Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

[minieball]

Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

That is a great picture of a government trim shop! Is this image from the LOC? Do you have any additional information on the image such as location, time period, etc?

Thanks in advance

[Foggy Bottom Jim]

Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

there is lots of good imagery on the Library of Congress website:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/

For aprons, go to the above site and search "trimming" and "ambulance shop." You will get two great images of workmen in aprons. To get super details, download the uncompressed TIFF files and blow up the image using whatever software works for you. Powerpoint will work. They are 20 mbs each so it is a lot of data but the detail you can pull out of these, and many other images on the site is nothing short of phenominal.

[ferraius]

Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

As a farrier I wear what I think of as a traditional horseshoeing apron which is just a below the knee to waist high apron with two waist ties at the top. Blacksmithing aprons usually cover the chest area also to protect the body from welding spatter. I have seen old photos of both patterns and variations of styles with pockets and etc. I have always wanted to make one out of horse or mule hide! I thought I was the only one out there even remotely interested in this subject.


Jon O'Harra
Heartless Bastards Mess

[Gary of CA]

Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

Anyone wanting to learn about Antebellum clothes would do well to visit Conner Prairie Living History Museum in Fishers, Indiana (right outside of Indianapolis). A collection of recreated houses reflecting different time periods (with each period housed in a separate "village"), Conner Prairie is the midwest 19th Century equivalent of Colonial Williamsburg. Their interpreters study and make their own clothing which must past rigid inspection before they are permitted to wear them in their respective village. They have a Civil War shindig once a year there and offer craft classes including arms making (flintlock assembly, lock assembly, blacksmithing, engraving, relief carving, powder horn, hunting bag, quill work, finger weaving, tinsmithing) around October and other classes all year round.

[38thIndiana]

Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

Hi, all! I know this is an older thread, but I was curious about a matter of detail in the LOS government tradesman photo. The two gentlemen on either end of the group seem to have a couple what look like grommets on their aprons...in several different locations on their aprons. What would be the function of the grommets/holes? Ventilation maybe? Or something specific to leather working/harness making? Thanks for any input...I'm making one based upon the apron worn by the the gentleman standing on the right of the photo. Thanks!

Traie Shelhart