Nineteenth Century Explorers' equipment

[BellyTank]

1897: Cook's tourists' handbook for Egypt, the Nile, and the Desert.

An electronic version.

http://scholarship.rice.edu/jsp/xml/1911/9284/1/CooEg1897.tei-timea.html


Note the advertisement for Jaeger's khaki- "...a porous covering for the pores"

And something to be going on with, especially in the light of all this talk on "light Tweeds"...

It is always desirable in travelling to dispense with unnecessary
luggage, at the same time it is necessary to be well
supplied, especially if the journey is to be prolonged for months.
For gentlemen, light tweed suits, and a flannel suit, with a suit
of darker material for wearing on particular occasions, this
latter is of course not absolutely necessary, but when attending
divine service, or making any special visit, it is usual to wear
garments of this kind. Woollen stockings and strong boots,
flannel or cotton shirts, slippers, and light shoes, a mackintosh,
white umbrella lined with green, felt hats, or “helmets” with
puggeries. Ladies are recommended to take a good woollen
costume, not heavy; one or two of light texture; and a
serviceable dark silk.
Among the Miscellaneous Articles which it may be
found advantageous to take, may be mentioned, leather drinking-cup
and a pocket filter, leather straps, small strong writing
case, with writing materials, a ball of twine, a good serviceable
pocket-knife, green spectacles, or veil, if the eyes are at all
weak; needles, thread, tape, buttons, soap, pocket-compass,
and other similar articles which will suggest themselves to
every traveller. Any special “hobby” that the traveller may
have should be provided for before starting, such as sketching
blocks, botanical presses; provision should be made beforehand,
if the traveller intends to prosecute geological or entomological
researches, etc. A good field or opera-glass should
be taken.

More here: "Travelers in the Middle East Archive"

http://scholarship.rice.edu/handle/123456789/1


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[H.Johnson]

Excellent stuff!

One could contrast this 'traveller' approach with the (very idiosynchratic) method of 'serious' exploratory/anthropological study of Charles M Doughty, who travelled widely in 'Arabia Deserta' (the title of his magnum opus) who wore and used local dress and (largely) equipment. He was robbed and almost killed on a number of occasions (largely through refusing to recant on his religion) but developed an intimate knowledge of the area and its people.

We could discuss Sir Richard Francis Burton in this context, of course.

 

[BellyTank]

But of course.


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[MrBern]

Helmets

FYI, for those of you interested in the far ranging adoption of Pith Helmets from the 19th Century to current, heres an extensive new book.
The author (a friend from local militaria shows) received them this morning & was good enuff to allow me the first autographed hardcover purchase.

http://militarysunhelmets.com/

 

[BellyTank]

Nice-

I'm familiar with his NYC_Techwriters helmets page.


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[H.Johnson]

An excellent tome, I'm sure, and an interesting subject. I will attempt to procure a copy.

I think it is surpising how many current reproductions of various styles of sun helmet are available. You don't see many people wearing them at the mall!

 

[BellyTank]

See here for some of his collection.

http://www.nyc-techwriters.com/militaria/helmets.htm


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[H.Johnson]

BT,

Not for the first time, you made my day. Sun helms I have been trying to identify for some years - three holes, Rhodesian (ooops, Zimbabwean), four holes, Canadian.

Now I know.

 

[BellyTank]

Three holes- good,
four holes- bad.


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[H.Johnson]

Isn't that legs?

Hang on...

 

[BellyTank]

Yes- that was 4 and 2.
Good and not so good, respectively.


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[MrBern]

flickr

spotted on Flickr

George_Hutton_1938_Nairobi

1914

Family in married quarters Malta 1932

 

[Mojave Jack]

spotted on Flickr

1914

No attribution, Mr Bern? Gadzooks, where are women like that today?

 

[MrBern]

flickr

1914

 

[Nick Charles]

the sportswear section of the 1895 Montgomery Wards catalog reprint has some nice items. I'd scan it but no scanner.

 

[Mojave Jack]

Whoops! Sorry, H.Johnson, looks like I de-railed your thread a bit with that off-topic query!

So let me bring it back on topic with a reference to Sir Samuel White Baker, who was known for hunting elephants with a 2-bore(!) rifle in the late 19th century. Baker began exploring Africa in 1861, looking for the source of the Nile.

Baker's rifle, which he called "Baby," was a muzzleloader that threw a half-pound lead ball. I can't find any pictures of Baby but it probably looked pretty similar to this historical example:

Made by Holland & Holland, Baker said this about the rifle:

"Among other weapons, I had an extraordinary rifle that carried a half-pound percussion shell; this instrument of torture to the hunter was not sufficiently heavy for the weight of the projectile: it only weighted twenty pounds, thus with a charge of ten drachms of powder and a HALF-POUND shell, the recoil was so terrific, that I spun around like a weathercock in a hurricane. I really dreaded my own rifle, although I have been accustomed to heavy charges of powder and severe recoils for some years."

For comparison, here is a modern .700 Nitro Express cartridge alongside a 2-bore cartridge, with their respective projectiles! The 2-bore projectile is solid bronze and comes in at a whopping 3500 grains.

Here is a more modern 2-bore:

Looks like a cartoon rifle, like something Elmer Fudd would carry hunting wabbit!

Want to really blow your mind? Look at the 2-bore cartridge compared to a 9mm:

 

[Nick Charles]

hunting camp in the late 1800's in my home town in upstate NY

 

["Skeet" McD]

hunting camp in the late 1800's in my home town in upstate NY

Dear Nick,
You'll know best of course: but by eye, at least, I'd have a hard time dating this to the 19C....1915 to 1935 would be my guess, with my best guess right in the middle of that. For what it's worth. Whenever it is: great picture, and a nice documentation of a Lady Sport, who LOOKS LIKE BUSINESS...

"Skeet"

 

[Nick Charles]

the guy on the lft is the grandfather of the guy that posted the photo, and has it dated 1889

 

[shortbow]

Great thread, great pics. As to the NY hunting photo, the lady is holding an 1894 Winchester carbine, kinda obviates the '89 attribution.