.org/" target="_blank"> The Rushlight Club</a> has been supporting the serious study early lighting <br />
forever<br />
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James and Beth Boyle have a lot of great info on their <a href="http://www.ramshornstudio.com/early_lighting_1.htm" target="_blank">Rams Horn Studio</a><br />
site<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://collectlamps.com/" target="_blank">Old Time Lamp Shop</a> has a lot of great photos of rare lamps and well<br />
worth the visit<br />
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-89548924818849582902012-11-14T18:33:00.001-08:002012-11-14T18:33:56.315-08:00 Carpentry Tools Revisited or Picking Up Where I Left Off Once apon a time, I felt inspired to craft my own set of traditional carpenter's tools. I'm not sure how far I expected to go with that notion but for some reason, my ambitions got the better of me. The sum total of my production ended up being one Jack Plane. It turned out to be a good project though, as that plane became a learning tool, every time I used it.<br />
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The plane project started with the purchase of the book "How to Make Wooden Planes" by David Perch and Leonard Lee (of <a href="http://www.leevalley.com/" target="_blank">Lee Valley Tools</a>). After springing for a good thick steel from <a href="http://www.garrettwade.com/" target="_blank">Garrett Wade</a>., I picked up a nice block of hard maple and went to work. One of the advantages of crafting your own plane, is that you can custom fit the Toat to your hand. I discovered that a comfortable fit contributed to overall performance. The only flaw in my plane was its propensity to clog at the Mouth. I finally solved that problem by reducing the opening with an inset piece.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKeKIn6sInCFd2xHqZ1prRd5BdsytYF2PtDIwVGmVXnaagUEnHL6L3F38WS5pFFWlwts_i3gOaAD15EBjFUu4biQuxd-Eob13QZ4A58HQNx0bm7G_th340bW9FBNX5foDc0_Hyme8s73g/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKeKIn6sInCFd2xHqZ1prRd5BdsytYF2PtDIwVGmVXnaagUEnHL6L3F38WS5pFFWlwts_i3gOaAD15EBjFUu4biQuxd-Eob13QZ4A58HQNx0bm7G_th340bW9FBNX5foDc0_Hyme8s73g/s400/IMG_2290.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">My Jack Plane</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Photos by Author</span></strong></td></tr>
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Since it now appears I'm back in the Traditonal Carpentry game, I felt compelled to revisit that "craft your own tools" notion of a decade ago. All I needed was a little inspiration. The blogging world is a great place to find inspiration and mine came from the <a href="http://frontiercarpenter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Frontier Carpenter</a> Blog.. Ron had posted on a sweet replica he made of an original 19th century wooden brace. Lucky for him, he owns the original and could make a carbon copy. I'm not so lucky but his work convinced me that I wanted to make my own brace.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6F8ISsnQWZlHIIn3L0UIhq_5xQVD_B8Zyw5FVuan5ZJrl-qvyUcwKqhtsdaDJOA0gRrCLckpWF6dCp2t0_yKvuKl4u_uqT2xHDd997Bm536n61h136DZ8L1qOUdj08JVEgPFazQ_UYId/s1600/brace+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6F8ISsnQWZlHIIn3L0UIhq_5xQVD_B8Zyw5FVuan5ZJrl-qvyUcwKqhtsdaDJOA0gRrCLckpWF6dCp2t0_yKvuKl4u_uqT2xHDd997Bm536n61h136DZ8L1qOUdj08JVEgPFazQ_UYId/s1600/brace+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Ron's nicely done copy</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image courtesy the Frontier Carpenter blog</span></strong></td></tr>
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Some of my tool books feature original examples of braces, from the very primitive to plated Sheffields, but nothing really grabbed me until I started researching online. In the <a href="http://craftsofnj.org/" target="_blank">Crafts of New Jersey</a> publication called the "Tool Shed", Issue 93 of Sept. 1996, I found an article by Ron Pearson called The Primitve Wooden Brace. In the article, several varietys of wooden braces are categorized by the author according to how the bits mount. After studying the photos in the article, I felt I had enough information to design and build my own version of this classic early tool.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1nUSMwwhbCigb66sW5aQbsHt5OwX9MGzqEDKsy513Oz-p_E3-wd1E5F3eLZUS3QZF5VblDTNFGr57eUVQ-g7ASxuygdNz9Zu0cIzWCujbv3JZnBAIp8auy8h-gg7EeJCaSwrDkqLKqon/s1600/fig02.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1nUSMwwhbCigb66sW5aQbsHt5OwX9MGzqEDKsy513Oz-p_E3-wd1E5F3eLZUS3QZF5VblDTNFGr57eUVQ-g7ASxuygdNz9Zu0cIzWCujbv3JZnBAIp8auy8h-gg7EeJCaSwrDkqLKqon/s400/fig02.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>A beautiful brace featured in the article</strong></span></td></tr>
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The project started with the purchase of a nice block of maple from the <a href="http://www.woodworkerssource.com/" target="_blank">Wood Workers Source</a> and after the final shaping, lathe work and sanding, I decided to stain the brace to resemble a more expensive wood. To me, it made it feel a little less "primitive". From an online auction, I scored 3 original bits, then mounted them in their newly turned pads. I liked the idea of a thumbscrew to secure the square shaft of the pad but gave it my own spin with a brass plate mount. I was very pleased with the way it turned out and decided to keep the ball rolling by crafting a few more "necessary" tools.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4ueqBaFtay_qJk5ZS3LZvqCZcdrIy8ZyKJvorj2gjcsTqorBUbkMjukTtVChHrvEAI76Frv0BdbUPtYIrTSuDlbEFrUo_j4XuVKEADBLhvgLODsmTRxDTeiS5RLkjkxHtQGu1OCkebNe/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4ueqBaFtay_qJk5ZS3LZvqCZcdrIy8ZyKJvorj2gjcsTqorBUbkMjukTtVChHrvEAI76Frv0BdbUPtYIrTSuDlbEFrUo_j4XuVKEADBLhvgLODsmTRxDTeiS5RLkjkxHtQGu1OCkebNe/s400/IMG_2289.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Version of a Mid-19th Century Brace</strong></span></td></tr>
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When I retired from the Columbia Carpenter's Shop in 2008, I sold all of my <a href="http://crownhandtools.ltd.uk/" target="_blank">Crown Tool</a> replicas to a docent / carpenter. To make up for that loss, I decided to craft my own try square, mortise gauge and bevel from scraps of hardwood I had accumulated. The patterns for the three tools came from online sources like Google Images and my reference books.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0oO1cYt5srZ8gv0VxXD_wUin1_PdKOHN_klyBe2Wx3qaGnp0Vn9UuTwIY0qz8Y_wSceZpEPG1XIFKTLJnyHYHsyZoxK3UzNIOhr4ZaJyyrE55I-5nd1nOPRXrUP5LoMkqx8QwtfA7Cui/s1600/IMG_2293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0oO1cYt5srZ8gv0VxXD_wUin1_PdKOHN_klyBe2Wx3qaGnp0Vn9UuTwIY0qz8Y_wSceZpEPG1XIFKTLJnyHYHsyZoxK3UzNIOhr4ZaJyyrE55I-5nd1nOPRXrUP5LoMkqx8QwtfA7Cui/s400/IMG_2293.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Gauge, Bevel and Try Square</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Ready for Work !</span></strong></td></tr>
