Greek Tornister Pack

Here are some details, which I will add to progressively, for the purest who wants to see things from close up:

Greek Tornister WWII

I must begin to update my Greek Tornister post. I have a better original to work from and I am developing this through my excellent contacts to do a reproduction. I will post a new blog on this better pack showing the details that we are trying to achieve. I will also post details of the reproduction, both here and in my Great War reproduction blog. 

 

We are working on getting fabric colours correct and need to determine whether the leather was originally tanned and stained or has reached its dark look through time and usage. If you have any information you would like to relate to me please do so! Here is my email address: timothyjsoper@gmail.com 

Also, perhaps you have some items you want reproduced? I can get this done for you.

French Adrian helmet

I've been wanting one of these for a long time, but could never justify the expense. Most recently I was able to buy what I took to be two reproductions for $25 each. They were painted a very bright horizon blue. I believed I had seen them for sale online at about $80 U.S. These were without liners but were otherwise a fine looking pair… Except I hated the blue...

So the next day I took the paint remover to them. As soon as it bubbled I rubbed the paint off with a hand full of sawdust. I was surprised to discover a very perfect gray blue under-coat, and rust, pitting, and dents that speak of age. 

I now believe that I have a pair of decommissioned helmets from the First World War. Someone, somewhere, has found these and is selling them repainted the bright horizon blue. What I now have looks a lot more like what one typically sees on websites. If I'm right then this is a delightful discovery, and at a price I could afford!

One of the things I most enjoy about my collecting is the slow discovery of the right item at a good price. If I were rich I would have bought way too much stuff by now. But being impecunious I have the pleasure of special purchases that fall into my lap in memorable circumstances. 

Such a way of collecting is priceless. 

Greek Tornister Backpack

 As a result of my blog posts I've had a request from someone to do a reproduction of a Greek Tornister backpack! These packs were made for the Greek army by the Germans in 1938.

I know next to nothing about them but will be discovering some interesting points of construction as I work on the reproduction. I'm posting some photographs of the original that I'm using to work things out. There's another version with slightly different details that I will be working toward in the long run. I will write an account of this process in my blog on Great War reproductions. Apparently, though the date is 1938, this is really more of an 1895 tornister model. 

On first inspection what I find particularly interesting is that the internal wooden structure to stiffen the pack's sides is made out of plywood. The leather tabs on the sides are sewn right through the plywood.

There's also a variety of metals used in the hardware. I always find is interesting to see the degree of imperfection in these items which were made to be used and we're not fashion accessories. That being said the stitching is quite exquisite and there are no raw edges visible. That old thought comes back to me that it is ironic such gentle domesticity is applied to the equipment of warfare. 

Great War rimless Brodie

I have acquired a new rimless Brodie. It has just a hint of its interior leather and canvas headgear but is otherwise a very fine example of the early helmet still with its original sand sprinkled paint.

I am curious of one thing, however. There seems to be an indication that there was once a rim attached to the edge of the helmet because there is a paint build-up around the perimeter of the helmet. On the other hand the original paint seems also to touch the edge beyond that line. I'm left wondering if an original rim fell off shortly after issue when the helmet was then painted in the trenches with the sand finish. 

There are no dates but the lot number of the steel used in the pressing is only 22 which must give it a very early dating. Does anyone have any insights into this?

Also of interest is the painting of a date and, possibly, a place, underneath the brim. Too much paint has been lost for me to be able to read the writing.

Great War infantry Mess Tin

I have recently bought a Great War infantry mess tin. This is the standard kidney shaped British mess tin in its First World War incarnation. 

Within two days I had also found a version from 1932. The 1932 tin is much simplified while the Great War version has little lugs on the front and side and back to allow for attachments straps.

 There are no maker's marks on my WWl tin, but there is a small "C" and broad arrow.

I am gradually accumulating a collection of infantry equipment from the Great War. All I am lacking now are the 2 inch webbing braces, the webbing carrier for a water canteen, and the webbing to take the scabbard and the helve. If anyone reading my blog has these items and would like to consider selling them to me please contact me. Here's my email address: timothyjsoper@gmail.com  

I don't presume I shall ever own a tunic, puttees, boots, and trousers, but who knows…

 

Great War mounted mess tin

Amongst the items I received from my grandfather was his "mounted mess tin". It has been well used and is fire scorched. These tins were the cooking and eating dish that were issued to men whose war time work involved riding horses, be the men officers, cavalry men, or artillery soldiers. The tin is shaped like a jam filled doughnut and measures 6 inches across.

Just the other day I chanced upon two of these in an antique shop. I had to buy them. One is in near pristine condition with a very silvered finish. It's almost like chrome on a car from the 1950s though I presume it's a tin or nickel plated process. There is no apparent use and no damage short of the dents made by the stamping process with the numbers 33 and the letters RCA, presumably for Royal Canadian Artillery. There are also the numbers and letters 89 FBCA. On the bottom is stamped "The Sheet Metal Products Company Limited", and the date 1916.

The other is not quite so well preserved as a small amount of rust has started and lifted off a bit of the peeling silvery plate. It is made by the Thomas Davidson Manufacturing Company of Montreal in 1913. This is indicated by a delightful little plate soldered onto the surface around the rim.

I intend to make some leather straps for these as this was how everything was kept together and how they were carried from the saddle. Web searches also show cloth covers similarly strapped.

I'm contemplating selling these as I do not need them for my own collection. If you're interested please contact me by email at this address: timothyjsoper@gmail.com

I'm selling them for $150 each, Plus shipping charges.