How do you motivate others or improve the hobby?

[GeraldDuval]

Re: Authentic junk clothing and gear

Are those SA trouser originals? Those buttonholes look like It was the sewer's absolute first time...

[Bob 125th NYSVI]

Which Means

It's been the only way I've been able to keep aquiring gear with a state salary...

you OBVIOUSLY don't work for the state of NY. :)

[Hank Trent]

Re: Authentic junk clothing and gear

I've seen several garments in many different museums around the country where the fabric used for a jacket, or coat, looks more like a blanket or a rug, rather than finely made wool jean cloth.

Since everyone has addressed the serious issues, I'll just add that that phrase ought to be nominated for Best Use of Period Sarcasm or an oxymoron award or something. :D

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[utahreenactor]

Re: Authentic junk clothing and gear

Rob,

Mr. Hofmann's album states that the trousers pictured are originals, apart from that I know nothing about them. Here are the rest of those pictures:

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4015217&a=30392478&f=

Those trousers also bring to mind the picture of a pair of ready made trousers on the old simplicity historical patterns website. The buttonholes had around 5 stitches in them! The site has since been lost to me so if anyone has that picture please post it!

Chase Pinkham

[boreguard]

Re: Authentic junk clothing and gear

I was fortunate to handle most every uniform at Confederate Memorial Hall during the effort to photograph the collection back in 98, and while this doesn't make me an expert, it did give me a great opportunity to study surviving examples. The shoddy, crappy, or Sh**y work you refer to did not prevail as the normal, in contrast I saw examples of private work that were great, to issue stuff that still had a sense of acceptable craftsmanship to it both in material and hand work.

Given that most of the artifacts I saw up close and personal were donated by veterans, could it be that some of the uniforms you saw were surviving rejects ? Maybe not, but it does make for a interesting question.

I have read of some rejections and in the not easy to find book entitled "The Confederate Quartermaster in the Trans-Mississippi" by James L. Nichols (published by University of Texas Press in 1964) his work does a good job of painitng the picture of the ups and downs of the manfacturing process as it relates to demand, and the strain and stress it put on the various sewing societies, those that had evolved from a social affair to being contracted by a department, and one can imagine the inconsistent outcome of uniforms as a result.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Authentic junk clothing and gear

Dennis,

You are absolutely right. Some of PGTB's clothing on display at CMH had buttonholes so finely crafted that the stitching was invisible, or nearly so. It's probably good to remember his clothing wasn't likely depot made, and intended for issue to enlisted folk. If memory serves me, the bulk of that clothing was on the left, as one entered from the street. One of the things that struck me about some of the clothing at CMH, and sometimes seen in other collections, was the brightness of some of the blue garments. "Electric blue" comes to mind.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the lemon yellow hat (without edge binding or a crown ribbon) in the Museum of the Western CW Soldier in Bardstown. That's a neat little place, and the hardbound catalogue is a good supplement for EOG volumes.

[Drygoods]

Re: Does price hurt your authenticity?

Good Afternoon Sirs,

I'm not sure if the light bulb next to my name indicates that I need to get a clue, or I HAD a clue...ok, so I might be clueless, nonetheless.....

Here's a thought. Why not lower your standards. Look, if you can't afford to buy new quality clothing, than can you accept buying used quality goods? Not everyone bought their clothes from a custom tailor, rag and bone men and used clothing shops sold plenty of items to people of middle or lower classes. Consequently, it might take a bit of effort, but advertise for what is wanted and then see what comes of it.

Believe me, it takes a bit more effort to pull off a decent white trash impression rather than a college graduate. You have to know your material culture well enough to understand what levels of low life are within your station and what kind of education is beyond your realm, however, it is an easier impression to do with clothing because everything you purchase is already worn or close to your size. Consider it an option, I don't see enough of this characterization at events, well not here anyway.

You could say that I'm just sick and tired of seeing slick dudes, women with 50 pounds of cheezy lace glued around them, and that over-done former rich refuge impression, so what is wrong with a low paid clerk or assistant?

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: Does being a modern Joe make you better at your impression?

Frank,
If you don't mind my imposing but 24 years in, what rank do you hold?
As for the swinging of arms and cuping of hands, it is a very hard habit for me to break. Any tips for breaking this habit?

[Charles Heath]

Re: Does price hurt your authenticity?

Judith,

We really have to hire a locksmith, so you can get out of that house. You are missing some great impressions of just this very thing at events.

[BrianHicks]

Re: Does being a modern Joe make you better at your impression?

Frank,
If you don't mind my imposing but 24 years in, what rank do you hold?

He's a Full Bird at Ft. Sill. Looks as though he's long time Cannon Cocker :D.

Semper Fidelis Sir.

Brian Hicks
MSgt USMC Retired
1982-2003

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: Does being a modern Joe make you better at your impression?

I love the fact that he's willing to portray a private on his free time. It says a lot about a man's character. Kudos.

If ever given the opportunity I'd like to fall in under your battalion and learn a thing or two from you Mr Hicks.

Cheers.

[BrianHicks]

Re: Does being a modern Joe make you better at your impression?

We had another Full Bird (Airforce), Kieth Barsch, who enjoyed falling into the ranks. He retired about 18 mos. ago, and is in Law School now. Hopefully we'll see him again.

We also have Bro. Dale Beasely in the ranks. He is a Lt Col (Medical Corps) in the Active Reserves.

And you are correct... it is refreshing to have men whom are actually Commissioned Officers, falling into the ranks with the rest of us. It does speak well of their character.

I don't know that there is very much I could impart to you, but I'd be very honored to have you in the ranks with us.

For the remainder of this year, we have Chicamuaga and Outpost III on the schedule.

The Website for the WIG is: www.westernindependentgrays.org keep a check every now and then over there, as well as the event folders here. I'm sure we'll share an event eventually.

[Spinster]

Re: Does price hurt your authenticity?

Chawls,

I'm in--where do I send a portion of the locksmith fee? Time for Judith to roadtrip. Heck, I got gals who fly from Colorado to Alabama for events that can only be described as 'better than some'.:D

Po white down here, with or without teeth, snuff can optional, but preferred,

[Mike Ventura]

Re: Does being a modern Joe make you better at your impression?

Don't forget recently retired USMC Col. Dan McLean is around here somewhere.

[Drygoods]

Re: Does price hurt your authenticity?

Mr. Heath and Mrs. Lawson,

Oh, geez, I had no idea that I sounded like a charity case, so be it. Wanna hear another whiner? I got three in college, live in a fine old place that is falling apart and needs ready money faster than the mint can print it, and am surrounded by white trash neighbors who smoke anything, even my rose clippings if I don't pick them up fast enough when doing yard work. The people in my town think it's great entertainment to have practice lesson fires on old Victorian houses, truly, these things draw crowds. I just get wild when I see folks do this sorta thing. I mean I went out to see what was burning one day and found a Dr. who bought an old place, and she thought it best to take 8 old trunks down from the attic, filled with clothes, and poor lamp oil on them and burn them, her best idea for getting rid of 'rubbish.' Now you know why I'm nuts all the time. Trapped in suburbia with folks who don't own books.

I suppose that I'm just as weird as my neighbors. I mean, I don't use central heating, instead use fireplaces to heat my brick home, and have removed old wiring for electricity and replaced it with gas lamps. You folks sure I should be let out once and a while?:sarcastic As they say, be careful what you wish for, you might get it.:confused_

Zingo! talk about nasty thread drift there. Still, my point to the previous post was that people get way too wrapped up thinking that they need to look perfect. I don't see the point to all that, as there is nothing wrong with looking like an honest working man, or even a humble housewife, just the common citizen.