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. For the moment my tool urge seens satisfied but that could change as we continue to develop the new interpretive Carpenter's Shop at the Angels Camp Museum. So, stay tuned !Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-55021650075228342682012-10-28T10:13:00.000-07:002012-10-29T09:00:58.211-07:00Traditional Carpentry Revisited and a New Job I was recently hired by the City of Angels (aka Angels Camp), as the Education Coordinator for the <a href="http://www.angelscamp.gov/" target="_blank">Angels Camp Museum.</a> One of my primary goals is to create an outreach "Traveling Trunk" program for 4th graders as an enhancement to their Gold Rush studies. I'm also involved in improving overall interpretation at the Museum. Previous to landing this job, I was involved in several Museum projects, one of which is the focus of this post.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Angels Camp Museum</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Calaveras County, California</span></strong></td></tr>
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The Angels Camp Museum is an important regional Museum, housing many rare artifacts and collections relating to the history of the Mother Lode. With the recent opening of the new Artisan's Exhibit area, the Museum has begun a transition from the traditional emphasis of display only, to a more "interactive" approach to teaching local history. The Aritsan's Exhibit area is intended to highlight various craftsmen who contributed to the growth of the local community. My contribution was to build a typical 19th Century carpenter's bench for the new, interactive Carpenter's Shop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4D3lvI1YEioMTzxiZKcnEgJqcF-tpTXhaba3RjdGoPbsIPMe7p7nVGujQhJ5OvpZX1g7Z0pxHcyV0tQUACk0NiFf5iATUx0uvRIQSObFtzO5V4qmsEn2OaDHVENwhD5PEINiZ5XhVnfF_/s1600/img_0662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4D3lvI1YEioMTzxiZKcnEgJqcF-tpTXhaba3RjdGoPbsIPMe7p7nVGujQhJ5OvpZX1g7Z0pxHcyV0tQUACk0NiFf5iATUx0uvRIQSObFtzO5V4qmsEn2OaDHVENwhD5PEINiZ5XhVnfF_/s320/img_0662.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>A Nice Version of Underhill's Portable Workbench</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">(mine is long-gone)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">image courtesy closegrain.com</span></strong></td></tr>
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Back in 1998, when my wife and I started working in the Carpenter's Shop at Columbia State Historic Park, I was faced with trying to build a small, functional workbench to fit the tiny shop part of a small retail space. I was fortunate to have found the design for a portable workbench in Roy Underhill's "The Woodwright's Apprentice" book. Over the 10 years of use, that little bench proved itself as a great interpretive tool and gave me the experience to design and create the bench for the Angels Camp Museum.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbQXPacj94FIik6Nv5lGegdfmdSF2Cre8CqovpSiSzYWIzK1fASqFhLJLd6hmYck_ohDaOwsRHEpyXUL3qB8FV32yjHeBreJUCOi4Q6C0Ocao-USi8WYnP1gZOKDQ_Dq2WLyBThLF6NV8/s1600/imagesCA51N9PR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbQXPacj94FIik6Nv5lGegdfmdSF2Cre8CqovpSiSzYWIzK1fASqFhLJLd6hmYck_ohDaOwsRHEpyXUL3qB8FV32yjHeBreJUCOi4Q6C0Ocao-USi8WYnP1gZOKDQ_Dq2WLyBThLF6NV8/s1600/imagesCA51N9PR.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>A Classically Simple Carpenter's Bench</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">image source unknown</span></strong></td></tr>
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For the Angels Camp bench, I wanted to follow the basic "form and function" of a traditional bench but keep it simple. It needed to be a good size (6 ft. long) with a nice mass for the top ( 4"x12"x6' ) and a tool well along the length. Support would come from a stout frame (4"x4" and 2"x6"), through mortised and tenoned, with a leg-vise on the left. It would need plenty of holes for a pair of hold-fasts and bench-dogs and maybe a single drawer on the front.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPhvACfrG4O7YB3ZxXXwZjldHYpCP_kJ7DlC7YzyHxv3Ky19Qor7vhvSI1X7TVNICfCLAxVt4Cb-isNdEeSpyBacs2_mcWoDSRKQir_jMGyb2loIgcG8zLNyNonUy9TaZRm16SH3ZECes/s1600/LMCarpenter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPhvACfrG4O7YB3ZxXXwZjldHYpCP_kJ7DlC7YzyHxv3Ky19Qor7vhvSI1X7TVNICfCLAxVt4Cb-isNdEeSpyBacs2_mcWoDSRKQir_jMGyb2loIgcG8zLNyNonUy9TaZRm16SH3ZECes/s400/LMCarpenter.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Lewis Miller in His Carpenter's Shop</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">image courtesy folkartcooperstown.blogspot.com</span></strong></td></tr>
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Traditional carpenter's benches seem to be as varied as the people who built them, whether past or present. I fell in love with Lewis Miller's contemporary illustration of his mid-1800's carpenter's workshop and after finding several similar original examples, I was inspired to come up with my own design.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVIRuN7g-GzPDi5Gb5CzcCxm026Oqu4miEBtvEyj2W5zzN0k3ioY0D57d3vCSUWlZky9ozj9-DkO2c158N_0Qrx_XjXfMOc4Bpu1W7FP6sTB1nUVcRNMRIRWJzEPAIEACLfg_e9GaieHM/s1600/IMG_1760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVIRuN7g-GzPDi5Gb5CzcCxm026Oqu4miEBtvEyj2W5zzN0k3ioY0D57d3vCSUWlZky9ozj9-DkO2c158N_0Qrx_XjXfMOc4Bpu1W7FP6sTB1nUVcRNMRIRWJzEPAIEACLfg_e9GaieHM/s400/IMG_1760.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Finished Bench</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">images by Lindy Miller 2012</span></strong></td></tr>
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I purchased the hold-fasts from <a href="http://www.woodcraft.com/" target="_blank">Woodcraft</a> and while cleaning up the rough castings, decided to grind off the large TAIWAN on the sides to "improve" their apperance. The screw for the leg vise came from <a href="http://www.busybeetools.com/" target="_blank">Busy Bee</a> Tools in Canada and the Douglas Fir and Pine from the local lumber yard. After the pictures were taken, I fashioned a pair of bench-dogs to complete the project. I think it turned out well and I'm looking forward to using it at the Museum as we recreate a Carpenter's Shop of not that long ago.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Another View Showing Leg Vise</strong></span></td></tr>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-57649041481068548262012-09-20T10:53:00.000-07:002012-09-28T05:35:47.864-07:00An Interesting Trunk Project for Columbia SHP Followers of my blog know that I've had a long association with Columbia State Historic Park, here in Northern California. Earlier this year, I was approached with an interesting project by Amber Cantisano, one of the interpreters in the Park. Before I get into explaining the project, a little background is in order. Next to the iconic Wells Fargo building in Columbia, stands a deep, open building that has served a variety of businesses over its long history. For about the last 50 years its been a Stage Depot display for luggage and baggage, supposedly reflective of the Park's interpretive period of 1850-1870. For all those decades, dozens of original 19th century trunks and chests have sat in a state of neglect and continual ruin until many have been reduced to relics.