Canes

[Trail Otter]

My apologies if this has already been covered and I somehow missed it. First, what type of cane would have been common for a person of lower to middle income? Most of what I have seen appear to be for the upper classes or not really meant to support an individual. The other question I have is where would be a good resource to obtain one that I could actually lean on.

[Jon The Beloved]

Re: Canes

Being a bit of a woodworker for a few years, I'd say something in a good cut of black locust, hawthorn, ash, osage, or mulberry provides for a sturdy, less knotty, slightly flexible wood cane that serves for less wear on impact and with resistance to rot. These species often provide a good fiber with less knots and straighter growth yet with a natural turn lending to the creation of a handle. Of course, if you found one or had one made, based upon those specs, you want to consider a period correct finish with minimal hardware.

[Matthew Semple]

Re: Canes

Jon,

I am glad you posted and offered your experience. If we look at the 50th and 75th Anniversary of Gettysburg Reunion motion picture footage and the various other 50th anniversary Reunion events footage, we see exactly what you describe for wood in canes (from what can be distinguished in still shots from the motion picture footage). I don't see much advancement in the use of particular types of wood used in canes in the United States throughout its 220+ year history.

I would like to add that my Great Great Great Grandfather used a cane made from wild apple from the family farm. Since the cane does not survive to this day and accounts of his frailty greatly vary in description from oral tradition, I cannot attest to the sturdiness of that cane. It may have been a sentimental piece carried or may have been a functional piece. One thing I do know is that the 215+ year old apple trees which were present on the property when his father purchased (laid claim to) it yield the strongest and most superior wood without knots in the past two decades in which those trees have fallen and we have had to cut up the downed trees for removal.

Matt

[BobRoeder]

Re: Canes

Robert,

A very quick search on-line (I checked though whatever civilian printed sources I have to no avail) brings up quite a bit of information on 19th century walking sticks. Here are two which illustrate a huge variety of types for the period, there is much, much more information available.

http://18thcand19thc.blogspot.com/2014/10/walking-sticks.html

http://www.rauantiques.com/library/canes/collecting-antique-walking-sticks-and-canes-CANESLIB.html

If you need it because of a disability for which a stylish /lightweight commercially produced cane might not be appropriate, maybe you can find examples of robust homemade types. Antiques auction and museum sites may provide some useful information.

http://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/a_19th_century_holly_tree_walking_stick/as093a1895

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/victorian-brussel-sprout-stem-walking-161768980

http://www.kahnfineantiques.com/index.cfm?ImgId=3134

And don't, forget individual and group images on the LOC, etc.
Here's an image of Secretary of State Seward w/ his cane:

http://www.think-israel.org/bendavid.lincolnssecretaryhurva.html

[Elaine Kessinger]

Re: Canes

There are walking sticks for decoration. Those are not functional. They make a fashion statement and sometimes conceal weaponry. They have knob handles... works lovely as a kush, but doesn't distribute the body weight onto the hand and handle properly.

There are canes for function. They are not decorative. They are usually "L" shaped with a handle to hold onto firmly. They are made of a decent hardwood as the woodworkers explained above.

Walking Cane of Abraham Lincoln given to Frederick Douglass after his death: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/exh...bit/index.html

On left, a "fancy" walking cane with a nude woman carved into the ivory handle: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6286960

Scroll down for a walking cane of wood with a dog carved into the handle (1848): https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6287008

Scroll down for a walking cane of malacca with a dog carved into the ivory handle (1830-1860): https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6287042

Political Cartoon with assistive cane shown used: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/ne...-photo/3089362

A manufacturer that is including some history (and if my fellow mods want me to remove this link, it's gone.): http://www.walkingcaneco.com/walking...king-Canes.asp

[F. J.]

Re: Canes

There are walking sticks for decoration. Those are not functional. They make a fashion statement and sometimes conceal weaponry. They have knob handles... works lovely as a kush, but doesn't distribute the body weight onto the hand and handle properly.

There are canes for function. They are not decorative. They are usually "L" shaped with a handle to hold onto firmly. They are made of a decent hardwood as the woodworkers explained above.[...]

I don’t that you can necessarily discount knob-handled walking sticks from being functional. I have one and it can be quite functional if need be. I think the biggest deciding factor is the diameter of the stick. Functional ones tend to be quite thick, whereas the fashionable ones tend to look almost like extra-long riding crops. I have seen several of the fashionable period walking sticks in museums and they couldn’t have been more than a half-inch wide.
Seated in the center here is Mr. Frederick Dent, General Grant’s father-in-law. Considering the size of his stick, I don’t think it to be merely a fashionable accessory.


Senator Hamilton Fish’s, however, looks to be more of the fashionable sort.


Finally, here is Mr. William Irvine with his L-shaped handle walking stick, which appears to be ivory.