Folding Camp Chairs

[Craig L Barry]

There is no US Civil War provenance for those two-piece folding scissor
chairs with horizontal slats. Those are an early to mid-20th century design
associated with the Boy Scouts of America. Here is a boy scout website
with the plans: http://www.scouters.us/homecha.html. I think Boys Life
magazine did something on these camp chairs for scouts in the 1920s,
which may be where it all started. How they made the leap to US Civil War
(re)enactments is anyone's guess, but they are a quick f a r b-finder.

Civil War soldiers, if they could find something to sit on at all,
would rest their backsides on an empty Army Bread box or a log.
Mostly just a ground cloth or gum blanket on terra firma.

Officers of high enough rank had folding chairs on the order of what we
associate with a movie director chair, or else a civilian dining room table chair.
If you are not portraying an officer of high rank, sit on something else.


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[Republican Blues]

Good find Craig.....I think I would rather see directors chairs at events then the scissor type or those "tombstone" chairs.....and you can get em at Target LOL........

 

[carson_reb]

I agree. I prefer terra firma myself, propped up against a shade tree. My fair wife, on the other hand, had better have a chair offered to her.

 

[Joey12thga]

Example of what not to do................

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[Craig L Barry]

Wonder if the whole unit bought them from the same vendor?

And check out the Johnny Reb in the far right of the picture with the mullet, Clarks
Wallaby shoes and blue jeans. All that's missing is the speckled enamel coffee pots.
Using the battle flag for a seat cushion...that might get you hung up by your thumbs.

 

[Ellsworth avenger]

When on a long trek, with not much time for rest, the leg up,body shift, lean on something that doesn't poke ,is the best body rest.

 

[Bonny Blue Flag]

Very well put, Ellsworth.

--BBF

 

[carson_reb]

Wonder if the whole unit bought them from the same vendor?

And check out the Johnny Reb in the far right of the picture with the mullet, Clarks
Wallaby shoes and blue jeans. All that's missing is the speckled enamel coffee pots.
Using the battle flag for a seat cushion...that might get you hung up by your thumbs.

I noted Johnny, too...in fact, I noticed his inaccuracies before I did the chairs! How tasteless is that to use the flag to sit on? Can you imagine somebody in a federal unit doing that with "Old Glory"? Well, maybe you don't have to imagine it. Perhaps you've already seen that...or worse.

 

[Craig L Barry]

I noted Johnny, too...in fact, I noticed his inaccuracies before I did the chairs! How tasteless is that to use the flag to sit on? Can you imagine somebody in a federal unit doing that with "Old Glory"? Well, maybe you don't have to imagine it. Perhaps you've already seen that...or worse.

The boys I fall in with, as well as the National Battlefield Park Service crew, would not savvy that kind of disrespecftul behavior. Clearly for these boys, the hobby is little more than "camping in funny clothes."

American history does not play that big a role in it for them.

 

[firefite44]

That is good to know that these chairs are not of that time frame as I see them everywhere I go and I guess it has been accepted as gospel. I am usually one to stand but do take old folding oak chairs for my wife and kids. I am moving up to an officer so I may check into a director's chair.

 

[firefite44]

we also frown on the jeans and shoes but hey sometimes at a small event with new guys you got to get them in first then educate them. For some it is just a matter of getting the money together for equipment and they get what they can afford and build from there. To criticize all of them without knowing their financial circustances is a bit harsh.

 

[corporal-goodman76thovi]

all I got to say for that pic was nice jeans....

 

[Craig L Barry]

we also frown on the jeans and shoes but hey sometimes at a small event with new guys you got to get them in first then educate them. For some it is just a matter of getting the money together for equipment and they get what they can afford and build from there. To criticize all of them without knowing their financial circustances is a bit harsh.

There is a time honored tradition called "loaner gear." You wouldn't be taken
seriously showing up at an event dressed like this guy. Worse, your entire group
looks bogus for tolerating it. If you don't take it seriously, how can you expect to be taken
seriously?

It's not what I "think", it's what the majority of participants in the hobby believe
to be true, harsh though it may be.

 

[firefite44]

There is a time honored tradition called "loaner gear." You wouldn't be taken
seriously showing up at an event dressed like this guy. Worse, your entire group
looks bogus for tolerating it. If you don't take it seriously, how can you expect to be taken
seriously?

