"candle box"

[August77]

Re: "candle box"

Seems to me nearly every time the knapsack matchsafe argument comes along the general consenus swings to these were postwar items and not acceptable for CW era events, but new data could have come along in the past year or so to refute this. Any thoughts?

I think a lot of that little stuff originally pictured in Lord's can be questionable as far as being "period", but I have yet to find anything concrete to definitely say the "knapsack matches" were around during the war or otherwise. It's probably best to leave them out of any war time impression for now. IMHO, I would bank on them being a post-war keepsake for veterans organizations. Certainly don't want to hijack this thread, but would be interested in other's thoughts as well.

[rogue]

Re: "candle box"

Here I go, kidnapping again, but I could not resist.
Mr. Briggs and Mr. Heath both mentioned topics that recalled one of the goodies I picked up way back then that was identified to Captain Shipman. This is a neat folding candle lantern. No labels nor makers mark. Folds into a 4X4X1 inch piece of work. Painted black with embossed decorations.
Steve Sullivan

[August77]

Re: "candle box"

Mr. Sullivan,
Now that is a nifty little item!!!

Attached are the images of the one Dave Taylor was selling. It may still be available for all I know.

[Charles Heath]

Re: "candle box"

Certainly don't want to hijack this thread, but would be interested in other's thoughts as well.

Bill,

Check out the other half dozen threads on this subject, as the discussions may still be around, if they didn't get wiped out in the various forum crashes. Matches and matchsafes are one of those common subjects oft revisted, and the many threads about making repop matches are usually pretty darn good.

[Dutchman Dick]

Re: "candle box"

Please check the attached photos. Is this the type of "candle box" the thread is referring to? This was carried by Captain Stephen V. Shipman of the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry. I obtained this in 1960 along with a number of other goodies from a dealer who bought them from Shipman's grand- daughter. It is made of metal and has a japaned finish. Original candle still in place, and a match in the match section. There is a partial label on the cover, but I cannot make out what it says. The grand-daughter was Swedish, so?
Steve Sullivan

Now THAT'S neat! Not exactly the same as the "sutler row" item I've seen, but the same concept.

Would you be willing to make some detailed dimensioned drawings and take some more photos? Looks like something I could probably duplicate myself, if I had that information.

[Charles Heath]

Re: "candle box"

And had they often candles and when they had it, had they it all? I think that there also the answer is... No!

William,

Candles and lamp oils were definitely issued, and this incredibly useful website explains why in considerable detail:

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php

[Spinster]

Re: "candle box"

That reminds me to ask Keith Bartsch about his candle lantern project from the pre-Reoccupation of Fort Sumter days. Keith was seeking industrial mica for the flameproof "glass," but I don't recall if the price scared him off, or the project was shelved for other reasons.

Shelved because we could not find mica in a large enough size--at the time, all we were seeing was little 3 x 3 inch squares, or thereabouts, all meant to fill some sort of peephole for ultra-efficent wood stoves.

Yes, its been four years since law school ate up Col. Bartsch, and those fine tin lanterns lined up in my kitchen STILL don't have any glass in them. Rather than actually get off my tookus and go get some glass cut to fit, I simply to pick events by the almanac, and only go to ones where the moon is more than half full.....

[Mcouioui]

Re: "candle box"

William,

Candles and lamp oils were definitely issued, and this incredibly useful website explains why in considerable detail:

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php

Thank you for the link ;)
Otherwise, I repeat him, I do not say that it did not exist or was not used...
I just don't think that all the soldiers had him...
The officers, the hospitals, the intendance, etc. Yes, obviously, maybe...
But, the simple private in campaign, transported he a candle box, I do not think...
It is as many object in the hobby, on 20 lads if one or two have that on them yes, if 20 have him...

[JerseySkilletLicker]

Re: "candle box"

Terre,
I remember Keith talking to me about them some years back...sure wish they had come to fruition when I was in business. I also carried Mr. Cunninghams little candle box, it was a thing of beauty like all his goods. I guess what I miss the most are the little items that would pass through my business only once, maybe twice and like an idiot I always thought about keeping one but never did.
Give my regards to Keith!

Joe

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: "candle box"

Thank you for the link ;)
Otherwise, I repeat him, I do not say that it did not exist or was not used...
I just don't think that all the soldiers had him...
The officers, the hospitals, the intendance, etc. Yes, obviously, maybe...
But, the simple private in campaign, transported he a candle box, I do not think...
It is as many object in the hobby, on 20 lads if one or two have that on them yes, if 20 have him...

I think you give soldiers of the period little credit for getting the things they "wanted"...throughout the war you had people procurring what they felt was "needed"...sometimes soldiers made due without...sometimes they adapted their kits to carry what was wanted...and many times soldiers disgarded or sent home the items which they felt weren't necessary on campaign.

Paul B.

[Dutchman Dick]

Re: "candle box"

Its accuracy may be up for grabs, but it does a great job of focusing light on that 2am suturing job on a 36-hours-in-a-day field hospital rotation. Sort of a "poor man's" dark lantern.

Mine is not like that Transformers-inspired original. :wink_smil Mine opens up book-style and out pops the holder in the center. There is enough room for a matchbox and spare half-burned candle.

That's the one I was thinking about when I started this thread.

[Mcouioui]

Re: "candle box"

I think you give soldiers of the period little credit for getting the things they "wanted"...throughout the war you had people procurring what they felt was "needed"...sometimes soldiers made due without...sometimes they adapted their kits to carry what was wanted...and many times soldiers disgarded or sent home the items which they felt weren't necessary on campaign.

Paul B.

Dear Paul

You are maybe right, I am too excessive in my comment …
I react more on the fact than often in the hobby, when somebody sees an equipment on a period photo or reads an information about this equipment in a book and when it uses this equipment in the hobby, everybody makes the same matter.
A little as for frying pans or boiler for example, on 20 persons in a mess, all the world does not have to have a frying pan, a boiler and it is the similar for candles and candle box.
I do not know if my bad English translates well my thought :(
Effectively the use of candle box, also depends so on period, of whom, of the family, necessary on campaign, etc. You are right …

Kind regards.

William

[ley74]

Re: "candle box"

For those who have not seen it, Don Smith's friend who fashioned the 1858 canteen oil lantern is also nifty. Works like a charm (whale oil is tough though).

There is also a division, I believe, over what would have been carried and what would have been accumulated. The difference being the march verses a static camp. Lord knows, when caught on the march with what you have in your pockets and may have access to, the darndest things will work. Paul said it, the fieldcraft these boys developed is difficult to translate into the twenty-first century, with its i-phones and such.

Mrs. L - Shoot me an email if one of the "glass-less" laterns needs a home. You will be justly rewarded.

[AZReenactor]

Re: "candle box"

Wha the!?! If it isn't accurate then you might as well be using a an electric lantern with a Xenon bulb. ;-)

Its accuracy may be up for grabs, but it does a great job of focusing light on that 2am suturing job on a 36-hours-in-a-day field hospital rotation. Sort of a "poor man's" dark lantern.

Mine is not like that Transformers-inspired original. :wink_smil Mine opens up book-style and out pops the holder in the center. There is enough room for a matchbox and spare half-burned candle.

[Dutchman Dick]

Re: "candle box"

Now, this leads to another question: does anybody sell newly made, authentic Civil War-type matches, or are we pretty much stuck with strike anywhere Ohio Blue-Tips (which are becoming increasingly hard to find)?