At the fellow with the washboards feet are what looks to me like tin pots & lids. I recently purchased a set of 4, that look very similar in construction to the pots in the picture. The 4 I have are 5 gallon, 2 gallon, 1 gallon and 2 quarts or there abouts. Anyone else seen something like these or have documentation such things were common? That's a nice brass bucket he has too. Click the picture for a larger image.



 

--Last edited by grumpydave on 2007-01-17 17:44:58 --

 

Is this better?

Dave,

It's my understanding the QM issued sets of three tin pots that nested together. Our friend, who can't be named, since he hasn't registered; probably has thirty-seven tons of documentation on Federal issue mess equipment.

It may be my old eyes, but those two pots, in the foreground of the photo, look like they may be cast iron with tin lids. Is it just me, or do they have slightly convex sides, with a ridge in the center?

As an aside. I own a couple of period cast iron pots. They are dramatically lighter than modern cast iron cook ware. The metal is much thinner.

Hate to differ, but I see one bucket ( probably wood )and two cast iron pots with possibly tin lids.  Heresy, I know, and my failing eyesight could be at fault, but I see not a single tin pot in the photo.

I love the old posed "action" photos. The gentleman on the left is "cooking" over a pile of split wood, but no fire. On second thought, I've done that myself, at more than one event!

It took me a while to figure out what the man on the right was doing, but then it hit me. He's polishing his sword scabbard.

Great picture!    

I recall a school presentation I made some years ago now.  I brought some split wood and stacked it unlit and log cabin style to resemble or reperesent a fire.  I placed a skillet nearby with a slice of hog jowl bacon and a couple of crackers, something I'm sure we've all done at one time or 'tuther.  Young feller wanders up and asserts confidently "That's not a real fire".  "Sure it is.  It's a 'reenackmun' fire.  Kyeerful you don' stick yer hand in it."  Boy takes a step back and looks at me skeptickle like.  "Naw" sez he.  "Yup.  Reenackmun far.  Slow cookin' though."  Boy wanders off with pals, casting an eye over his shoulder in doubt.

I guess we all have such stories.  I've never been real sure whether others see the humor in these encounters.  I guess you had to be there.

A number of years ago, Sandy, my wife, and I were attending one of the big national events. Sandy was washing some dishes in a tin pan and these two young spectator girls came by and Sandy asked them if they wanted to help. (A little like Tom Sawyer and the fence.) It was like these little girls died and went to heaven. They pitched right in and washed dishes like there was no tomorrow. When everything was done, they asked Sandy if they could help again. Sandy told them that she wouldn't be washing any more dishes until after dinner. The girl's mother looked  like a deer caught in a car's headlights. It was obvious there was no way she wanted to hang around in the dust, dirt, and heat until dinner time, so her kids could wash dishes again. Luckly for Mom, the camp was closed in the evening, so she had a good excuse to head on home.

   

I agree, those are cast iron pots. Now go to the tent heater thread and look how many items are in both pictures. I do wonder where the tin pots went.

Over the years I've noticed lots of cast iron cookware as part of ACW relic displays and have owned a couple 19th C pieces myself.  As Bill points out, the cast ironware we get today is much heavier, thus less practical for our purposes.  What I have noticed alot of, too, is spiders.  Wade Hampton's mess kit includes a cast iron spider, which would be a handy item, but not with current heavy construction.

The bucket shown in the photo is very likey made from rubberized cloth.  These things show up in all sorts of period photos and some survive today. (Hopefully the photo link works)

[img]http://www.horsesoldier.com/catalog/274-104d.JPEG

Sure wish somebody made a nice replica because they seem right handy.

Try again....sorry

The image does not look like the issue pail.  The army did issue Tin pails in three common sizes. Some were painted blue or tan.  I would like to see all the pages of research as I only have the article by Robert Braun.    

Shay The Tinsmith

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Thanks!