View Full Version : George Washington's Tent
Time Zone
11-15-2017, 13:53
in the news ...
"Newly Discovered Painting Shows Washington's Wartime Tent"
https://apnews.com/df7b79ffbe7043e98e7e22c861864c06/Newly-discovered-painting-shows-Washington's-wartime-tent
This could be a fun thread ...
single wall or double wall?
Freestanding?
Was he an ultralighter? If not, could the war have ended sooner if he was?
Oh, and of course, it seems quite appropriate to post this in "General Gear Talk".
Tipi Walter
11-15-2017, 14:29
No human could hump George Washington's tent as it was BIG and heavy and canvas. I'd say the weight would be around 400 lbs including poles. That's even too heavy for me to hump.
More info---
https://philly.curbed.com/2016/10/7/13199072/george-washingtons-tent-important-facts
http://tentsmiths.com/period-tents-officers-marquee.html
http://tentsmiths.com/period-tents-raised-marquee.html
http://tentsmiths.com/period-tents-round-end-marquee.html
http://vintagetentshire.com/category/vintage/
https://specialtyfabricsreview.com/2017/03/29/washingtons-wartime-headquarters-restored/
rocketsocks
11-15-2017, 14:33
No way that’s fitting in my haversack, you’ll need a wagon and a half.
I was there this August (Museum of the Revolution, Phila). I saw it. For me, it was the highlight of the museum. It is kept in a climate controlled room. You are escorted into and seated in a smallish auditorium, the lights and dimmed, and the curtain is raised to reveal the tent. A recording is played to give background on the tent. It is informative.
The Smithsonian Magazine did a piece about the tent, too. There is a strange seal under one of the flaps. Historians still don't know what it means. It looks Arabic to me, but who knows. The presentation doesn't say anything about the seal, but the docents will tell you what they know if you ask.
I can't guess what canvas weighs, but I agree that it looks like it would be a b**** to haul around and set up.
I tried to read as much as I could about the Revolutionary War beforehand, and what little I learned really enhanced the experience of seeing the tent. It was great. And the addition of the Museum of the Revolution really adds a lot to all of the historical buildings and collections you can find in Phila. If you're ever there, it's absolutely worth it.
Tipi Walter
11-15-2017, 14:46
But at least we had a President living in a tent. It's all I ever ask from my leaders---sleep outdoors!!!
Tipi Walter
11-15-2017, 14:50
The Smithsonian Magazine did a piece about the tent, too. There is a strange seal under one of the flaps. Historians still don't know what it means. It looks Arabic to me, but who knows. The presentation doesn't say anything about the seal, but the docents will tell you what they know if you ask.
Maybe it was the old Arcteryx logo---I think they made canvas tents back then . . .
http://logok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Arcteryx-logo-1024x819.png
Feral Bill
11-15-2017, 17:37
Maybe it was the old Arcteryx logo---I think they made canvas tents back then . . .
http://logok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Arcteryx-logo-1024x819.png Yes, but aren't Aren't they a Canadian company? Seems treasonous to The Crown to me.
This is the seal :
40912
possibly the trademark of the cloth manufacturers but nobody seams to know.
Looks like Hilleberg the tentmaker symbol
rocketsocks
11-15-2017, 19:35
In da vanacular of our time, dis Shyte is off da hook! Tricked out! Pimpin’ Crib!
rocketsocks
11-15-2017, 19:40
I was there this August (Museum of the Revolution, Phila). I saw it. For me, it was the highlight of the museum. It is kept in a climate controlled room. You are escorted into and seated in a smallish auditorium, the lights and dimmed, and the curtain is raised to reveal the tent. A recording is played to give background on the tent. It is informative.
The Smithsonian Magazine did a piece about the tent, too. There is a strange seal under one of the flaps. Historians still don't know what it means. It looks Arabic to me, but who knows. The presentation doesn't say anything about the seal, but the docents will tell you what they know if you ask.
I can't guess what canvas weighs, but I agree that it looks like it would be a b**** to haul around and set up.
I tried to read as much as I could about the Revolutionary War beforehand, and what little I learned really enhanced the experience of seeing the tent. It was great. And the addition of the Museum of the Revolution really adds a lot to all of the historical buildings and collections you can find in Phila. If you're ever there, it's absolutely worth it.Maybe it’s Egyptian cotton or Sanskrit.
maybe it's Egyptian cotton or Sanskrit.
I am having problems understanding that.
So, it is either a type cotton or a Hindu language ?
rocketsocks
11-15-2017, 23:55
maybe it's Egyptian cotton or Sanskrit.
I am having problems understanding that.
So, it is either a type cotton or a Hindu language ?perhaps mutually exclusive or not!
Sarcasm the elf
11-16-2017, 00:05
in the news ...
"Newly Discovered Painting Shows Washington's Wartime Tent"
https://apnews.com/df7b79ffbe7043e98e7e22c861864c06/Newly-discovered-painting-shows-Washington's-wartime-tent
This could be a fun thread ...
single wall or double wall?
Freestanding?
Was he an ultralighter? If not, could the war have ended sooner if he was?
