Quote :

Pvt. C.Osborne wrote : 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.  :/

Chase,

Not to sound mean but nothing ruins a good impression faster than modern glasses. Another alternative from period glasses or going without would be contact lenses.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2008-01-24 19:52:22 --

Chase,

Rob is right.  I didn't have proper glasses for the first year or so I did this hobby and when I look back at the photos then versus the ones now, there is a huge difference in the initial appearance.

Bill had a good suggestion, our unit does the same suggestions.  Get yourself a good pair of shoes and hat and glasses (if needed) and we can usually outfit you with the rest until you catch up.

Quote :

Pvt. C.Osborne wrote : 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.  :/

Define "won't work".

Lots of events allow all kinds of anachronisms, even ones that break their rules.  Other events are very keen on leaving the modern items at home.  Much depends upon the events you attend.

More important is what you seek to do in the hobby, and what level of accuracy you wish to achieve.  Only you can answer that.

Prioritize your purchases of items.  Forget the "neat-o" ones you would like to have and concentrate on the ones you most need to get where you want to be.  You'll probably find that many of the "want" items recede into the "why the heck would I need that?" catagory.  I wish I'd learned that sooner, myself.

I am right now searching for (also) a mail courier patch (if there is such a insignia or badge). First, would a mail courier fall under Signal Corp or Pay Master Corp, or does anyone know what patch a mail courier would wear?

Chase,

The mail courier thing falls into what Bernie called the neat o things to have. Before looking for specialty impression items, get the basic kit in order first with the necessities. If you are called on to do such an impression, I doubt it will be at every event. Usually I am just a private, but occasionally I have been given a "battlefield promotion" to corporal or sergeant when needed. I didn't run out and whip on stripes for the event, I just fell in the correct place and did the job. The rest of the company knew who I was. My reccomendation of items to get and in this order based on ease of loaner gear (the first six really are the most improtant):

Shoes
drawers and 2 pair of socks
glasses
personal mess items (plate, cup, knife, spoon)
hat
gum blanket
coat
trousers
accouterments
musket
shirt
Blanket

Everything else is optional. I can make it at an event with just the list above and a box of matches and be OK.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2008-01-27 14:38:48 --

Make sure your spectacles dont have the ear piece that curves around.. the curved ear piece is later period.

I have contacts, but need to find a a pair, just in case something happens. I generally bring an extra pair with me, just in case. Being very blind without... theres no way I could be period and go without. I would end up with the biggest headache by the end of the first day, not to mention everything I would miss.. I cant tell you what my hand looks like when its put in front of me if I dont have my glasses or contacts.

If you have a common prescrïption try  here http://www.focusers.com/mcallister.html   they offer a few different strengths. Unfortuntely mine is 1.50 and 1.75.. and they dont offer either.

And yes.. your glasses will be noticed... thats generally the first thing I notice, then I notice the clothes.

Dulcie,

Actually I have been heard that there is a picture of Linciln holding a pair of the riding temple glasses in his office at the White House. I'm trying to locate it but it may be our assumption that only straight temples are correct may be wrong. I do wear riding temples as I have not found a pair of straight temple yet that would stay on my face but I'm still looking.

Edit, I found the following picture of Lincoln's posessions at the time of his assasination (from the LOC) and at the bottom I see a pair of glasses with a slight hook but not what I was expecting. There still may be a picture out there somewhere.


 

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2008-01-27 18:59:23 --

[cit]chatrbug wrote : Make sure your spectacles dont have the ear piece that curves around.. the curved ear piece is later period.

If you have a common prescrïption try  here http://www.focusers.com/mcallister.html   they offer a few different strengths. Unfortuntely mine is 1.50 and 1.75.. and they dont offer either.

Thank you for sharing that link which I also will check out.  I just started last January and had purchased new glasses in December and knowing that I may enlist tried to purchase frames as close to period as possible (knowing that with nosepiece and plastic) it would still be incorrect.

Anyway, I've been searching flea markets, etc. in our area (and when I've traveled) for a year and all the period ones I found were way too small for my head.  Anyway, this is another lead and I express my gratitude.

At focusers, can you by the McAllisters without the lens so that way I can put my prescrïption in? Or do you have to buy them with what they come with?  I suppose I could just take the lens out when I order them and replace them.  

It always helps when you know what your looking for too.

These are the kind that are supposed to be wrong era..
http://www.themanualofarms.com/store/catalog/100_3439_Sm.jpg

Robert.. if you can show otherwise, please do!!  I find it funny that he had 2 pairs of glasses with him.. do you suppose he was always losing a pair?

Chase.. you can have them taking out to replace.  Id ask around the local eye drs to see how much its going to cost though. I also know theres a place in Baltimore that does them with your prescrïption but I will have to find out more details.

I'm trying to find that picture. I think I might have found it but the web image was so fuzzy when I blew it up I couldn't tell if it was riding temples or some blur in the photo.

As to the two pairs of glasses, according to the LOC, one was his "spectacles" ad the other his reading glasses. One probably had a higher magnification factor.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2008-01-29 23:06:31 --

Today I located a pair that looked remarkably similar to the ones at the top of the photo of President Lincoln's stuff. They are octagonal, no nose piece, straight temples that extend, have little holes at the end of the temples, and fell off of my nose the first time I looked down. I didn’t notice if they were screw or rivet held and were $27--should I go back and purchase them?

Also, I understand that the holes were for attaching a piece of cord or string, like old school athletic glasses. Can anyone explain a proper way to tie that?

$27 sounds like a reasonable price to me. Oval was themost common shape but octagonal were also rather common. BTW, the holes were so you could atach a ribbon or string to them and were the norm.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2008-10-05 11:07:03 --

Thanks Robert

I'll pick 'em up next weekend when I'm in that neck of the woods.