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG4LmpQP_k10vokrbrYo_ekzqQP6afI4n_erh0J-7GOzCXVIyZUf0rcCoT1uZgRKgb2FUt8Mxs_q3v-lkNlfNoYxq06yitj5v9t9JRhXbtp7JY4xaAgWg0gkQ9fTtM4nmdOLcxGsVh06H/s1600/colwfgo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG4LmpQP_k10vokrbrYo_ekzqQP6afI4n_erh0J-7GOzCXVIyZUf0rcCoT1uZgRKgb2FUt8Mxs_q3v-lkNlfNoYxq06yitj5v9t9JRhXbtp7JY4xaAgWg0gkQ9fTtM4nmdOLcxGsVh06H/s400/colwfgo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Columbia's Wells Fargo Building with</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Stage Depot to the Right</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Older Image Courtesy <a href="http://www.malakoff.com/">www.malakoff.com</a></span></td></tr>
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Earlier this year, Park staff began removing the original trunks to better storage, while curator Thonni Morikawa and Amber continued the planning of an updated interpretive display to replace them. This new display would be more in keeping with the Park's mission to better teach California history and would include appropriate text panels and graphics. My part in all this would be to build four replica trunks, based on originals salvaged from the old display. Three of the four picked by Thonni were good examples of mid-19th century styles and one was definitely early 19th century. My replicas would become key elements in the new display, eliminating the angst caused by the loss of original artifacts. What made this project a curious depature from my normal work was that the trunks would only be used as props and never be opened. In other words, non-funtional but pretty cool to look at.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgcnX6YXEXUyCvJ0N6kaqy5GMgFrX-sluO6dnOThynzMXxim1a7Wr_Z4GnfNCATZmklNSKIzeb9UF9MMAEeEsPcKMpMww_yXs_OzLxK1SJidlSTXp8jkx7oPyp0_JEJpCJUfCLxz6pmJu/s1600/IMG_1778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgcnX6YXEXUyCvJ0N6kaqy5GMgFrX-sluO6dnOThynzMXxim1a7Wr_Z4GnfNCATZmklNSKIzeb9UF9MMAEeEsPcKMpMww_yXs_OzLxK1SJidlSTXp8jkx7oPyp0_JEJpCJUfCLxz6pmJu/s400/IMG_1778.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Jenny Lind Trunk Form (</strong>upper right<strong>) Covered in Leather</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Two Lower Trunk Forms in Unpainted Canvas</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Hair on Hide Covered Trunk </strong>(upper left)<strong> Near Completion</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Photos Lindy Miller 2012</span></td></tr>
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After gathering the data from the original trunks, I began by building the hollow forms for each trunk from one inch, number two pine. A careful layout on paper allowed me to project where thicknesses in the pine planks needed to be, in order to sculpt the profiles of the original trunks. A lot of planing and rasping brought out the curves and angles that lead to solid but graceful forms. Two of the mid-century trunks were similar and would eventually be covered in painted canvas. The Jenny Lind style trunk would get a covering of tooled, vegetable tanned leather and the fourth, earlier cylinder trunk, was destined to wear unborn calf hide, or as they call it, "slunk".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Progress on Coverings and Hardware</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Hair on Hide Trunk Completed</span></strong></td></tr>
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Although these replicas were only props, I was intent on sweating the details that characterize period trunks. In most surviving examples, the straps and protective flaps are missing and we are left with only remnant clues as to their original design. With a little detective work and research, I gleened enough information to confidently craft my facsimiles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT3RMW6xAf2BRnK80ZvkYJ1Rttf5vNiMGk4klGcXDNtjgXiMEusO4e5daZGXbhWCtWiY4USirplipJSmHPD0sKmjA9J3Wew3TWF9FNoYCebA1IoLatLFyI8bJ0TJG1TLLR-8r2phbkPN9/s1600/IMG_1839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT3RMW6xAf2BRnK80ZvkYJ1Rttf5vNiMGk4klGcXDNtjgXiMEusO4e5daZGXbhWCtWiY4USirplipJSmHPD0sKmjA9J3Wew3TWF9FNoYCebA1IoLatLFyI8bJ0TJG1TLLR-8r2phbkPN9/s640/IMG_1839.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Hidden Details on Canvas Covered Example</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Awaiting the Final Brass Tacks</span></strong></td></tr>
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Finding all of the appropriate materials is always a challenge but I was pretty lucky to find close matches from online vendors. A good source for solid brass tacks is <a href="http://www.crazycrow.com/" target="_blank">Crazy Crow Trading Post</a> and they have a selection of sizes. The Jenny Lind style of tack is less common but I found two sources for two varietys. <a href="http://www.vandykes.com/" target="_blank">Van Dykes Restorers</a> offers a large cast iron Jenny Lind style tack, that comes from India and the <a href="http://www.restorationsupplies.com/" target="_blank">Furniture Restoration Center of Oregon</a> has a smaller version but still a good style. For iron roller buckles, I used <a href="http://www.blockaderunner.com/" target="_blank">Blockade Runner Sutlery</a> of Tennessee. All of the leather came from an online auction.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_HcWPCY5pzDmlTFLrH8roS5EyNUkbN4moCAvXLmOWpulT1ROxxB5QU9rPVOuTzQuIwaVYiU3ZudbLexDoVJ7c2U-CTvPGc5BBs3eLkuDerlA5kSZnjg2JNufQGjJR56QnUHvwmLwhQT3/s1600/IMG_1993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_HcWPCY5pzDmlTFLrH8roS5EyNUkbN4moCAvXLmOWpulT1ROxxB5QU9rPVOuTzQuIwaVYiU3ZudbLexDoVJ7c2U-CTvPGc5BBs3eLkuDerlA5kSZnjg2JNufQGjJR56QnUHvwmLwhQT3/s400/IMG_1993.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>All Four Trunks Completed and </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Ready for Delivery</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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All of the locking mechanisms were crafted from scratch, using brass and steel and although based on the original versions, they didn't need to be functional. Some of the original trunk's leather handles and straps had hand stitched detail which I copied in my replicas as faithful as possible. Embossing the leather was an interesting exercise. I ended up making a tooling wheel - roller thingy , using a strip of embossed brass wrapped around a wooden cylinder. That, plus an embossing plate made from some of the same brass strip, gave me the tools neccessary to stamp the veg.