June 23, 2006

19th Century Working Men--Where to get the stuff

Some men are talented tailors. Other men have talented women who are willing to make costumes for them. Others have neither advantage--but fortunately, if all you need to do is dress up like a ranch hand, farmer, ditch digger, railroad worker or what ever, you can get all sorts of historically correct, moderately priced and well made stuff "off the rack" with nothing more than a credit card (with money, all things are possible).

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Posted by Walter at 12:05 PM

June 22, 2006

19th Cenutry Working Men--Dressing the Part

A week or so ago, I was participating in my usual monthly living history at Los Encinos State Historic Park (http://los-encinos.org). It was June in the San Fernando Valley, it was around 100 Degrees Farenheit, and I wasn't doing too badly. I reflected on the fact that in my "Ranch Hand" garb, I was wearing probably the best gear any European could wear in the sweltering desert that is Southern California--and I was also entirely historically correct.

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Posted by Walter at 10:23 AM

June 12, 2006

Another Historical Pet Peeve--Archery and Hollywood

One of my far too numerous hobbies is "primitive archery". My wife and I own replicas of medieval English longbows, and we occasionally take them out and shoot our replica arrows (some with lovely vicious "bodkin" and "broadhead" points) at evil straw bales that really need killing.

When ever we get together with friends to slaughter these bundles of vegitation, the subject of how different what we are doing is from what you see in the movies comes up.

Here a few of the observations.

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Posted by Walter at 03:53 PM | Comments (2)