Haverbag

[Larry Luck]

I do not know it there is any historical precedence for a haversack sized bag made of leather.  If so, I'd appreciate any supporting information.

I made this bag for my son to use as a museum volunteer in period clothing.  Mostly to carry his lunch.



It is about 11" x 11" and dyed with dilute FeO3 (about 20:1 water to crystals) and polished with shoe polish. Pewter button.

Larry Luck

[smokinbuck]

Larry,
I don't know if the sandwiches I eat are historically correct or not but I'd carry them in your lunch box. Very nice.
Mark

[Tim Crosby]

 Neat, looks like a curriers pouch.

 Tim C.

[Majorjoel]

I like it Larry! As a kid, I carried a metal lunch pail that had the colonial cartoon character "Hector Heathcoat" and his dog Winston. It was period correct for the early 1960's. Your lunch sack should be well accepted for Hector's real time! 

[Jefferson58]

I think it looks great Larry! Great color too. I am not too sure about it being "period correct" or not, but it is a good, functional piece that looks right, so who cares.  It seems to me that whole concept can get stretched a little far sometimes.

Nice job.

Jeff

[Artificer]

Larry,

You didn't mention what type of impression your son does, so it is hard to say how period correct it would be.  It would be more correct for a civilian impression than most military ones, for example, though it would be OK for a militia impression.  It also would have been more common for a tradesman or artificer - even in the militia.  

The fact it is made in a general period style with period materials makes it OK for a wide range of reasons, but it would be good if your son had a "period reason" for carrying it - even if it was because it was made by his father to last longer than a cloth or canvas bag.  

Gus

[Larry Luck]

Gus,

My son is a 10 year old Junior Interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg.  CW has a program where boys and girls 10-17 volunteer to help provide a youthful perspective on 18th Century life - frequently to younger visitors.  Michael is spending a couple afternoons a week at the James Geddy site.  As a child at this site, he would have a relationship to that family of successful tradesmen - founders, silversmiths, and gunsmiths.

The CW Gunsmith Shop is located at this site, but Michael does not spend any significant time with George Suiter or Richard Sullivan because of his age.  But he's close.

Thanks for the comments.

Larry Luck

[Artificer]

Wow, what a fantastic opportunity for your son and GREAT for you for supporting him !!!! 

OK, this makes it rather easy.  The boy has a leather bag because he would be expected to be "a runner" to deliver and pick up things around town and a leather bag would be more serviceable to do that.  There are accounts that the Geddy shop fixed all sorts of things for townsfolk (like pans and skillets, cooking implements, etc.).  If a boy is handy to deliver a repaired item and bring back the money or trade item, it would leave the men to continue to work.  The bag may have even BEEN a trade item for work done at the Geddy shop and the boy carried it instead of a cloth bag for that reason. 

Gus

[Jefferson58]

Larry, that's awesome your son is working in that job. Sounds really fun, and hopefully will be a great learning experience as well.

From what Gus said, it seems your "haverbag" would fit right in. It is a nice piece of work.

Jeff

[Larry Luck]

Thanks, guys, for the comments.  I thought it was a plausible concept, but wanted some feedback.
Colonial Williamsburg provides a great opportunity to the kids from Williamsburg and the surrounding counties to participate in the prpgram.  The kids get a chance to develop poise and confidence and to learn about our Nation's past and share what they learn with the guests to town.
Larry

[longcruise]

Great looking bag!  Should there be a pic of that Spongepants Squarebob guy on it?