- tanned covering for the Jenny Lind trunk with decorative panel designs. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UMQnqw-sjeTvejBRhSfzX-qsKWsVbEZ3hdutBrm5Kr7B5gdxZc7J5BjrTx4tsYMGpf3WZN0qcimcWbb21svKP2CIdi32bbVU4ppsloczZl8d8E1L-sQgZ5v4sJScuxst7IgO9hIAXUQW/s1600/IMG_1859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UMQnqw-sjeTvejBRhSfzX-qsKWsVbEZ3hdutBrm5Kr7B5gdxZc7J5BjrTx4tsYMGpf3WZN0qcimcWbb21svKP2CIdi32bbVU4ppsloczZl8d8E1L-sQgZ5v4sJScuxst7IgO9hIAXUQW/s640/IMG_1859.jpg" width="537" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Closer views of the Hide Covered Versions</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To allow for display options, I made sure that the trunks were complete and authentically styled from all sides, including the bottoms. All in all an interesting project with its own challenges but well worth it and I got to help improve the interpretation of our local history. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMD8_GGvIz5zE0hM2kKNmzGf3M2Bc3nEgbmwE9Exw-7oyTynkGALSjpA26SwpaHJTtKEg6b6KOcJRR7DKSlwA_-EsNlDHS-W25aAw9oII5B8lyctrX-Lp35JCQRRCtsGz7Dd2WT6CXVuY/s1600/IMG_2027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMD8_GGvIz5zE0hM2kKNmzGf3M2Bc3nEgbmwE9Exw-7oyTynkGALSjpA26SwpaHJTtKEg6b6KOcJRR7DKSlwA_-EsNlDHS-W25aAw9oII5B8lyctrX-Lp35JCQRRCtsGz7Dd2WT6CXVuY/s400/IMG_2027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>The Trunks in Their New Home</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">But Not the Final Display</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-84639539244247737372012-08-05T07:06:00.000-07:002012-08-06T05:16:16.824-07:00Eureka Moments Revisited, Part 6, "A Pocket Full of Rocks." During the California Gold Rush, some hopeful argonauts would brag about returning home with a "pocket full of rocks". This saying suggests a clothing pocket stuffed with nuggets but it might be the archaic use of the word "pocket", defined as a bag or poke.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd118LUwRpjwHJFaCV8W8OLcU1oXDOg5_Q3BNln1zJiQIyTpHoOk28F1kelUGr4mZCkBw8-rPjQv_7s33GsOnDDYl43zy5mjnwT_8mGXIBYl6k8kyKqgsHpbtjWKj8I8GoKTc9b8u3uuB/s1600/Charles-Christian-Nahl-Saturday-Night-Mines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd118LUwRpjwHJFaCV8W8OLcU1oXDOg5_Q3BNln1zJiQIyTpHoOk28F1kelUGr4mZCkBw8-rPjQv_7s33GsOnDDYl43zy5mjnwT_8mGXIBYl6k8kyKqgsHpbtjWKj8I8GoKTc9b8u3uuB/s400/Charles-Christian-Nahl-Saturday-Night-Mines.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>The Routine Ritual of Weighing the Gold Dust</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">(and other pursuits)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">note the gold bag on the table</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Courtesy artknowledgenews.com</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After the precious dust, flakes and nuggets were wrestled from the earth, miners were faced with the problem of how to safely store their reward. Back in March of 2011, I posted on Gold Porters (vests) but barely touched on the leather bag or poke, used for storing raw gold. In this post, I will explore the subject a little more and talk about the replica bags, I've made.<br />
<br />
Very little has been written about this simple leather bag, so I'm left to my own speculations and conclusions. By studying surviving examples, I began to see similar features, but no two are exactly alike. There were commercially made versions and they may have been standardized (one example is featured in this post), but the evidence suggests that many were homemade. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvlhKHn5t5wJDZURpfhBuYjySDfTaLteMnoTMFj4geuHo7IperE3ED49yWkrODxAHiWQ8sCOHMsWTFq5xFQpfE4HJfE3aeueHTVFGUccquELcuSgcoc_oj0JF1y3lEFLeZ3A7eHwjNiN1/s1600/20090827-185353-pic-38743290_display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvlhKHn5t5wJDZURpfhBuYjySDfTaLteMnoTMFj4geuHo7IperE3ED49yWkrODxAHiWQ8sCOHMsWTFq5xFQpfE4HJfE3aeueHTVFGUccquELcuSgcoc_oj0JF1y3lEFLeZ3A7eHwjNiN1/s400/20090827-185353-pic-38743290_display.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Original Gold Bags</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">One in the Foreground Has a Name and Number</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Image Source Unknown</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The basic form is an elongated tube with a rounded bottom. Many are made of one piece of leather with a side seam that continues down one side and around the bottom. Some examples have a separate, second piece for the bottom. Most all have welted seams, with a strip of leather sandwiched between the two sewn sides. I'm no expert when it comes to leather identification but soft buckskin seems to have been a popular choice. From photos of originals and the few that I've had the chance to study, it appears that the flesh side of the leather was turned to the outside and the smoother, hair side ended up on the inside. This makes perfect sense, as you wouldn't want your gold dust clinging to rough side of the leather. Finally, the string ties used to close the bag, were occasionally attached at the side seam during construction and located near the opening of the bag.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ev6bGkAVP5xKY35QFLf6_DL2qUanRhOzwJv0Hbl9CHGppaMifnw3yCwp8v5ShadaPgEpYY1uE0v2wRZWYahg327ZJaFpknB52j5vnk_TNeU2vQU_bkZlgd8HI1XDu-dlkYqJzbHI_OE-/s1600/10214699_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ev6bGkAVP5xKY35QFLf6_DL2qUanRhOzwJv0Hbl9CHGppaMifnw3yCwp8v5ShadaPgEpYY1uE0v2wRZWYahg327ZJaFpknB52j5vnk_TNeU2vQU_bkZlgd8HI1XDu-dlkYqJzbHI_OE-/s400/10214699_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>An Original Gold Bag with Evidence of Wax Seals</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Source, Online Auction</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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An interesting clue as to how these bags were used, is the telltale bits of sealing wax that seem to decorate many original bags. After the bag was tied shut and weighed, sealing wax would be dripped on the string ties to deter tampering during shipment. In the example shown, the seals were probably intended to identify the handlers prior to or during shipping as they are not near where the ties would be. You will also see original bags with a name, location and the amount of gold, written on the outside in ink (see "California's Best", Brad & Brian Whitherell, pg. 115 for several examples).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIhTGB2Qke8UzMjuE5-xxuz_35ZAfN43RnOUtW_B1QGP5kH4DMEWS7qpAYnyM5HjHwr-OEaKBVgQYGLEeeQCcUddXNNJhDopIG97p7yqlKLxUGHE-Jzstui2WQIO0w51gKpiUMhtfBZJy/s1600/fourteen+by+four+and+a+half.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIhTGB2Qke8UzMjuE5-xxuz_35ZAfN43RnOUtW_B1QGP5kH4DMEWS7qpAYnyM5HjHwr-OEaKBVgQYGLEeeQCcUddXNNJhDopIG97p7yqlKLxUGHE-Jzstui2WQIO0w51gKpiUMhtfBZJy/s640/fourteen+by+four+and+a+half.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Unused Original Gold Bag</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Manufactured for and Sold by</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">John C. Morrison Jr. & Co. S.F. Cal.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Circa Mid-1850's</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Source, Online Auction</span></strong></td></tr>