Oh, and of course, it seems quite appropriate to post this in "General Gear Talk".
Probably not UL. I just learned that George Washington's starving troops survived the winter in Valley Forge by eating lichens that they scraped off the rocks, so I guess he wasn't very LNT either. :D
Time Zone
11-16-2017, 00:06
... but nobody seams to know.
I see what you did there. :)
TW, thanks for those links - very interesting stuff. I've seen Civil War-era tents for sale online (there's quite a market for re-enactors' gear) but not 18th c ones. In the words of an old cigarette ad, "you've come a long way, baby."
I see what you did there. :)
TW, thanks for those links - very interesting stuff. I've seen Civil War-era tents for sale online (there's quite a market for re-enactors' gear) but not 18th c ones. In the words of an old cigarette ad, "you've come a long way, baby."
Did you have a look at the stitching ?
This is the seal :
40912
possibly the trademark of the cloth manufacturers but nobody seams to know.
This doesn't look like Arabic, or any other foreign language/letters like Sanskrit.
I think its a signature of the manufacturer in decorative fonts - something very common in these years.
Greenlight
11-16-2017, 08:21
I understand that the manufacturer offered seam sealing, too, but George wouldn't bite. "I can do it myself" he said, but never got around to it.
in the news ...
"Newly Discovered Painting Shows Washington's Wartime Tent"
https://apnews.com/df7b79ffbe7043e98e7e22c861864c06/Newly-discovered-painting-shows-Washington's-wartime-tent
This could be a fun thread ...
single wall or double wall?
Freestanding?
Was he an ultralighter? If not, could the war have ended sooner if he was?
Oh, and of course, it seems quite appropriate to post this in "General Gear Talk".
Yes, but aren't Aren't they a Canadian company? Seems treasonous to The Crown to me.
He probably ordered it under an assumed name and had it delivered to Ye Olde Mailboxes & Etcetera to cover his tracks.
I mentioned the seam because it gives some sort of idea of the size of that seal. maybe around 4" ?
http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/museums/american-revolution/american-revolution-museum-george-washington-tent-arabic.html
Feral Bill
11-16-2017, 18:25
He probably ordered it under an assumed name and had it delivered to Ye Olde Mailboxes & Etcetera to cover his tracks. Not possible. He could not tell a lie.
I'd guess the seal was applied on the raw cloth, before the sewing was done, so it most likely defines the manufacturer of the cloth.
At this era there was plenty of cotton production in the States, so why would anybody bother to import some from an Arabic country?
I sent a request to have a look at the pic to a friend who is an Arabic professor.
rocketsocks
11-17-2017, 11:32
I'd guess the seal was applied on the raw cloth, before the sewing was done, so it most likely defines the manufacturer of the cloth.
At this era there was plenty of cotton production in the States, so why would anybody bother to import some from an Arabic country?
I sent a request to have a look at the pic to a friend who is an Arabic professor.could have been a gift
Not possible. He could not tell a lie.
Touché.
I tip my tri-corner hat to you, sir.
Feral Bill
11-17-2017, 13:21
I'd guess the seal was applied on the raw cloth, before the sewing was done, so it most likely defines the manufacturer of the cloth.
At this era there was plenty of cotton production in the States, so why would anybody bother to import some from an Arabic country?
I sent a request to have a look at the pic to a friend who is an Arabic professor.
There are four species of cotton used, originating in different areas of the world. Egyptian cotton is considered to be superior to the kind commonly grown in our southeast states.
Sure it can be anything from anywhere.
I would like to belive that modern science could determine the origin of the raw material?
I'm far from an expert, and don't speak or read/write Arabic, but I have seen a good share of Arabic writings and for my uneducated eye this seal just doesn't look like Arabic.
For example, there are none of those many dots so common in Arabic (some of them indicating vowels). Next, Arabic is written from right to left - does this seal look like reverse written? Not in my eye.
And then on the first glance I would think to recognize some Latin/modern letters, like a D or F at the beginning, and a & near the middle.
Would make perfect sense, if the seal would shortcut the companys name like X&YZ.
OK, thats just my wild guess.
Finally had a chance to meet my Arabic prof. friend these days, and he confirmed that to the best of his knowledge this is not Arabic.
Nor any other of the many foreign, Middle- and Far-East languages he knows of.
I would guess thet the museum that has the tent on display would have a ways to get an analysis (Gen analyses?) about the cotton itself which could maybe tell the origin of the cotton, if it was Egyptian or US or any other, but when looking at the woven cloth I would guess that this was made with a decent machine that might not have been available in Egypt at this time.
BlackCloud
01-08-2018, 10:09
There are actually 2 of Washington's tents remaining from the war. The Smithsonian has one & Valley Forge National Historical Park has another - I can only assume this one is the Smithsonian's, as it is no longer on display at the National Mus. of American History. I have not yet been to this new museum.
Other presidents who camped in tents would include: Jackson, W.H. Harrison, Taylor, Pierce, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, B. Harrison, T. Roosevelt, Hoover, Eisenhower, & Truman....perhaps more