It's not what I "think", it's what the majority of participants in the hobby believe
to be true, harsh though it may be.

So then if we do not have "loaner gear" then we just tell the guy "Sorry, come back when you got all the correct gear?" . None of our guys have jeans or tennis shoes Craig but just playing Devil's Advocate here. It is all about education and giving them the chance to get what they need that is at least correct. You show me a group that carries "loaner gear" in all sizes. I got extra pants but I am a size 32 waist, good for someone who is skinnier but not for a big fat man.

Craig needs to be on a campaign to rid the complete reenacting world of the "camp chairs". Let us know how that turns out.

If I had to guess as to where this picture was taken, I would guess with all the wall tents and a cannon, that it was a school history display or a living history. You never know who or what will show up for those.

 

[Joey12thga]

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More of those chairs.

 

[firefite44]

is that a civilian camp Joey?

 

[Joey12thga]

is that a civilian camp Joey?

Don't know, don't care. It's a "re-enactor" camp with incorrect chairs. Which is the main point up for discussion.

 

[Craig L Barry]

So then if we do not have "loaner gear" then we just tell the guy "Sorry, come back when you got all the correct gear?" . None of our guys have jeans or tennis shoes Craig but just playing Devil's Advocate here. It is all about education and giving them the chance to get what they need that is at least correct. You show me a group that carries "loaner gear" in all sizes. I got extra pants but I am a size 32 waist, good for someone who is skinnier but not for a big fat man.

Craig needs to be on a campaign to rid the complete reenacting world of the "camp chairs". Let us know how that turns out.

If I had to guess as to where this picture was taken, I would guess with all the wall tents and a cannon, that it was a school history display or a living history. You never know who or what will show up for those.

Good one, this is way down the list of annoyances. It actually helps you identify people who either don't care about getting the history part right or just don't care.

Actually, I usually sit on a ground cloth with my back against a tree, if I can find one. That's how it turns out. Heck, everybody can sit on folding lawn chairs with college football team logos on them for all I care. I put my fat butt on the ground or on a bread box. A private's camp life is supposed to suck a little bit.

Most units serious about recruiting new members maintain "loaner gear." This is usually the garbage
they bought before they knew any better. If the gear does not fit perfectly, all the better. Uniforms
and shoes during the Civil War were rarely properly fitted. And if not, there is nothing wrong with insisting prospective new members have some semblance of proper equipment and training before they attend their first event.

 

[firefite44]

Good one, this is way down the list of annoyances. It actually helps you identify people who either don't care about getting the history part right or just don't care.

Actually, I usually sit on a ground cloth with my back against a tree, if I can find one. That's how it turns out. Heck, everybody can sit on folding lawn chairs with college football team logos on them for all I care. I put my fat butt on the ground or on a bread box. A private's camp life is supposed to suck a little bit.

Most units serious about recruiting new members maintain "loaner gear." This is usually the garbage
they bought before they knew any better. If the gear does not fit perfectly, all the better. Uniforms
and shoes during the Civil War were rarely properly fitted. And if not, there is nothing wrong with insisting prospective new members have some semblance of proper equipment and training before they attend their first event.

Yeah when I see wall tents, they best be an officer. I am a LT for our group and even though I am technically an officer I prefer a good ole A frame over a wall tent any day. Much easier to set up and tear down IMO. The group I am in is a newer group and only a few years old so we are slowly getting to a decent bit of "loaner gear" but still we do not have any stoudt men. This is actually one of the first things we take the men to get is pants and at least brogans and a canteen. Shirts I have at least a small, medium and large. I am always scouring EBAY for used gear at a decent price.

Some of us have been around long enough to know where to get a musket if we need one in a pinch, even if it is a Zouve. I know not PC but at least a weapon to train with. Even though i am afforded a chair as an officer, most times I give it up for one of our ladies and I sit on a log or the ground.

 

[firefite44]

Don't know, don't care. It's a "re-enactor" camp with incorrect chairs. Which is the main point up for discussion.

LOL I know that but was just asking. Also the guy in the t shirt and the girl sitting in the chair not dressed. Civilians are usually not as criticised as "re-enacting" groups. Then again do they really know or have been told they are not correct?