18th Cent. AC?

[benjclark]

Is there an 18th Century forum (web resource?) equivalent to Authentic Campaigner? I know there is quite a bit of reenacting done in these eras. Looks like I have some 1730s, Rev War and Early Republic events in my future. I'm going to need some help. Thanks!

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

NOPE...there is NO 18th century equivalent to the AC Forum. Todd Post had attempted to start it up a few years ago, but could not generate the interests...

The 18th c. (F&I, Rev. War and 1812) crowds use a series of YahooGroups for discussions, sharing...etc. Naturally it's not the same.

Paul B.

(who started dabbling in earlier periods a few years ago...)

[Abrams]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

For a moment there, the title (18th Cent. AC?) made me think: Yes. They opened all the windows and use fans. When it was too hot for that, they had to cool off in the pond. :)

[wade03]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

There is a yahoo group called "rev war progressive" that Todd Post started up. I have found it pretty useful with good disscussion, primary resources and some very talented people. While its not just like the AC it has its own unique features. Hope this helps!

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

Hallo!

Yes, "Rev War Progressive" is the closest thing, but no cigar...

IMHO...

You will find that each period or era tends to have its own concepts and operationalizations of the denotations, connotations, and "labels" of the F/M/C/P/H/A Model.
And then are not interchangeable.

Meaning that one period or era's say "Hardcore" is another's "Mainstream" in terms of the clothing, gear, impressions, and activities.

Curt

[Backus]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

Yeah, the rev war reenacting hobby is usually about 5-10 years behind Civil War. There was been a increase of people actually doing it right, getting the differnt uniforms for the regiment for each year of the war, propper camping, boiling and eatting a shoe " yes it tastes as good as you would expect" and so on. The one thing it does lack is organization. They tried with the Rev List but that just got out of control. There are several yahoo groups and the there is currently talk of setting up a website similar to the AC but right now it's all talk. I'll keep you posted as things progress.

[mboyce]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

http://frontierfolk.net/phpBB/index.php

There are some very authentically minded, and knowlegeable folks on this forum.

[benjclark]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

Just wanted to say thanks everyone, but keep them coming as they pop up.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

Ben,

Best thing you can do is to narrow down your focus on what you want to jump in on. If guys think ACW is expensive, just wait until you get into SYW, Rev. and 1812...fabric on the cheap end there is easily $50-60/yd.

Think of this as a bell curve, in the 1750s (F&I/SYW) there aren't a whole lot of 'good' units out there...Rev. War picks up a few in addition to this, but then 1812 sees the bottom half of the other side of the bell...

Strongly suggest checking out the YahooGroups for 18th century stuff...then try and narrow down Units to participate/join with:

FandI_WarProgressiveCampaigner
RWProgressive
1812_ProgressiveCampaigner

Paul B.

[benjclark]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

Thanks, and I believe that's good advice. I'm in a little different situation than most in that living history is my job. Someone else decides what period/event I'm doing, then I fill in the details. Someone has decided I'm doing 1730s and Rev War, so away we go. Wouldn't surprise me to learn I'll be adding 1800-1805... Just another cog in the machine.

[MustangGray]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

While not an 18th century unit the 7th USI Living History Association is a top notch 1812-1850 unit. We mainly focus on 1812 these days but there's a push to bring back the 1830's-MAW side of things. Our website is down and being rebuilt at the moment but if you are interested send me a PM and I'll get you in touch with our Pres./Unit CO.

On the 18th century side of things... I've never been involved in that but I know anything that Stuart Lilie, Jay Howlett or Ron Carnegie are involved in is top notch. Best of luck!

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

Hallo!

IMHO, (most of) the Rev War folks are victims of devolution over time.

As early as 1976, lads embraced the "BAR Standard" beyond researched and documented standards for clothing and gear, that all
visible stitching had to be hand-sewn.

With the decimation caused by the end of the Buy-centennial in 1981, there seems to have been a "relaxing" of standards to help prevent the blood loss and to make recruiting easier and cheaper.

While the Rev War folks pioneered many of what would later be the "C/P/H/A" things for the CW Community, "mainstream" Rev War and worse yet F & I War marched in the opposite direction.

But among some of the 18th century community, there are lads with 1st Person impressions, immersion activities, Time Warp experiences- and the material culture of researched and documented clothing and gear that are
hand woven, hand sewn, hand vegetable dyed, hand forged.
Particularly at the high end of the "longhunter" movement taking their impressions into primitive and wilderness areas for scouts, and even such things as 18th century bear hunts, deer hunts, beaver trapping, etc.

For me personally, even after all of these years, I have a hard time understanding why the different reenacting eras are not "done" to the same "levels" as the others- or how there can be so much diversity and variation within their respective cultures.

Others' mileage will vary...

Curt
Time Lord Mess

[508preach]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

Curt,

How can so much awesomeness come from one person?

Curt hit the nail on the head, well at least how I view reenacting in whole is I dont understand how the different eras dont operate on the same levels.

[Backus]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

Well the one thing you have to remember is there isn't as many people doing 18th century as there is CW. The ratio of people doing it right in both periods is probably about the same. As for peaking at the bicentennial, it has come a long way from everyone making the same coat that most units never saw.

[ContinentalMorganGuard]

Re: 18th Cent. AC?

One of the big things that there is such a difference in quality between say F&I (my professional period) and CW, is that with CW we have so many real items to see and touch, and tons of period documentation to back it up. In F&I and Rev. to a lesser extent you fall very short of that kind of information. Like much of the impression I do we have scant infomation and have done the best we can with it and our resources. But, I must say the 18th century has been quite an eye opening experience, for me and I hope that in roads can be made or re-made there. One thing is notice is a lot of grey hair in the 18th century, which is not a bad thing but with some an excusess to be "farby". There are some who try to do well, or do well in one area and not others, much like the CW, so on the whole maybe its not that different, just a much smaller (less visible) progessive movement. I, too am looking for the illusive AC for the 18th Century, and hope one comes online soon.