Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

[Busterbuttonboy]

Red,
With Family Heirloom revamping their production and with Rabbit's carpet being large orders only there isnt much to choose from right now. Word to the wise- DO NOT try to use original carpet.
Drew

[rebjeb04]

Re: WTB - Ingrain Carpet

Whats wrong with original carpet?

[Busterbuttonboy]

Re: WTB - Ingrain Carpet

Herb,
I believe there is merit to the forum community in discussing the use of original carpets. If you feel otherwise please feel free to modify the post.

Chris, original 19th century carpeting "ingrain" tends to become fragile after several years of use. Because of its wool content and flat woven nature if its exposed to the elements at all, especially after years of carpet beetles, vacuuming, dust, mites, etc it does not hold up well for our purpose of reenacting or covering us from the elements. I made the mistake young in my interpretive career of using original carpeting which was in incredibly good shape- after just a few events the nature of the carpet and the exposure to the elements left me with a pile of threads.

Most extant 19th century carpeting known to survive, come up for sale, ebay etc tends to be from the forth quarter of the 19th century a decidedly different pattern from those available to Confederate soldiers 61-65. Furthermore, not many pieces of original 19th century carpeting has survived after 150 years. We see older styles and patterns (1810s-1840s) drawn or attributed to Confederate usage especially during the blanketing crisis affecting the eastern Confederate armies during that first winter of the war.

Finally as interpreters, amateur historians, folklorists, and preservationists it is our duty to keep alive an accurate memory of the American Civil War. As such it is also our role to protect artifacts and items which were around from 1861-1865.

[Coatsy]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

Good point Drew, I've moved this discussion away from the B/S/T into the authenticity discussion sub-folder.

[rebjeb04]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

Wow, thats good stuff Drew. I have been watching a few on ebay and thought the pattern looked a little of for 1860s and earlier. I use an original, at least 19th century, coverlet of the standard check pattern of straight woven "window-pane" design. I used it at Wilson's Creek, Shiloh, and several other living histories and it still looks as the day I bought it in an antique shop. Thanks for posting your experience and insight.

[Dbackfed]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

With people buying repro blankets (Augie, Abe Thomas, etc) at well over $150, I don't see the issue with dropping $150 or so on reproduction carpet from FHW. Heck, maybe someone could talk to Pat Kline and get a Bully Buy together. :tounge_sm

[poilu1917]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

I have tried contacting Pat in regards to getting an Ingrain carpet for use as a blanket and never got a response back (this was a few months ago). It has been mentioned on this forum many times that this is a very under represented item and if someone could get a run made up, I think it definitely would be a good thing to see. Just my opinion.

[Dbackfed]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

I've lost Pat Kline's number when I left my cell phone in a taxi on New Year's Eve in Nashville last winter. If somone would forward me his number via PM I'd appreciate it. Or if someone happens to come across a Samsung Solstice whiule in Nashville, let me know :-)

[colorsgt26nc]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

I recently visited the collector who owns the Amzi Williamson jacket and cap and the J.A. Lisk cartridge box, among hundreds of other Confederate items. He had several carpet blankets purportedly belonging to North Carolina soldiers. Ben Tart, who was with me for the visit, mentioned that North Carolina bought up all the carpet in the Southeast to use as issue blankets for her soldiers. If this is, in fact, true, then it would seem that such blankets are indeed underrepresented in the hobby.

[poilu1917]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

Jason,
Here is FHW's page on ingrain carpets: http://www.familyheirloomweavers.com...grainroom.html. It has their number listed as 717-246-5797. From what I hear, they really aren't interested in doing small orders, but if we had a large enough group interested in getting these, maybe we could combine our orders into one which could make it possible (like square footage of a room, then we cut it up for our blankets). Just a thought. If it does happen, I am in for one!

[rebjeb04]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

Contacted Pat Klein, and they are working on a run of these and details will follow, but three styles will be available and a price point around $150 each. We should hear something by the end of the month.

[poilu1917]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

Bully! Where will he be selling them / posting the info? So I can keep an eye out. Thanks!

[rebjeb04]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

Watch for Bully.

[poilu1917]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

A "Bully Buy"? Will do, thanks!

[ScottCross]

Re: Ingrain Carpet/Carpet Blanket discussion

The book, "Floor Coverings for Historic Buildings" has an excellent chapter on dating ingrain carpets by patterns. There is quite a difference between those of the 1850s and '60s to those produced later:

http://www.amazon.com/Floor-Coverings-Historic-Buildings-Reproductions/dp/0788163868/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349458262&sr=1-1&keywords=historic+floor+coverings