Figure 1: Ropemaker's Haversack.
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Figure 1: Ropemaker's Haversack.
This is my haversack, where I keep my "everyday" stuff. If I'm walking around a fair, this has everything I should need. The haversack is a little longer and narrower than most militia haversacks, but I am not part of a militia, and this was the shape of the cloth I had at the time. The strap is leather, instead of the traditional webbing or cloth strap. Again, it was handy when I was putting my bag together.
There is a pewter tankard attached to the strap by a toggle cord. This is necessary when buying coffee in the morning, beer in the afternoon, and switchel when it's hot.
A wooden spoon is tied to the tankard with a lark's head, or ring hitch (ABOK[040] #1673). That keeps it handy if I'm using my tankard as a bowl for stew, or soup, or porridge.
If I'm working, then my haversack is hanging from a hook on one of the support poles in my canopy.
Figure 2: Haversack Contents.
Figure 3: Apron.
My apron is only in the haversack for storage. If I'm working, I'm wearing it. It has a big double pocket for my knife and a winder of thread for whipping ends.
If I'm out sight-seeing, then I have my haversack with me, my knife is in the haversack, and my apron is hanging under the canopy.
Figure 4: Compass and Sundial.
This brass compass and sundial would be an extravagance for someone like an independent ropemaker. Out on your own, you really don't need to know what hour of the day it is. Especially since standardized time keeping only came around with the railroads. But it doesn't take up much room, doesn't weigh but a few ounces, it was a gift, and I like it.
Figure 5: Fire Kit.
The fire kit is a tinder box, with a few extras. The box part is just an old cough drop tin, with all the labels sanded off. Since fire making stuff is best kept dry, the tin stays in a wax impregnated canvas bag.
Inside the tin, there is:
The open tin lid is a good place to put the charcord to catch a spark, or when focusing the burning glass. This helps keep the fire where you want it.
Figure 6: Notebook and Ember Tongs.
The notebook and ember tongs are only together because I needed something to hold the notebook open for the picture.
The notebook is a flat piece of leather with several pages stitched into it, and a string to tie it closed. I keep details of tricky ornamental knots, important dates, quotes, and other ropemaking miscellania. Entries are written with home made pens and home made ink.
The ember tongs are very useful for grabbing a ember from a fire to light a pipe, or start your own fire, when you don't feel like flint and steel. It is two tapered strips of oak, pinned and glued to a wedge, and lashed to keep it all together.
Figure 7: Sewing Kit.
My sewing kit is a canvas bag with a cotton tape tie. Inside are:
Figure 8: Tobacco Pouch.
Tobacco was the life blood of the Chesapeake Colonies, and was the largest export for all thirteen colonies, combined. You don't see many people smoking any more, even at Colonial events.
My pouch is waxed canvas, with a waxed string to wrap it. The long string lets me snug the pouch around the tobacco I have. Prevents a small amount from drying out, but can accomodate a larger load, if I have a new supply.
The stem on my clay pipe broke some time ago, so my "temporary" stem is a piece of dried blackberry vine. The center pith was pushed out with a wire, and one end was whittled to fit the pipe bowl.
The pipe bowl and stem stay in the pouch with the tobacco.
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