Identified Union Cavalry Horse Brush

[W. K. Osman]

Dug out some cavalry gear from the old collection, and found this horse brush that came from a private museum once run by a distant relative in Ottawa Illinois. When it closed down in the late 1960s my father was able to pick up a few things for me. The leather brush brush measures 8.5 inches long and 4.5 inches wide, with brown and black bristles that extend about .65 inches beyond the leather. The plain strap handle, originally about 2.25 inches wide, is missing.



The brush had a label that identified it to “Jim Rider” and back in the old days I was never able to research that name. Today I pulled the label and cleaned the brush, finding an old pen inscription that looks like J?? Rider 1862 and 19th century styled carved initials TJC. I think that penned first name is more likely Jno. or Jos.



Unfortunately the only Illinois Cavalryman John Rider, Company A, 1st Regiment, was mortally wounded at Lexington in 1861, and 14th Illinois Cavalryman Joseph Rider did not have a TJC in his company. So the ID is still elusive unless I can track down cavalry veterans of those names/initials (possibly from other states) later living in LaSalle County.



While there are enough dug curry combs around to positively identify the pattern most commonly issued, horse brushes are virtually non-existent. Hopefully this one will give you a better idea of what the Union cavalryman was actually issued.



Stephen Osman

[Nathan Dodds]

Re: Identified Union Cavalry Horse Brush

Any idea how they fastened the bristles?

[Tom Craig]

Re: Identified Union Cavalry Horse Brush

Thanks for posting those pictures! These brushes are fairly rare and it is always great to see another example. Now we need to find someone who can reproduce these things on a regular basis!

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[W. K. Osman]

Re: Identified Union Cavalry Horse Brush

As to construction, I think these were made by securing the bunches of bristles through a pair of holes on one piece of leather, and then capping that with the second piece by stitching around the circumference. Pretty standard construction technique. Whether the "folded" end of each bunch was somehow stitched in place, or simply held by friction through the holes I do not know, but imagine friction was enough. There should be good descriptions of the process in any of the several 18th and 19th century books that dealt with explaining the common trades.
Stephen Osman

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Identified Union Cavalry Horse Brush

Stephen,

This is great!! LOVE the photo! Thank you so much for posting this. It is a rare bird indeed! I don’t know very much about a lot of things of the “period” and don’t claim to know much about this subject but, horse brushes and curry combs are subjects that have always been among my favorites for study and collecting. If you gents will overlook my indulgence here I would like to share with you some information I have collected on period horse brushes.

Before the advent of vacuum cleaning machines and concentrated cleaning solvents, good quality brushes were a necessary part of everyday life. They included varieties of hand brooms, clothing cleaning brushes, tooth brushes and hair brushes for the Victorian ladies, and for the gentlemen, personal brushes such as those for clothing, shaving, or, horse grooming, workbench and industrial brushes. All were hand made by the highly respected brush-maker, a craftsmen with many years of apprenticeship in the trade, who took great pride in producing brushes of only the highest quality and from the finest materials.
In the mid-19 Century, the brush making industry was quite large and well developed, particularly in England, where the trade flourished. Locations like London and Birmingham were centers of the brush making industry from the mid-1700's to well into the 20th century. In the early days, brush making took place in a single room called a Pan Shop where the Brushmaker would work alongside his apprentices and journeymen who were often family members. As early as the 1750's local Brushmakers' Societies and Unions were formed for the interest of England’s skilled craftsmen in the various trades. During that time some of these craftsmen called “Tramps”, often went from town to town seeking work in their own trade. The Brushmakers' Societies operated a sophisticated tramping system for unemployed journeymen who were prepared to seek employment in other districts. A route of towns was set up and at each town the traveling journeymen were paid relief including tramping, beer and bed money. About the mid 1880's brush making began to be concentrated in larger factories. Then, with the proliferation of vacuum cleaners to the masses in the early 20th century the brush making industry started to wane. Two world wars temporarily expanded some business but also caused a great upheaval through the shortage or re-direction of manufacturing resources, losses of craftsmen and in the widespread afford ability and use of vacuum machinery in the post war era. While still around today the surviving English brush firms tend to limit themselves to high quality shaving, paint and shoe brushes.
In the 18th century, England was known for its high quality brushes but in America the trade also grew as skilled craftsmen made their way to this country. While never as large nor up to the re-known quality of British pieces the trade prospered especially in the northeast.