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Not long ago, a facinating gold bag appeared on an online auction. It turned up far away from the California gold fields and in unused condition. What made this bag interesting to me, was how well it was marked.<br />
Near the open end of the bag, is the stamp of John C. Morrison, Jr. & Co. Mr. Morrison is listed as an "importer" in the San Francisco directory of 1852-1853, but at a different address than the stamp. Since the label claims "Manufactured expressly for", the bag might have been discovered near it's orignal source and never actually made the trip West. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZg6MGSMw1IDtKPdqAXi7aj4f-DbZYx2chVIpcwSULIJm2wDvS_vanOjlNCgRnV7cEiNeoSroONhXTExc6KA-Vz5ACj-2WmkNE2YIjxiUn86lohgghwqnY2A06ez-J8OKNWsjmxFTzSc9/s1600/ddgoldbag1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZg6MGSMw1IDtKPdqAXi7aj4f-DbZYx2chVIpcwSULIJm2wDvS_vanOjlNCgRnV7cEiNeoSroONhXTExc6KA-Vz5ACj-2WmkNE2YIjxiUn86lohgghwqnY2A06ez-J8OKNWsjmxFTzSc9/s320/ddgoldbag1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Close-up of Original Label </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">on the Morrison Bag</span></strong></td></tr>
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After I made my replica of the Morrison bag, I tried a little experiment to simulate the printed label found on the original. Using Microsoft Word, I composed a facsimile of the label with similar typefaces and shrunk it to size. My wife then reversed the image on her computer. I printed this final example on our copier, with the ink set to dark. With the printed label face down on the finished bag, I pressed the back side of the paper with a hot iron for a few seconds, to transfer the image to the leather. I think it worked quite nicely as an impression of the original.<br />
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A little trick I learned while making my replica bags, (purists, please forgive me) is to carefully apply Aleene's Tacky Glue to hold the layers of leather together at the seam, before punching the holes and hand sewing with waxed linen thread. The object is to use only enough glue along the outer edge of the three layers to hold them until they're secured with a tight, overcast stitch. Once the bag is turned to the outside, you can carefully trim the welt back with sharp scissors and hopefully no glue will show. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju74lZreKcSyTh8rtA5QlRx_6j4ATeKFy1ERjAB9V4ESE9cbNcwhANT6vKAAGkKU2v1DPbXHDNrqFwehDAXXUJ4ZVjiacrMsnkmcUM47V40EXPi69ey2a5A0G_4dGxDFQqo0x01s7uG-sA/s1600/IMG_1757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju74lZreKcSyTh8rtA5QlRx_6j4ATeKFy1ERjAB9V4ESE9cbNcwhANT6vKAAGkKU2v1DPbXHDNrqFwehDAXXUJ4ZVjiacrMsnkmcUM47V40EXPi69ey2a5A0G_4dGxDFQqo0x01s7uG-sA/s640/IMG_1757.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>My Replica Bags</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Photo Lindy Miller 2012</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Of the three replica bags in the picture, my favorite is the J. App & Co. from Jamestown. The original is on display at the Museum in Columbia State Historic Park and secured in a case. I could only guess the dimensions but still managed to pull off a decent replica. I love the hand lettering and how it dissapears into the seam. To me, this suggests that the bag was most likely locally made as the inking was done before the seam was stitched.<br />
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It's hard to imagine how many "rocks" it would take to fill one of these large "pockets", let alone the amount of labor to dig them up. Just routine business in Gold Rush California.<br />
<br />Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-63871079804709154642012-06-23T19:37:00.001-07:002012-06-24T10:10:24.590-07:00Eureka Moments Revisited Part 5, A Gold Rush Shopping Spree Sometime around 2000 (the exact date escapes me) Columbia State Historic Park was contacted by an out-of-state bookdealer who had a treasure to sell. In the pursuit of primary resources for Gold Rush material culture, it's hard to imagine anything better than the written accounts of what merchants sold to miners and that's what the dealer had. He offered original California Gold Rush daily ledger books for 1853-'55 from the "Vanderwerker and Jacobs Store" in the neighboring town of Springfield. What an opportunity ! There was, of course, a scramble at the Park for money (these things don't come cheap) but with the help of the docents' cooperating association, the ledgers were purchased.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuZzodUnA3B9pLhfaZ3ETDPJA80DpjxcGmjaLv0HVzaWdMisUloUf1aDH2zDpL2M4aJzPT0C5vrJZfYpPe7pTXlkJpa63_3-5pNDOEVSzROQNU5IUy__QxqVWhDM7bY8AwcUujgeEwUvP/s1600/984B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuZzodUnA3B9pLhfaZ3ETDPJA80DpjxcGmjaLv0HVzaWdMisUloUf1aDH2zDpL2M4aJzPT0C5vrJZfYpPe7pTXlkJpa63_3-5pNDOEVSzROQNU5IUy__QxqVWhDM7bY8AwcUujgeEwUvP/s320/984B.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>The Gold Rush Town of Springfield </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Early 1850's</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Image Collection of Matthew R. Isenburg</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Soon after they arrived, I had the opportunity to view them and I was immediately swept up in the chance to read a first-hand record of the raw consumerism, birthed by the Gold Rush. One immediate challenge was trying to read all of the different hands. There were obviously several clerks keeping accounts. More importantly though, I began to wonder how to turn this information into something useful. I was starting to feel overwhelmed as I pondered the commitment it would take to transcribe the books, but what the heck, who else would do this ? I asked Ranger Sherrin Grout if there was any chance I could secure copies of the books. I was blown away by her generous offer to do it for me. So, with copies of the ledgers in hand my work began.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWNnqq6etxddkkqG-Mrm1uGcxsdBr85XTQI6196_ugEzHmQOs2-6ivypaeVzSf9JMDLCca74kZLrhRer6zaQHlnsgq_OtyGEE6Pdl6R23-vl8d2NtVNMKdL9MNQP19uKXUkpEkOdGZ05J/s1600/IMG_1612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWNnqq6etxddkkqG-Mrm1uGcxsdBr85XTQI6196_ugEzHmQOs2-6ivypaeVzSf9JMDLCca74kZLrhRer6zaQHlnsgq_OtyGEE6Pdl6R23-vl8d2NtVNMKdL9MNQP19uKXUkpEkOdGZ05J/s640/IMG_1612.jpg" width="353" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>A Page From My Copy of the Original Ledger Book</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Photo Lindy Miller 2012</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong><br /></strong><br />
