shelter halk with gromets

[k6j3p]

Is there any hope for my shelter half with brass gromets??? I am confused as to how/why gum blankets have gromets, fly's have them but shelter halfs didn't? Would it make things worse to try to cover them or dare I say paint them?

[k6j3p]

sorry about typo......

[johan_steele]

As I understand it the Shelterhalvesw/ Grommets were a late war, limited issue item. Now I believe those who were issued French gear, to include their version of the shelter half, had brass grommets & these were isssud in 62 to several AoP units 5-6 Regiments IIRC.

There is an excellent work out on the US Shelter tent though I cannot recall the title; I believe it is avalable through Fall Creek or most sutlers who stock books.

An "Authentc" shelter half will run you about $90 a shelter half w/ both halves from Fall Creek will go for about $50... make certain to specify "w/out grommets." I'm not certain of the authenticity of thisitem but I would rather buy a boo or tent from there than anything else... once bitten twice shy.

Now there were civilian purchased pieces of canvas used as shelter halves though whether or not they had grommets I do't know.

Good Luck

[Mark Wadsworth]

Sewing an authentic shelter half is easy to do. The kicker is hand sewing the groments and the buttons holes. That is what takes up the most time.

[k6j3p]

Would you please lead me to some documantation for the issue of shelter halves with gromets in 62 AoP..... just in case I need to fend off some stitch counters...... LOL
any/all help much appreciated
KP

[AZReenactor]

Originally Posted by k6j3p

Would you please lead me to some documantation for the issue of shelter halves with gromets in 62 AoP..... just in case I need to fend off some stitch counters...... LOL
any/all help much appreciated
KP

How would that fend us off? Just because some soldiers may have been issued French shelter halves with brass grommets doesn't in any ways make your overwight, incorrect "reproduction" of an American made and issued shelter half any more correct. (One interesting fact about the french shelter is that it was actually made from cotton cloth infused with India rubber.) Or do you plan to simply tell people you are in one of the few units issued a tente-d'abri and hope they are too ignorant to know the difference to call you on the athenticity fib?

The book on shelter tents is by Fred Gaede, The Civil War Shelter Tent. The book has some very good reseach and details on the design and construction of original shelter halves.

Far be it from me to tell you what to do, but if you are really concerned what more knowledgable people might say about your shelter halves you might want to consider selling them and either buying or making an accurate reproduction. I'm in the midst of sewing a pair of halves myself at the present, it isn't that expensive or difficult a project.

Unfourtunately the lazy Jacks mess site is down right now, they had some good info available.

The Haversack Depot offers some nice photos of their reproduction that shows some of the details of the hand sewn buttonholes and grommets.

[johan_steele]

AZ Reenactor... quick question for you referencing the French Made Shelter halves... 1. thanks for the reference to the infused w/ India rubber; I was unaware of that but it does clear up some confusion on my part as to why they would be described as "Gray Canvas." 2. Do you have any info on the French gear... I am doing a bit of research on the subject and have hit upon a bit of a brick wall... that and I don't read a lick of French. What I have been able to find dates to the Franco Prussian War or Crimea... only a 15 year gap but I don't know when the changes I've noted came about.

THanks

[AZReenactor]

Sorry, I'm afraid all I have is a little info on the tente-d'abri, nothing on other French gear.

[wagen dawg]

Cadet;
Hand sewing a shelterhalf (or 14 at this point ) just takes practice and determination. The book by Frederick Gaede is the best. You can't go wrong with his information. I make number 8, because it is the only know example of a hand sewn one,, and lord knows, you don't want to get tripped up on the details. I also like it because of it's unique square panels on the bottom.

I use bone buttons from The Military Warehouse. If you want to age them, don't use coffee because it will eventually wash out. I use various wood stains to give several different hues on the buttons. It looks old, and I don't have enough years left in the field to wait for it to age.
Button holes and grometts and ridge pole holes. Practice.
Just like the real ones, if properly made and put up, it will leak. But I wont ruin the hard work with water proofing.
Hope this helps. Each half takes me about 3 weeks.

Tim R
Wagen Dawg

[rock city guard]

I took the the gommets off my shelter and stitched the holes. now my question is, the ends remain open. how did the cover the ends on the shelter halves during rain storms?my buddy and I use our ponchos to cover the ends. Is this acceptable?