Hand held brushes like those for grooming horses, were made either of leather or hard-wood brush “backs” and with animal hair “bristles”. For centuries the most favored material for bristles was the hair of the wild boar, hog or pig, with those from Russia the most desirable because the harsh climate produced a uniquely strong, oily, growth of long hair. Hence the name “Russia bristles.” However, they also came from Germany, India and China. Preparing the bristles for brush making was dirty, laborious work but inserting and skillfully drawing them down through the block required the highly competent hands of a master brush maker.
The “wire-drawing” method was most commonly used in securing the bristles to the brush back. First, the stock was bored or “entered” with small holes drilled through the block for drawing the wire. Then a loop of wire with a slipknot was fed through the hole, into which an exact quantity of bristle was inserted, doubled, then pulled back into the hole and drawn tight. The process was repeated for each row until the brush was completed. The finished work was then expertly trimmed and a false back was applied with glue to cover the knots. All that was left when using wood was to shape the block and if desired, cut finger grooves for easy handling. For leather brushes the false back was sewn to the block and often stamped (embossed) with the maker’s name or logo.

During the Civil War according to the Ordnance Manual, in the Federal army the official horse brush was made of wood: “1-body (maple); Russia bristles; 1 cover, glued and fastened to the body by 8 screws No. 3; 1 hand strap (fair leather), fastened to the sides of the body by 6 screws No. 5; 2 leather washers under the heads of screws.”

Like many things it is doubtful that all Federal issue horse brushes had this same appearance. In fact, of the very few remaining documented war time brushes, I have seen at least two that were made of leather. It is unclear if these were private purchase or issue so few conclusions can be made without more research. I know of no surviving Confederate issue brushes.
As for the appearance of Confederate manufacture, the South generally tried to copy the directives of the Federal Ordnance Manual and their own nearly exact reprint in 1863 of the same. However, expediencies were probably the norm. For example, as a result of the all too familiar shortage of iron, there is evidence that twine may have occasionally replaced wire for wire drawing manufacture and it is conceivable horse hair replaced the Russia bristles. I make note that the quality of Confederate issue horse brushes was apparently an issue for the ordnance department during the war. In addition, Southern production numbers are difficult to quantify. In spite of the fairly accurate records that have survived about the large numbers manufactured through the Augusta Arsenal, the totals for those issued from all Southern Arsenals are incomplete. This would also include the unknown number of those that were most surely imported from England.
Inspection reports generally site most Confederate cavalry commands as being grossly deficient in both curry combs and brushes. Given the number of cavalry troopers and mounted artillerymen in Confederate service during the war, it is clear that the requisite one comb and brush per trooper fell dismally short. Nevertheless, the dutiful and resourceful trooper could always count on a readily available supply of corn cob as a poor, but adequate replacement for grooming implements.

I don’t know much about whom or how many horse brushes were manufactured by the Federal government during the war but for more information about Confederate maker’s, numbers and photos I refer you to my book, CONFEDERATE SADDLES & HORSE EQUIPMENT. I have a whole chapter on curry combs and horse brushes.

**Check out the web site www.confederatesaddles.com in my photo galleries for a lot more photos of brushes and curry combs and.....under “Relics and Reproductions”. I always have some of these and period curry combs FOR SALE !

Photos:

1. CW Federal Army issue horse brush. These are exceedingly rare! Courtesy of Don Troiani at Historical Art Prints at www.historicalartprints.com

2. M1885 U.S. Army brush. Indian War issue pattern of leather. They have more than one variance. Courtesy Ken McPheeters Militaria http://www.mcpheetersantiquemilitaria.com/index.htm

3. M1904 Army Horse Brush. Several variances exist. Most of these appear to have been made at (or for) the Rock Island Arsenal and are stamped R.I.A. and/or with the manufacturers name.
4. British Army brush with Royal crest but of unknown period.
5. Otoway Cooper commercial made brush of English manufacture. Probably of the late 19th century. Note the fancy leather covered buckle.
6. “Period” leather brush. This may be a CW brush.
7. Common 19th century commercial made leather horse brush. These usually include some sort of company logo or horse motif sometimes with a catalog number on the hand strap. Many variations are found.


Ken R Knopp

[Tom Craig]

Re: Identified Union Cavalry Horse Brush

Hey Ken,

Thanks for the "backstory" on brush production. The neat thing about CW material culture is that there is something for everyone to peak their interest.

This is a lousy reference, but there is another book that includes detailed illustrations of Federal brushes. I don't know the title or the author, but I did see the illustrations. Nick Duvall has the book, and we were looking at it when we were talking about Federal brushes with state stamps on them. I'll have to contact Nick to see if he can share the title of the book.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Identified Union Cavalry Horse Brush

Tom,

Please do get that information! Brushes with state stamps!??? Hmmm, very interesting! I dont know much information about Federal brushes and would greatly appreciate the chance to know more. Thank you!

Ken R Knopp

[W. K. Osman]

Re: Identified Union Cavalry Horse Brush

Here's another London one that was hiding in my saddle bags from back in reenacting days. The lion stamp is marked LONDON EXTRA and the handle WARRANTED ALL BRISTLES.
Stephen Osman