This post is a little different for my blog. It's mostly data with little to no illustrations as I didn't feel compelled to jazz it up with pictures. I hope the curious reader will still find it interesting and let their imagination provide the visuals. I decided to explore the earliest ledger of 1853 and felt that by organizing the purchases into catagories, complete with tallies as to their frequency, it might give us insight into the miner's buying patterns. Most established Gold Rush communities had many general merchandise stores, so at best this is a sampling and not conclusive. The lists start with a category title, followed by the top ten items in that category. Behind each item is a number that represents the number of sales of that item for the year. Next, you will occasionally see in brackets additional descriptions of the item from the ledgers. These additons were random and infrequent but still important clues to the products. I have carefully listed the items as they were written with no interpretation on my part. So, let's begin with.....<br />
<br />
CATEGORY<br />
<br />
Item # of Sales Description<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>FOOD</strong><br />
<br />
Sugar 130 ( crushed, mat )<br />
Butter 120 (with keg)<br />
Flour 92 (sack, barrel, can, buckwheat, rye)<br />
Potatoes 88<br />
Pork 60<br />
Beans 59 (sack)<br />
Ham 56<br />
Apples 42 (can)<br />
Meal 33 (corn)<br />
Molasses 33<br />
<br />
<strong>SPICES, CONDIMENTS & FOOD ADDITIVES</strong><br />
<br />
Vinegar 43 (bottle)<br />
Saleratus 37<br />
Syrup 24<br />
Pepper 26 (box, can, paper)<br />
Cream of Tartar 9 (box)<br />
Cinnamon 8 (box)<br />
Peppersauce 7 <br />
Nutmeg 7<br />
Cloves 6 (ground)<br />
Mustard 5 (bottle )<br />
<br />
<strong>DRINK & TOBACCO</strong><br />
<br />
Tea 79 (paper of)<br />
Tobacco 78 (plug, paper of, box of)<br />
Brandy 63 <br />
Coffee 55 (ground)<br />
Whiskey 30 (bottle)<br />
Gin 27<br />
Cigars 9<br />
Wine 4 (port)<br />
Claret 4<br />
Liquor 2<br />
<br />
<strong>CLOTHING</strong><br />
<br />
Shirt 82 (hickory, twilled over-, red, grey woolen, white, wool, red wool, grey wool, blue wool )<br />
Pants 56 (kersey, cotton, superior, S.G., grey, grey wollen, fancy, linen)<br />
Boots 44<br />
Socks 60 (cotton hose, cotton, wool)<br />
Shoes 36<br />
Hat 20 (panama)<br />
Handkerchief 15 (pocket, cotton)<br />
Drawers 9<br />
Suspenders 6<br />
Undershirt 5<br />
<br />
<strong>TEXTILES & NOTIONS</strong><br />
<br />
Muslin 25 (brown, bleached)<br />
Duck 23<br />
Calico 12 <br />
Drill 12 <br />
Thread 10 (spool, hank, linen)<br />
Flannel 6 (red)<br />
Oilcloth 4<br />
Ticking 4 <br />
Satinett 3 <br />
Neddles 3 (and palm)<br />
<br />
<strong>HARDWARE, TOOLS, MINING TOOLS ETC.</strong><br />
<br />
Shovel 30<br />
Hoe 20 (flat tom, improved tom)<br />
Pail 19 (bucket, tin, water)<br />
Pick 11<br />
Hammer 8 (sledge)<br />
Axe Helve 7<br />
Butts 6<br />
Saw 6 (crosscut, wood)<br />
Pick Handle 7 (helve)<br />
Gold Blower 5<br />
<br />
<strong>BUILDING MATERIALS</strong><br />
<br />
Nails 104 (wrought)<br />
Tacks 29 (paper of)<br />
Lumber 29 (flooring, boards, joice, ribs)<br />
Rope 14 (barrel of, manilla)<br />
Twine 11 (ball of)<br />
Shingles 5<br />
Paint 3 (black)<br />
Blind Fastenings 1<br />
Pickets 1<br />
Posts 1<br />
<br />
<strong>HOUSEWARES</strong><br />
<br />
Candles 104 (box of)<br />
Plates 35 (soup, dining, large, pie, tea)<br />
Matches 23 (box of)<br />
Broom 16<br />
Blankets 15 (pair of, grey)<br />
Knife 13 (chopping, pocket)<br />
Spoon 11 (table, tea)<br />
Knives and Forks 10<br />
Cups 5<br />
Quilts 4 (Maryland, bed)<br />
<br />
<strong>MEDICINES ETC.</strong><br />
<br />
Oil 12 (can of, Carter)<br />
Camphor 6<br />
Sulphur 5<br />
Sarsaparilla 4<br />
Turpentine & Whiskey 3<br />
Cassia 3<br />
Turpentine 2 (spirits of)<br />
Seidlitz Powder 2 (box of)<br />
Camphor & Turpentine 1<br />
Pain Killer 1 (bottle) <br />
<br />
<strong>NOTE:</strong> Apparently, some of the customers were making up their own "home remedies". Turpentine combined with Whiskey is a purgative and Camphor mixed with Turpentine is a pesticide or inhalent for lung congestion. Further down the list was Whiskey and Camphor, which apparently made a passable liniment or could be injested for pneumonia. Scarey eh ?<br />
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<strong>PERSONAL</strong><br />
<br />
Soap 52 (shaving, bar, box of, cake of)<br />
Paper 21 (letter, writing, wrapping)<br />
Ink 7 (bottle of)<br />
Cards 5 (playing, pack of)<br />
Brush 5 (shaving, tooth)<br />
Pens 4 (box of)<br />
Book 4 (pocket, blank, memo)<br />
Purse 2<br />
Shoe Blacking 1<br />
Razor 1<br />
<br />
This is where I decided to stop for this post. The list of items in each category goes on and on. The categories I left out were Gunpowder and related items and Animals and Feed. I hope the sampling gives the reader at least a sense of what was available in these mining towns. It created more questions than answers for me but that's the beauty of it. I'm still researching the data and thinking of other ways to oganize it, like how many pounds of something sold in a year.<br />
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There were groupings of items that don't show up in the above lists that tell the story of the entrepreneurs who started a ranch or boarding house or bought the tools to ply a trade like carpentry. There it is in black and white, the story of men trying to make it in this crazy place called California, not that long ago.<br />
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<br />
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<strong><br /></strong><br />
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<br />Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-44362440654778217702012-05-05T19:32:00.001-07:002012-05-07T05:46:54.999-07:00Eureka Moments Revisited Part 4, Levis in the Gold Rush, Myth or Fact ? The California Gold Rush produced enough wealth to finance countless business ventures but very few survived to the present day. One of the survivors of that turbulent time is the world renown Levi Strauss & Co. What this post will explore, is the truth behind the persistent story that Levi Strauss sewed blue jean trousers for miners, in the early days of the Gold Rush. <br />
