Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

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

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
  • #1

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

    I tried the search engine here with no luck. I am trying to find a pattern (or photos) of an authentic "workman's apron". By that I mean the kind that a tradesman would wear such as a harness maker, horseshoer, leather worker, tinner, cobbler, etc. The few I have seen in photos cover the front upper torso (with a neck strap), utilize a waist tie of some kind then extend down below the knee covering the entire front of the body. Also, what would be the predominent material for such an apron- canvas, leather? Does anyone have any ideas on this or better yet period photos they can post? I thought I would post this here because of its military applications such as horseshoer's.
    Does anyone make such an authentic "workman's apron"?

    Ken R Knopp
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

    Try this site http://tinyurl.com/you5yo. There are some working men photos with aprons, you'll have to search through them. I did not see any with the full apron, only waist aprons but the bibs may have been turn down.
    Annette Bethke
    Austin TX
    Civil War Texas Civilian Living History
    [URL="http://www.txcwcivilian.org"]www.txcwcivilian.org[/URL]

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

      Also, Ken, the material it is made out of (canvas/leather/ kidskin) depends on the trade you are portraying. As a woodworker, a canvas one works fine for me. I made one a couple of years ago that I wear in my shop but I didn't base it off anything in particular, I just made it to what I needed to use it for and made it to cover part of my torso and my thighs. I'm also doing research on workmens' aprons as I need to make one to use at events that I go to. Some of the pictures I've seen have one that is similar to modern aprons with the squared top and neckstrap and some of the others have either no top/ strap or they have a triangular top and neck loop. I wish I had saved the pictures that I found but you can do google and yahoo searches on occupational images.
      Chris R. Henderson

      Big'uns Mess/Black Hat Boys
      WIG/GVB
      In Memory of Wm. Davis Couch, Phillips Legion Cav. from Hall Co. GEORGIA

      It's a trick, Gen. Sherman!...there's TWO of 'em! ~Lewis Grizzard

      "Learning to fish for your own information will take you a lot further than merely asking people to feed you the info you want." ~Troy Groves:D

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

        The fellas in a Government Trimming Shop send this with regards:

        Marc A. Hermann
        Liberty Rifles.
        MOLLUS, New York Commandery.
        Oliver Tilden Camp No 26, SUVCW.


        In honor of Sgt. William H. Forrest, Co. K, 114th PA Vol. Infantry. Pvt. Emanuel Hermann, 45th PA Militia. Lt. George W. Hopkins & Capt. William K. Hopkins, Co. E, 7th PA Reserves. Pvt. Joseph A. Weckerly, 72nd PA Vol. Infantry (WIA June 29, 1862, d. March 23, 1866.) Pvt. Thomas Will, 21st PA Vol. Cavalry (WIA June 18, 1864, d. July 31, 1864.)

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

          Civilian
          A Cobbler

          Jarnagin Co. also has a period photo of four gents tanning leather in aprons, if you click the first bullet "Leather Definitions." (http://www.jarnaginco.com/confedcatframe.html)
          Jason C. Spellman
          Skillygalee Mess

          "Those fine fellows in Virginia are pouring out their heart's blood like water. Virginia will be heroic dust--the army of glorious youth that has been buried there."--Mary Chesnut

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

            While its a little dated by the 1860s, "The Workwoman's Guide" (1838) has two patterns/descriptions of mens aprons. I imagine this sort of thing changed very little, the aprons pictured above are very similar to the aprons in this resource and ones commonly worn today. One being a "pantry apron" for "men servents to wear when trimming lamps, cleaning shoes and knives, &c." and the other "useful for gentlemen when turning, or using tools...." Both of these are described on page 79 and pictured in Plate 11. The Workwoman's Guide is available online at http://books.google.com/books?vid=0z...,+1838#PPP1,M1


            Patrick Flint

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

              Sir, here is the drawing from the Workwoman's Guide apron mentioned above.

              Thanks,
              For Missouri and the Cause,
              Matthew Jas. Shomaker

              http://www.flickr.com/photos/97113375@N00/2085272165/
              Last edited by 23rdIllinoisIrish; 12-04-2007, 12:31 AM. Reason: Forgot two letters.
              [B][COLOR="Navy"]PVT. Matthew Shomaker[/COLOR][/B]
              [I]Proud Missourian[/I]
              "Here there are no forces to fight but a few hundred bushwhackers that will lie by the roadside in the swamp, and I believe they would murder Jesus Christ if they thought he was a Union man."
              [COLOR="Red"]
              Marmaduke's Raid
              MSG Returns to Boonesfield Village
              [/COLOR]

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

                Originally posted by FranklinGuardsNYSM View Post
                The fellas in a Government Trimming Shop send this with regards:
                Marc,

                What is the name of the whatchamajiggy those fellers are sitting upon? I have some ancestors who were harness makers and what have one of those around my folks' house. ...and, what's its purpose? Is it to hold an item securely to allow the maker to sew with both hands?

                Many thanks! ...and, great pic!!
                John Wickett
                Former Carpetbagger
                Administrator (We got rules here! Be Nice - Sign Your Name - No Farbisms)

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

                  It may be my imagination but these cook's aprons seem to be made of lighter material than the more heavy duty workmans ones talked about in this thread. That would make good sense.
                  Last edited by cap tassel; 12-04-2007, 06:34 AM. Reason: photo
                  [COLOR="Olive"][FONT="Arial Narrow"]Larry Pettiford[/FONT][/COLOR]

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

                    "What is the name of the whatchamajiggy those fellers are sitting upon? I have some ancestors who were harness makers and what have one of those around my folks' house. ...and, what's its purpose? Is it to hold an item securely to allow the maker to sew with both hands"

                    Not sure what the name is but it is used to hold your work whilst handsewing, seen in a saddlers or harness makers. I used one as a younger person learning handsewing. I have never seen a purpose built workstool with one attached. But I'll have to make one now. What a brilliant photograph.

