Lewis and Clark reenactment

[Martin]

Im looking at getting a small LH / demo set up adjacent to my stall as Ive spent the year doing demos to help out with pitch fee's, Ive been smoking food in a canvas smoker using the same method and marinade that was used by Messirs Lewis and Clark and wearing the appropriate kit for them, Im looking for suppliers of some of the items they would have taken, I dont have a full list yet but Im trying to portray a section of their camp, the bit they set up for a few days in an area to hunt and restock their food supplys, it wont be a full on LH display as I have to run the stall inbetween smoking demos and talks, can anyone suggest a good stockists of generic 18th / 19th century kit that I could get in touch with.

[John Waller]

In short Martin is looking for the following:-

Mathematical Instruments:
surveyor’s compass
hand compass
quadrants
telescope
thermometers
2 sextants
set of plotting instruments
chronometer (needed to calculate longitude)
Camp Supplies:
150 yards of cloth to be oiled and sewn into tents and sheets
pliers
chisels
30 steels for striking to make fire
handsaws
hatchets
whetstones
iron corn mill
two dozen tablespoons
mosquito curtains
10 1/2 pounds of fishing hooks and fishing lines
12 pounds of soap
193 pounds of "portable soup" (a thick paste concocted by boiling down beef, eggs and vegetables)
three bushels of salt
writing paper, ink and crayons
Presents for Indians:
12 dozen pocket mirrors
4,600 sewing needles
144 small scissors
10 pounds of sewing thread
silk ribbons
ivory combs
handkerchiefs
yards of bright-colored cloth
130 rolls of tobacco
tomahawks that doubled as pipes
288 knives
8 brass kettles
vermilion face paint
33 pounds of tiny beads of assorted colors
Clothing:
45 flannel shirts
coats
frocks
shoes
woolen pants
blankets
knapsacks
stockings
Arms and Ammunition:
15 prototype Model 1803 muzzle-loading .54 caliber rifles
knives
500 rifle flints
420 pounds of sheet lead for bullets
176 pounds of gunpowder packed in 52 lead canisters
1 long-barreled rifle that fired its bullet with compressed air, rather than by flint, spark and powder
Medicine and Medical Supplies:
50 dozen Dr. Rush’s patented "Rush’s pills"
lancets
forceps
syringes
tourniquets
1,300 doses of physic
1,100 hundred doses of emetic
3,500 doses of diaphoretic (sweat inducer)
other drugs for blistering, salivation and increased kidney output
Traveling Library:
Barton’s Elements of Botany
Antoine Simon Le Page du Pratz’s History of Louisiana
Richard Kirwan’s Elements of Mineralogy
A Practical Introduction to Spherics and Nautical Astronomy
The Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris
a four-volume dictionary
a two-volume edition of Linnaeus (the founder of the Latin classification of plants)
tables for finding longitude and latitude
map of the Great Bend of the Missouri River

[Martin]

I have a list of what I need lol, just wondering if anyone can suggest suppliers of some of the items, looking for the more practical stuff , I want to make up their medical kit so will need old medical instruments etc

[Medicus Matt]

1 long-barreled rifle that fired its bullet with compressed air, rather than by flint, spark and powder

Intriguing.

Was that an air-powered hunting/sniping rifle then? What sort of caliber?

[Daniel Ezra]

If you get a chance, go to the Army museum in Copenhagen.

They have a large display of C18/C19th air weapons.

And you forgot on your list:

One long, thin bent thing;

Cover for same

One "Same"

[wurzul]

It has been speculated that the airgun was a Girandoni, as used by the Austrians in the French revolutionary wars. Good link here,
http://www.beemans.net/images/Austrian%20airguns.htm

[Medicus Matt]

Good link here,
http://www.beemans.net/images/Austrian%20airguns.htm

Cheers for that, absolutely fascinating!

[steve stanley]

There is a very good book on L&C equipment,called,(as I remember) 'Tailor made & trail worn' Russell's 'firearms,traps,and tools of the mountain men' also has a lot of info. I talk to some of the guys who recreated their journey for the Bicentennery..There's still a lot of debate on the details,(like most other periods)...A lot of suitable artifacts are available from US traders......If that's too costly,I would suggest looking at their sites,then seeing what you can get over here to match...BTW,J.Gedney Godwin do surgeon's kit to die for.............
Steve

[Ronco]

Martin, mate,
I have a large period looking telescope you can have for your LH display. Never got to use it, found it to be too big but it will look great 'on
display' Will put it in the car. What's your next market or meeting?
I will be at TORM and ILHF markets if thats any good.

Ron ( you'll know me as the Prussian Officer with the beard)

[Martin]

Hiya Ronco Im at the WEC fair and TORM as well as many xmas markets around the UK , what would you like for it ? Theres an amusing tale about the airgun, nearly took a womans head off when he was showing it off to some locals at the start of the expedition , she didnt sue or owt , I have spent so much time this year demoing the L&C jerky I make over the fire that Im getting more and more interested lol

[steve stanley]

Will buy some more off you at ILHF................
Steve

[Ronco]

Martin, be careful with those airguns. I will be happy with a few gramms of your good stuff (whoops people will get the wrong idea) that is tennesse or watership down or even some of the L&C which was quite nice. Leave it up to you when you see the item. Are you going to the Norfolk show this weekend at Mannington Hall?

Ron

[Ronco]

Machine Gun Martin,
just checking to make sure you can now see some ships!! Look down the valley see if you can spie the sea.
Ron

[Martin]

Cant see any ships but Ive just finished making the case for the telescope with wooden ends, bloody thick leather though, had to use a nail lol , its bloody lovely m8 thank you very much

[Ronco]

So glad m8, the price is alo very tasty. See your 'tube' at TORM.

Ron

[Bucket]

Hi Martin,
For 18th/19th century gear I've used an American company who i have found have been very relaible. The company is Jas Townsend.
heres the link
http://jas-townsend.com/index.php

hope its of use

[steve stanley]

Hi Martin,
For 18th/19th century gear I've used an American company who i have found have been very relaible. The company is Jas Townsend.
heres the link
http://jas-townsend.com/index.php

hope its of use

They're reasonable,cheap-ish and reliable...BUT research to check when things are appropriate for,rather than taking their descriptions as gospel................
Steve