[quote]
Hola friends.    am a re-enactor for the 6thy Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry. When I got my tent from my uncle (when he re-enacted)it was pretty dirty. Now, if I wanted to clean my tent for my official season, what should I do to make it white again? What materials shall I use?

Also, with spectacles, I wear glasses and I truely need them. My eyes are too sensative for contacts, and I don't know what to do. I need glasses to see what I'm doing, but my glasses are too modern. My parents are afraid special made spectacles would be too much.

Someone help me. Stay cool. Peace.

Seey you all on the battlefield.   Long Live the Union!

6th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
Comp. A.

With the glasses, I went out and found a pair of period frames and then took them to my eye doctor and they were able to put the modern lenses in them so that I could see.

It may not be the perfect solution, but it is an option.  And depending on where you find the frames, the major part of the cost may be the lenses.

Greg, that could work for me. I think that if the frames won't be too much, the lenses won't be as much. My glasses were expensive partly because of my expensive and fancy frames. Could "Harry Potter" glasses work if you were to take the frame off of it and bend the back of it? I guess today since I'm off from schol for MLK day, I'll look for spectacle frames.

I was able to find my frames at an antique store.  I think there is a sutler who specializes in period frames.  I don't know what his information is.

Chase,

Don't worry about cleaning your tent. They didn't! You will want to make sure your tent is completely dry before you put it away between events. My Common Tent is twenty years old and is still water proof. It's also a nice shade of gray!  

Greg's suggestions for period glasses were very good. It's funny, I only need reading glasses and found a pair of period glasses that work fine just the way they were.

Check out Jas. Townsend and Sons, Inc, 18th Century Reproduction Glasses Frames.  It’s hard to beat that price.  My bifocal lens were put in a pair of these and they work fine.

http://jas-townsend.com/index.php?cPath=7&osCsid=43c615368a6d83317da782390cf90628

Greg, do you remember the name of the that sutlery where you got your spectacles? I am near-sighted and really need spectacles. Curtis, I will try out the website you have given me. Bill, thank you for the tent suggestions. I didn't know if people cleaned their tents or not. I don't know just yet how easily it handles in rain still, though. It just looks like in some re-enactments that some people clean their tents because they are perfectly white.  

I don't recall their name.  I purchased them close to 9 years ago and it was at this little event called Neshaminy.. over here near Philly.

Chase,

Talking about those pretty white tents you see, don't let them fool you. Most of those that really white haven't seen years of service.  Even if they are taken care of,they will not be white after an extended time and use.  

--Last edited by Parault on 2008-01-21 20:47:39 --

As to the spectacles, I too have to have them (see my avatar). You can get actual period frames relaitively cheaply ($60 or less) if you shop around. I simply took the lenses out, took them loose to a local optometrist, and had lenses the same size made in my prescrïption and put them back in. When purchasing, make sure the lenses are removeable (screws not rivets)and the frames are in good condition. During the period, I think you will find that slightly oval lenses were the most common followed by octagonal; I would avoid the perfectly round "Harry Potter" look. Also period frames did not have nose pieces to the best of my knowledge (haven't seen any originals with them) and very simple temples. There is a school of thought that only straight temples are correct and not the more familiar hook around the ear temple (called riding temples in the period vernacular) but I have been told there is an image of Lincoln holding a pair of riding temple glasses so that may not be true (I wear "riding temples" myself due to having a wide (some would say fat) head that tends to let the glasses fall off whenever I look down. Of course many of the straight temples did have holes in them for a lanyard for just such a problem. Also some of the straight temples slid in and out for storage as well.

It's probably best to go antiquing or find Bill MacIntosh at an event.  That gives you a chance to inspect the frames and lenses.  I have found a number of good reading glasses and cases, including bifocals and my clerkly blue spectacles.  

If you want to know what to look for, and maybe go ahead and buy, this site has some good information, though I've found significantly better prices in antique stores:  http://www.eyeglasseswarehouse.com/index.html

You want to be a bit cautious about the frames:  A number of them advertized as CW era are actually later time period.

The most obvious part of the frames you want is that they have no nose pieces.  The connecting bar rests on the bridge of your nose.

Most of what I've seen indicates that oval lenses were most common, but round were out there as well (but they tend to spin around in the frames when you clean them; makes for some interesting visual problems).

Antique shops, junk shops, Ebay, etc. have frames available if you know what you're looking for.  Prices vary considerably, so shop around.  Your optometrist should be able to fit prescrïption lenses in them.

As for the tent, leave it as it is.  

Down here in Camp Dennison, Ohio, I'm sure I just need to look closer at antique stores. Camp Dennison was one or even maybe the biggest Union training base in Ohio. I'm sure I'll find something Civil war like,    Thank you everyone for your help though.  

Chase,

Remember, spectacles were not an issue item. Soldiers either brought their glasses from home, or purchased them from civilian sources. So, almost any spectacles from the period are correct.

If your tent's not waterproofed...And, you just have to have cleaned. Take it to the local laundramat. You can use regular detergent and even a little bleach if the mood strikes you. It's just cloth. Just don't put it in the dryer for goodness sake.

Quote :

GrumpyDave wrote :  Just don't put it in the dryer for goodness sake.

Grumpy,

That could turn a Common Tent into a Pup Tent!  

Does this mean that my modern glasses won't work? No one looks that closely do they? Right now, with what's going on, finding the money after finally buying a basic uniform, buying the lenses seem like a lot too much. I can't help it.  :/

If you can survive for 48 hours without them, it'd be quite authentic just not to wear them at all. Not everyone could afford the luxary.

Quote :

GrumpyDave wrote : If you can survive for 48 hours without them, it'd be quite authentic just not to wear them at all. Not everyone could afford the luxary.

Chase,

The other side of that equation is, if you can't go without your glasses, buy them first. Your Pards can hook you up with most everything else you need. Specticles with the correct prescrïption are pretty rare in most unit's loaner gear collection.  

Our rule is brogans and glasses first. Worry about the other stuff later.

I just purchased some new old spectacles. It cost $25 at an "antique fair" for the frames, and $82 for new lenses. For not too much cash, I'll have a fine pair of "sliding temple" style glasses.