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During my first year of volunteering at Columbia State Historic Park, I was told by the docent in charge of men's costumes, that it was a "fact" that Levi Strauss had personally made canvas trousers for miners from the sailcloth of abandoned ships in San Francisco harbor. He explained that the reason the fabric was dyed blue, was because Levi wanted to hide the fact that the canvas was soiled. Over the years, I have heard many tales of the origins of blue jeans, some even from teachers, who I know have access to accurate information. I've read skewed examples of the story in history books and cringed when I heard "talking head" historians tell their version, in several documentary films. The thing that makes me crazy is that there is an element of truth in some of the "tales" but the actual story is far more interesting. Today's Levi Strauss & Co. has made every effort to tell the true history but the myths continue. I will try to shed some light on this story and then show and tell how I made my own pair of "early" Levis that I use to teach with.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1DX5TKSkH3dD6qxPXo6HA1KIdhpim9LMtE9R03Mnw-VJKsCw-70UrQ8D1p5DcdHVl7RbwYRXaJ40HyemjUnLaH2K-g6EA6wkQUdpSfOHPZj2UVLlAtRTzTo-RQKzPwtS3zWYPIVHY5Ne/s1600/levi-strauss-biography.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1DX5TKSkH3dD6qxPXo6HA1KIdhpim9LMtE9R03Mnw-VJKsCw-70UrQ8D1p5DcdHVl7RbwYRXaJ40HyemjUnLaH2K-g6EA6wkQUdpSfOHPZj2UVLlAtRTzTo-RQKzPwtS3zWYPIVHY5Ne/s400/levi-strauss-biography.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Levis Strauss</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Gold Rush Merchant</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">image courtesy abcpedia.us</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The story starts in 1853, with the arrival in San Francisco of a Bavarian immigrant named Levi Strauss. Levi was acting on behalf of his family's New York dry goods company, J. Strauss Brother & Co., with the intention of starting a new business in the boom or bust "City by the Bay". Dry Goods merchants typically sold fabric and ready-made clothing as their staples and Levi was no exception. He immediately began wholesaling to other merchants who could barely keep up with the needs of their consumers, namely miners. So, here is your first element of truth. A miner could have purchased a pair of typical, strudy work trousers from his local merchant that might have been from Levis's wholesale warehouse, but they would have been made elsewhere, most likely back East. Nothing remarkable here, just the business of business. So what was the big deal that starts the ball rolling towards the birth of the iconic blue-jean ? Well, that isn't until 1873, long after the gold-crazed rush had settled down a bit.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNijHfpptr0NStopcAedOxvtuOitPt1aKPAu551D7x36GEdoujl3IZITkkAmnnsgoueBe0jbegHE3U7yenz0JtV0Lq6hsaPxuLKVTBpOUmRdcTAPCzqV_WhYwZLIRV1vlx-zixRgi__uLi/s1600/pg1pat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNijHfpptr0NStopcAedOxvtuOitPt1aKPAu551D7x36GEdoujl3IZITkkAmnnsgoueBe0jbegHE3U7yenz0JtV0Lq6hsaPxuLKVTBpOUmRdcTAPCzqV_WhYwZLIRV1vlx-zixRgi__uLi/s400/pg1pat.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Illustration from the Original</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1873 Davis Patent</span></td></tr>
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A Reno Nevada tailor named Jacob Davis was a good customer of Levi Strauss in the early 1870's. Jacob purchased his fabric from Levi to make his stock-in-trade clothing, some of which was for laborers and Comstock miners. A woman customer had requested that Jacob come up with a way to make sturdier trousers for her husband. Jacob hit on the idea of riveting the seams of his trousers, at their stress points, to improve their longevity. It was so successful that he could barely keep up with the demand for his "new" riveted trousers or waist overalls as they were called. Sensing that his idea might get away, Jacob approached his old business associate Levi Strauss, with the thought of having him help patent this revolutionary concept. Levi knew a good thing when he saw it and the rest is history. Jacob ended up with job at Levi's, producing the new trousers that would soon take the world by storm. The only reason they used blue denim jean, was because it was a favorite fabric choice for work-wear, nothing more. So, what did these first Blue Jeans look like ?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzNL2SiwAS_ML7ql9alSGiqYsWzADqv4LNG72Cx94gRmg5t118bQxtZ3Z5cXSi52KWnnrQ_Ey_Ju5baAGDmMkrZ61PLAxbBurY068bzSdBzVD2xBtzflAAQ2EqfgvEDoM5R2huUMJsm2-/s1600/levis-worlds-oldest-pair-of-jeans-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzNL2SiwAS_ML7ql9alSGiqYsWzADqv4LNG72Cx94gRmg5t118bQxtZ3Z5cXSi52KWnnrQ_Ey_Ju5baAGDmMkrZ61PLAxbBurY068bzSdBzVD2xBtzflAAQ2EqfgvEDoM5R2huUMJsm2-/s640/levis-worlds-oldest-pair-of-jeans-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oldest Pair of Levis, Held by</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Lynn Downey, L.S. & Co. Historian</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">image courtesy fashioncraz.com</span></td></tr>
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Unfortunately, Levi Strauss & Co. lost all of their early records in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, but on occasion, rare historical material relating to the company, will surface. In the recent past, L. S. & Co. was lucky enough to purchase what they believe is the earliest surviving pair of jeans, dated circa 1879. When I studied the pictures of those trousers, I discovered that this earliest survivor shares a lot with its modern 501 cousin. The single back pocket, belted-back and lack of belt loops are the most obvious differences. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_tPwqgO0aXjDr-0k70TZxbKmibnZDoM1sfAtwuhBGkImu0EOpzcuxIPaBYgv7hZaIm6iYWmgyKNUsofuwYNrCEYUV8_0kzlptsjeB620G05u4U2Zv9cF8lHML_-NyeCpM4mBGIfOJa87/s1600/IMG_1540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_tPwqgO0aXjDr-0k70TZxbKmibnZDoM1sfAtwuhBGkImu0EOpzcuxIPaBYgv7hZaIm6iYWmgyKNUsofuwYNrCEYUV8_0kzlptsjeB620G05u4U2Zv9cF8lHML_-NyeCpM4mBGIfOJa87/s400/IMG_1540.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Replica</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Images Lindy Miller 2012</span></td></tr>
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For my replica, I chose to use <a href="http://www.pastpatterns.com/" target="_blank">Past Patterns</a> #710 Union Issue Trowsers pattern to start with. I had to alter the pattern's side pocket design to duplicate the traditional scooping front pockets of the original trousers. My modern 501 jeans gave me just the clues I needed to amend the pattern. A medium weight, 100% cotton denim was easy enough to locate as it's still a common staple in the fabric world. I used the smallest, 2 piece, solid copper rivets I could find and brass 4 hole buttons, which I modified with the addition of a rim and depressed center. I found it was easy to use an awl to open a hole for the rivets, rather than punching one. After wearing the trousers off and on for a year, they've started to look the part of a survivor. It's not a perfect replica as I'm not trying to deceive anyone. The reason I created this replica was to use it as a visual aid while teaching a "truer" version of one of the greatest success stories that ever came out of Gold Rush California.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7e3s0-fzNfrUDbrTz3Jkrku0sd4EPuzvVbDv46MrVaM3DCcIftRJpA4sonQ6W3sWRs13G-gAl1n4xJYUGJif9SWq8lOm_x1eaionc32POl9bwEaHvI1crjBsKl61TkAi-ZmsyoNYQkgXs/s1600/IMG_1541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7e3s0-fzNfrUDbrTz3Jkrku0sd4EPuzvVbDv46MrVaM3DCcIftRJpA4sonQ6W3sWRs13G-gAl1n4xJYUGJif9SWq8lOm_x1eaionc32POl9bwEaHvI1crjBsKl61TkAi-ZmsyoNYQkgXs/s400/IMG_1541.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Replica Rear View</span></td></tr>
