Period Shirts from Ebay

B

Bartman

New member
All,
I have been in contact with the seamstress (Margaret) who made Mike's shirt that he bought on Ebay. I asked her if she had or would have any other Men's XL shirts available similar to the one Mike bought off Ebay, she does not but would be happy to make some for us. Here's the link to Mike's shirt:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330234706957&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D330234706957%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1

The price for a Muslin XL like the one above would be $15 plus $10 shipping (to Scandia) and Paypal fee.

She also has another style available, here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330238542613&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

Disregard the color of the shirt, she would make this out of muslin, or another fabric if we chose (she would have to price out the fabric and get back to us.)  Cost for a Muslin XL would be $10 plus $10 shipping (to Scandia) and Paypal fee.

I just ordered a 4 button in XL in Muslin. If anyone else is interested in ordering a shirt, send Margaret an email at [email protected] If you would like to split the shipping costs, mention that you would like your order shipped with Bart Genovese's order. You would be responsible for picking up the shirt from me, or I will be happy to bring it to the Landing in August.

Hope this helps...talk soon!

Bart
 
The shirt pictured looks great if you are filming a 1950's pirate movie.  Period shirts didn't look like that.  Most were flax linen.  They were very long, mid thigh or below.  They served as underwear, nightclothes, and daily wear.  We think most people had several of these.  They washed them and changed them. 

They are often constructed entirely of squares of fabric.  Diamond shaped gussets are sewn below the arms and at the neck.  The goal was to make a semi well fitting garment out of the least possible yardage with no pattern.  Instead proportions were used to size components (sound familiar?). 

There are no or very few museum quality 18th c garments available "off the rack".  If you are interested in a decent 18th c work shirt, I recommend Beth Gilgun's "Tiding from the 18thc Century".  She includes the "pattern" for the shirt as well as many other well researched tidbits of domestic 18th c life.

One extra cultural note: anglo americans considered men in their shirt sleeves without waist coats in a state of undress.  It was appropriate in work shops, as in the attached picture, but not proper elsewhere.  Also, men almost always wore some sort of neck wear.  I also suspect Christian men had to keep their heads covered.  Cloth caps were ubiquitous in 18th c craft shops.  Leather aprons were common too.

So in the picture I should have on a neck cloth, a cloth cap, probably leather breeches and a leather shop apron.  I've only ever seen these to the waist.  Better luck next time Adam, you hack.

Why we should care:
When doing craft demos, clothes convey important information.  Modern audiences receive information visually, so its important to "own the look" to control the message.  In a museum setting, craft demonstrators are themselves the exhibit.  Docents direct attention away from themselves to the museum's exhibits.  Craft demonstrators direct attention to themselves.  They are the exhibit.

Adam
 

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Adam,
Thanks for the information on proper 18th century male dress. The demo we are doing is at a 19th century farmstead.  They will be good enough for that purpose. Now I need to order my eye patch and cutlass. ARRRR
Mike
 
I'm with ya brother.  Just bear in mind that only 20 years ago, 18th c woodworking demos were done wit Bailey planes because that was good enough.  10 years ago, we did demos with Disston saws.  That was good enough.  Nobody but a few kooks would know the difference so folks didn't bother.

I wouldn't walk out on a 18th c ww demo if the guy was using bailey planes, but I'd probably be a little skeptical.  My experience is that visitors ask (believe?) the guy with the most authentic shoes.

Adam
www.costumes.org is a good resource
 
Adam,
Thanks for the information. I agree it is important when we're participating in a period demonstration to be accurate in our tools, methods, and dress.

Bart
 
Adam - Curious - Where'd you get the shoes?  And are they nailed or pegged?  I visited Old Salem a couple of weeks ago, and wandered into the shoe shop.  The cobbler was a nice guy that didn't get much attention compared to the gunsmith, blacksmith, tin/silver smith and joiner's shops, but I don't think he sold his wares, just demonstrated the techniques. 

Old Salem is a lot like Colonial Williamsburg except focusing on Moravian (germanic) colonial culture and without the rides and a bit of the commercialism - highly recommended for those close to NC.
 
I do Rev War re-enacting as a sutler (merchant).  You can buy 18c. shoes from, www.jas-townsend.com & www.smoke-fire.com.

Dennis Bork
Antiquity Period Designs, Ltd.
 
Shoes are a huge problem.  I bought my shoes directly from the manufacturer, Fugawee.  Other manufacturers include Robert Land and Walrus Shoes.  (you can google all of these).  A lot of CWF employees wear Walrus shoes. These are custom made shoes and easily double the price of of Fugawee's.

Because I'm in and out of museum spaces and historic homes, I can't wear hob nails.  I put a rubber cap on my heels to prevent the nails or pegs (I'm not even sure what's in there) from scratching up museum floors.  The other problem is working in marginally comfortable shoes with heels.  My editor, Megan Fitzpatrick recently blogged about working at Chris Schwarz' work bench.  Chris is pretty tall, Megan is not, so she wore her high heels to compensate.  Its a an interesting post.  Find it on PW's website or there's a link from artsandmysteries.com.  Anyway, I wanted to comment "me too".  I've been working in high heels for 5 or 6 years and I haven't gotten used to it and I don't like it.  Wooden floors with wood shavings and dust are slippery.  Unlike a military reenactor, you'll have to work in these shoes.  We do a lot with our feet when we are planing.  Even using your foot to hold stock at a saw horse.

So don't let me talk anyone out of period shoes.  I think they are an essential ingredient to a period look.  People really look at shoes, comment on them.  Remember, we are the exhibit.  I've heard tales of people touching women, lifting up their skirts to see hems or petticoats etc.  I really don't think they are being fresh (the in the story I heard it was women doing this).  "We are the exhibit" is not what I think or my goal.  It's clearly how the public sees us.

Adam
 
Adam/Dennis - Thanks for the link.  I find the period dress fascinating (why'd it take so long to think up blue jeans?), though for now I think I'll stick to planing boards in less-than-authentic New Balance running shoes.  It would still be cool to have a set of period clothes just to bring home how miserable our ancestors must've been in a woodshop during a North Carolina summer!
 
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