Sibley tent center pole for Vesuvius!

[PvtSmythe]

Not sure if this is the correct place for it or not, but a group of us were thinking about mobilizing a certain sibley tent. Anyone have access to plans, diagrams instructions or a photo or 2 of a center pole and tripod for a 12 ft Sibley tent?

Thank you,

Peter Smith
PvtSmythe@yahoo.com


Vesuvius!!

[Spinster]

Re: Sibley tent center pole for Vesuvius!

Call up Mr. Ranger Sir down at Shiloh NMP--since they have several Sibley's I imagine they have the plans for the fixin's.

Me, I got a little stove coming by the freight wagon. Don't know what I'm gonna do with it yet, but some things are just needful

[Rob Murray]

Re: Sibley tent center pole for Vesuvius!

Lanky, As our meeting is tomorrow night, I'll check with Steve Osman and see what I can dredge up.

[WestTN_reb]

Re: Sibley tent center pole for Vesuvius!

I wish I had the information in front of me, but IIRC, the pole for the Sibley was to be 2 inches in diameter, of seasoned pine. The tripod was supposed to stand at 55 inches tall, the 3 legs made of wrought iron, and the pole cup made of soft iron. The cup, IIRC was to be 2 and 3/4 inch in diameter with a ring on the bottom to which an S shaped hook attached. That's all I can remember off the top of my head, but someone else should be able to weigh in with more info.

[Justin Runyon]

Re: Sibley tent center pole for Vesuvius!

There is only one Vesuvius, and you sir...do not have Vesuvius.:) Vesuvius was more than mere canvas and wood, it was the hearts and souls of the men who made it home. No sir, never again will vesuvius live...it was ephemeral, a product of a certain moment in time. Sadly, it shall never rise again.

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: Sibley tent center pole for Vesuvius!

Some pictures came from an auction a while back along with the description.

"This tripod is complete with the chain and hook, everything made of iron and painted in a drab green paint, much of which is still present. The legs each measure about 53 inches long and are flat bars bent along their length into a V-shape about an inch on either side with an opening of about 1 ½ inches. The bottoms were flared out slightly into pad feet. One of these is still pretty much there, the other two have deteriorated from resting on a damp floor, missing about 1 ½ inches from the bottom. They are all very solid, however, and the tripod sits level depending on how far out the legs are set, just as it would on even ground. The top of each leg is brought together into a single bar and pierced for rivet that passes through two round flanges from the central cup, and enables each leg to move out or in.
The central cup has an opening on the top roughly 2 ¼ inches in diameter for the pole. The bottom center has a hole through which a bolt passes and is secured by a nut. The bottom of the bolt is drawn into a loop and from this hangs the chain for the pot, which has eight iron loops about 2 ½ inches long, at the bottom of which is a hook for the camp kettle. The chain measures about 19 inche long from the bolt loop. "

[federal_musician]

Re: Sibley tent center pole

I would like to thank everyone who has already contributed information about a Sibley tent center pole. Any more information towards the wooden pole and it's exact dimensions (as exact as anything from the 19th century can be!) would be extremely helpful as we hope to be putting up a Sibley tent at several venues on the west coast this year.

Our band has an educational display of the musical instruments of the period, and we plan on having the Sibley as an example of early war tentage.

Thanks again,

Frank Long
Brigade Brass Band

[MissouriStateGuard]

Re: Sibley tent center pole for Vesuvius!

Hello Frank,

Sibley's patent letter states "The pole from 2 1/2 to 3 inches thick and may be in length half the diameter of the tent base." From his description this length does not include the tripod, and for the 18 foot diameter base he mentions this would make a 9 foot pole. I might also add this is from his original patent application and may not reflect the true production of the tent- for instance the inside diameter of my tripod's socket is 2 1/4 inches and would not accept a pole as Sibley describes.

Hope this helps,

Kip

[Uncle Pig]

Re: Sibley tent center pole for Vesuvius!

In a recent thread about camp cooking

This link was posted.

http://www.manifest-history.org/1st_ca_infantry/recreated/assets/Details%20of%20LoC%20Photo%20LC-B811-2597.pdf

If I am not mistaken those are the tripods for a sibley.

Or are the pictures in this thread misidentified?

Thanks,
Mark C. Foster

[federal_musician]

Re: Sibley tent center pole for Vesuvius!

Yes, those are the tripods. You can see where they intersect at the top that it is in a ring.

I wish I had them now.


Frank Long
Brigade Brass Band

[PvtSmythe]

Re: Sibley tent center pole for Vesuvius!

Justin,

I understand your feelings about Vesuvius indeed. Never before has that ole sibley come alive or has its inhabitants been so cheerful! We decided after the event to remember her as the vesuvius lodge in honor of you boys and what life you gave her. She has been retired and will never again be pitched over that wooden stockade.

The stove itself will always be remembered by us in the 151st as Vesuvius the wonder that gave life, cheerfulness and warmth to so many for 4 days. Im glad I was a witness to that indeed.

Peter Smith
151st NY/Columbia Rifles

[Taz]

Re: Sibley tent center pole for Vesuvius!

I am a new recruit to this site, but I am also putting together a sibley. The info. you have passed on will sure help me on the tripod.