                    The cross section ogf headwear is also an eye-opener six caps, six hats
                    [SIZE="2"][/SIZE][FONT="Comic Sans MS"][SIZE="3"]John Hopper[/SIZE][/FONT]
                    [SIZE="2"][SIZE="1"][SIZE="2"]Winston Free-State/First Confederate Legion/AoT
                    Member of The Company of Military Historians[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE]

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

                      Originally posted by jacobite8749 View Post
                      "What is the name of the whatchamajiggy those fellers are sitting upon? I have some ancestors who were harness makers and what have one of those around my folks' house. ...and, what's its purpose? Is it to hold an item securely to allow the maker to sew with both hands"

                      Not sure what the name is but it is used to hold your work whilst handsewing, seen in a saddlers or harness makers. I used one as a younger person learning handsewing. I have never seen a purpose built workstool with one attached. But I'll have to make one now. What a brilliant photograph.

                      The cross section ogf headwear is also an eye-opener six caps, six hats
                      The whatchamajiggy those "fellers" are sitting on is called a Horse, and yes it is used to hold the workpiece in place when stitching together. The variety Mr. Hopper speaks of (the vice/clamp without the bench/stool) is called a Clam. The principle behind it is also to hold the work, but is a little bit more mobile, since it does not have the seat attached.

                      Paul
                      Paul B. Boulden Jr.


                      RAH VA MIL '04
                      (Loblolly Mess)
                      [URL="http://23rdva.netfirms.com/welcome.htm"]23rd VA Vol. Regt.[/URL]
                      [URL="http://www.virginiaregiment.org/The_Virginia_Regiment/Home.html"]Waggoner's Company of the Virginia Regiment [/URL]

                      [URL="http://www.military-historians.org/"]Company of Military Historians[/URL]
                      [URL="http://www.moc.org/site/PageServer"]Museum of the Confederacy[/URL]
                      [URL="http://www.historicsandusky.org/index.html"]Historic Sandusky [/URL]

                      Inscription Capt. Archibold Willet headstone:

                      "A span is all that we can boast, An inch or two of time, Man is but vanity and dust, In all his flower and prime."

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

                        Hi All
                        I came across this yesterday while doing some research on tinsmithing. I too am looking for the same info in this thread .


                        http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf6199n8j1&brand=oac/?docId=tf6199n8j1&brand=oac&layout=printable
                        Russell L. Stanley
                        Co.A 1st Texas Infantry
                        Co.A 45th Mississippi
                        Co.D 8th Missouri (CS)
                        Steelville JayBirds Mess

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

                          That tinker appears to be blind in his left eye.


                          The zoom feature on that website if very helpful for picking out some minute details.
                          Cody Mobley

                          Texas Ground Hornets
                          Texas State Troops

                          [HOUSTON] TRI-WEEKLY TELEGRAPH, October 28, 1863,

                          Wanted.

                          All ladies in Houston and surrounding counties who have cloth on hand, which they can spare, are requested to donate it to the ladies of Crockett for the purpose of making petticoats for the Minute Men of this county, who have "backed out" of the service. We think the petticoat more suitable for them in these times.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

                            Mr Boulden, yes a horse and clam.........memory. I try now to do a cobbler, and have been trying to find a portable work area. I have a stool/horse very similar, but have used my post and last on a variety of different things, small table, etc. but this is it. Kind of a Eureka moment.

                            One of the best photos I have seen in a very long while. So much detail and such a good photo.
                            [SIZE="2"][/SIZE][FONT="Comic Sans MS"][SIZE="3"]John Hopper[/SIZE][/FONT]
                            [SIZE="2"][SIZE="1"][SIZE="2"]Winston Free-State/First Confederate Legion/AoT
                            Member of The Company of Military Historians[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE]

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

                              WOW!!! This is trully one of the finest images I have ever seen! It is remarkable for several reasons....the civilian clothing, vests, shirts, ties, hats, aprons etc. of the period "working man". Equally important are the tools and, the items these men are working on.
                              First the "thingamajiggy" is commonly called a "stitch horse". It is used by harness makers to hold two or more pieces of leather together for sewing. They are still found in various places. The men are obviously leather workers (I assume from the Fed. Gov't or possibly a contractor's workshops?). They hold several harness or leather craftsman's "tools of their trade" and I might add, much of their contruction techniques a fast fading if not lost art today.
                              Another interesting tidbit is "what" they were sewing that day. Two of the guys out front are sitting their stitch horses and working on wagon bridles- (apparently mule bridles for quartermaster wagons?) with blinders and the common bit attached (sewn) into the bridle. I have seen and photographed a complete original of this item (formally of the Dubose colection now in the Atlanta History Center) very similar to these only slightly different in the shape of the blinder. A photo of this bridle can be found in my book CONFEDERATE SADDLES & HORSE EQUIPMENT (pg. 146). The bit is the same too. In fact, I have several of these same bits in my collection. They are commonly dug and still occaisionally found "here & there". Another fella seems to be sewing a saddle quarterstrap or stirrup leather.
                              What a superb image! Is there any more where that comes from????
                              Thanks to all for your contributions! This is a great example of what makes this forum so useful and important to our studies.

                              Ken R Knopp

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next
                              Working...
                              X