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<br />
If you wish more information on the history of the <a href="http://www.levistrauss.com/" target="_blank">Levi Strauss & Co., </a>I would suggest you visit their website or purchase a copy of " Images of America, Levi Strauss & Co.", by Lynn Downey, Arcadia Publishing 2007.<br />
<br />Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5170169330612922416.post-15782507560052227392012-02-26T09:34:00.001-08:002012-02-28T05:08:47.973-08:00Historic Costume Recreations Revisited or A Suspended Project Revived I think it's safe to say that people involved in historical crafts, normally have a backlog of projects. It's also a fact that once in awhile a "future" project slips through the cracks. That is exactly what happened to this undertaking, until recently rediscovered.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjbcOFMptJvM86Uo1y7dLzKE1U8purShpadk-ju8UVo-sZmvzePTpgUEFCmm-AwiSrOrmpx42cBtL7kc4GEqvaHAaISrEHB5kqJSM0GLKSTf98a03Kyy1ijoJHPwFFBnmS8qH0BoH1pA2/s1600/IMG_1374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjbcOFMptJvM86Uo1y7dLzKE1U8purShpadk-ju8UVo-sZmvzePTpgUEFCmm-AwiSrOrmpx42cBtL7kc4GEqvaHAaISrEHB5kqJSM0GLKSTf98a03Kyy1ijoJHPwFFBnmS8qH0BoH1pA2/s400/IMG_1374.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">The original pattern from </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Godey's Lady's Magazine, April 1864</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Photos Lindy Miller 2012</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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Many years ago, someone gave me a pattern for men's crocheted suspenders from the April 1864 issue of Godey's Lady's Magazine. At one point, I made the effort to chase down silk yarn (Empire Silk, Karabella Yarns) and even dyed white yarn to create the "maize" color required. My wife is a great knitter, but since she doesn't crochet, I had to find someone to take this on. Apparently, I wasn't very successful, as the yarn and pattern ended up in a bag, buried and forgotten for almost a decade. Now rediscovered, the project finally got rolling again thanks to the unknown talent of my wife's friend Connie. I knew Connie was a stellar seamstress but I didn't know she crocheted. Yeah !!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl4GPfrVfFcr6P9eIlQbQMZj4iYtpIzS6-LmZbLo-Szrwlbf1WgeHfmKKcj12-f8jU4c8Ai5-URjwmoVtEZsK6VScDC2ZR1PsRtXnTQv7eeTSwEQ4MOXevoKOC2tWl4WpG_63MniNYYPY/s1600/IMG_1366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsl4GPfrVfFcr6P9eIlQbQMZj4iYtpIzS6-LmZbLo-Szrwlbf1WgeHfmKKcj12-f8jU4c8Ai5-URjwmoVtEZsK6VScDC2ZR1PsRtXnTQv7eeTSwEQ4MOXevoKOC2tWl4WpG_63MniNYYPY/s400/IMG_1366.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Crocheted Strips Completed</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"> Calf and Kid Ends with Holes Punched</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Ready for Stiching</span></strong></td></tr>
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Once the crocheted strips were completed, I dampened and blocked them to shrink their width slightly. One of the great things about this pattern was the illustration that accompanied it. I've been collecting and studying 19th Century suspenders for years and felt confident to interpret what original examples might have looked like. There certainly is some latitude here, as this pattern was intended for home use. For the leather fittings, I chose a light weight, vegetable tanned calf for the top, and white kid for the underside.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RWYu4C72AqV6ADieu8JViP0uJzzPEbp_SrHzYAaLvqXfBsvGB1Nn6w_Jt703IwH16_-jA7vwH8AJZdEVAxOU4vyIekDikehq0RPGUuZxmNlHocFgBLv4x3us-FRSAxBl_EjdrObjn2Hf/s1600/IMG_1367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RWYu4C72AqV6ADieu8JViP0uJzzPEbp_SrHzYAaLvqXfBsvGB1Nn6w_Jt703IwH16_-jA7vwH8AJZdEVAxOU4vyIekDikehq0RPGUuZxmNlHocFgBLv4x3us-FRSAxBl_EjdrObjn2Hf/s400/IMG_1367.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Ends Showing Linen Canvas Extension</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">and Kid Backside</span></strong></td></tr>
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When you study the illustration, it appears that the buttonholes were bound. From what I've found, bound button holes seem to appear on nicer versions of suspenders. Since the instructions suggest, " .....a little elasticity is desirable." in the crochet work, I feel that the extender section on the back, must have been a simple section of canvas, rather than an elastic tape. When you look at it, there appears to be a seam in the middle.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm1EJ8pcoWHXV8IzQVVOszQ3FzoNrL0Rh1-L9EmThyphenhyphenk7yWvWfW-q_8-kymv1CbJmW4K64gFJCupLhett6eIimIFqiLu7J1vSqti9S-KCX9_5q4EI9DfoaedDx5wq2a-73xs-qYfcirUyn/s1600/IMG_1373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm1EJ8pcoWHXV8IzQVVOszQ3FzoNrL0Rh1-L9EmThyphenhyphenk7yWvWfW-q_8-kymv1CbJmW4K64gFJCupLhett6eIimIFqiLu7J1vSqti9S-KCX9_5q4EI9DfoaedDx5wq2a-73xs-qYfcirUyn/s400/IMG_1373.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Nelson Goodyear's Patented 1849</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Elastic Cord Suspender Ends</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Note the Bound Buttonholes</span></strong></td></tr>
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A "little elasticity" is a good thing in suspenders, so I thought I would augment the crochet with a little elastic cord on the front attachment, courtesy of Nelson Goodyear's patent of 1849. For the buckle I chose the ubiquitous Hartshorn style, patented in 1855. All of the leather was saddle-stitched with a waxed linen thread and I decided to go ahead and bind the buttonholes with kid, which gave them a nice finished look.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJkmcoj5Cf_9MabPMV97lK19lAnuKUx-iLuOzjuebAjqMKigsRkQFGtQGThPqGJ4r-HoQHmEJIstxE_ZFRiYxnolKz-JjJ2P69r11Kw-LJ_rVEiAgEQywZQRhiodJ-wTEz15GGJ6TLT-_/s1600/IMG_1370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJkmcoj5Cf_9MabPMV97lK19lAnuKUx-iLuOzjuebAjqMKigsRkQFGtQGThPqGJ4r-HoQHmEJIstxE_ZFRiYxnolKz-JjJ2P69r11Kw-LJ_rVEiAgEQywZQRhiodJ-wTEz15GGJ6TLT-_/s400/IMG_1370.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>One Side Completed and One</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">On the Way</span></strong></td></tr>
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I think they turned out swell, with more than a little help from our friend. Thanks Connie !! You made it happen. Now I have to keep my eye's peeled for more "buried" projects.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07916079060812539821noreply@blogger.com1