Buck Conner1
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A while back I was asked by several of the members here about starting a small muzzle-loading, mountainman business.
I have had several of these type operations from starting as a blanket trader to a "grounded location" (building). Started out as a rendezvous trader with "The Camp Blanket" moving on to "Buckhorn Rendezvous Inc." using a family homestead for a location, then "Buckhorn Limited" (a wholesale business for shooting bag, knife sheaths, and shooting supplies (patches). Then moving on to the Internet with "Clark & Sons Mercantile, Inc." a period correct edibles business (foraged or cultivated). The Internet was probably the most work with daily orders, shipping every day to receiving supplies weekly, this was non stop for 5 years. Always on the search for new items that others didn't carry. Fun but hard work that never ended.
I was very lucky living on 300 acres, shooting range to 1,000 yards, buckskinner club, blackpowder cartridge club and annual state shoots all in one place. All it takes is hard work to be successful and willing to put the customers' desires at the top of your to do list. Every weekly, monthly event made the store money $$$ with supplying shooters with their needs.
1). Camp Blanket – blanket trader.
2). Buckhorn Rendezvous Inc. – mountain man, muzzleloader store.
3). Buckhorn Limited – wholesale muzzleloading supplies.
4). Clark & Son Mercantile – period correct edibles foraged or cultivated (first Internet store of this type).
Current). Sitting Fox Agency – The above businesses were run under this business name for tax purposes along with being a research center and manufacturing various products, (material items to research material. [still in operation].
Current connected to Sitting Fox Agency - research). Historical Research & Development – research of period items carried in one’s luggage. [still in operation].
2). Buckhorn Rendezvous Inc. – mountain man, muzzleloader store.
3). Buckhorn Limited – wholesale muzzleloading supplies.
4). Clark & Son Mercantile – period correct edibles foraged or cultivated (first Internet store of this type).
Current). Sitting Fox Agency – The above businesses were run under this business name for tax purposes along with being a research center and manufacturing various products, (material items to research material. [still in operation].
Current connected to Sitting Fox Agency - research). Historical Research & Development – research of period items carried in one’s luggage. [still in operation].
DOCUMENTED FACTS PERTAINING TO PERIODS &AVAILABILITY OF FOODS.
“THE CAMP BLANKET” by Buckhorn Rendezvous, Inc.
We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and some of our product lines to you.
You may have noticed our first location was Lakewood, Colo. (Green Mountain, base of the Great Stoney Mountains, sometimes called the Rockies). Lakewood was established as a branch of the Denver Post Office in 1861, a hundred and thirty plus years ago, and the pioneer spirit is still alive and doing well in our part of the country. In time we moved to better water and greener pastures in Lehi Utah.
Clark & Sons Mercantile was established as a need developed for correct period foods and items to prepare those foods, due to the re-enactment movement now going on in North America and Europe.
Our name, Clark & Sons Mercantile is as old as our friend’s mill and from a family as old as our country. From the six sons of John and Ann Rogers Clark, came forts they built, wars they won, new territory found, lands they mapped and not to be forgotten, the business started. The family name of Clark has been in American History from the beginning, “from sea to shining sea”, treading on new ground, always involved and looking for a new venture or adventure.
As participants ourselves in the various time frames, from the F & I War to the Indian Wars, we’ve seen our share of not correct merchandise in the last 35 to 40 years and will endeavor to bring documented items for several time periods.
Clark & Sons, has the good fortune to be able to offer some interesting items and ye provisions, along with a few historical facts, remedies and recipes to help you relate to the comforts and many discomforts our forefathers had to deal with.
This is why we offer only the best quality goods at reasonable prices, the quality and price of the product will speak for themselves.
Our grain and mill products have been checked for quality of content and that all health regulations have been met with State and Federal Laws.
“Food” grain and mill products are correct for the time period shown on each item. We have saved you the time in researching of proper grains and mill items for the various time periods, with furnished history and its origin, even to proper uses.
Coffee and Teas have been researched back to French, German and English sources, to try and be correct as possible for your needs.
Some of our grain products may be in short supply at different times of the year, we do not stock a large amount, keeping a fresh inventory to fill your needs.
Our other products are always in supply, unless our supplier is short, but only a few days at the most. We have tried to stay with our theme of correct foods, grains and mill items. Because of the demand, we’ve added cooking and camp life equipage to round out a need of today’s re-enactors.
The list of reference material for the information gathered in this catalog is larger to list than the catalog itself, so we decided not to bore you with such a list. But we would like to thank some people that have given us many ideas and documented facts on foods, recipes, remedies and quotes of our forefathers.
The PENNSYLVANNIA GAZETTE / NUMB 2069, 2071, 2077 Augft 18,1768 to October 25, 1768
The Museum Of The Fur Trade / Quarterly Spring 1955 to Fall 1996
The Buckskin Report / Monthly February 1974 to December 1984
The Black Powder Report, American Rendezvous, The Backwoodsman,
Muzzleloader, Military History, Living History, Black Powder Times, Wilderness Way, Early American Life. An Earlier Time, American Indian Art, Society Of Primitive Technology, Colonial Homes, On The Trail, The Colonial Society. Journal of the Middle Waters Frontier and many many more articles of available museum information, private collectors and collections, single publications, books and articles. This is a small list of what has been collected over 25 to 30 years of interest in this area of North American History.
The list of ladies and gentlemen that have given ideas and thoughts are as endless as the literature, with writers, editors, historians and friends such as Charles Hanson, Dick Titter, John Baird, Mark Baker, John Curry, Cathy Johnson, William Gorby, Darrel Schmid, Mike Moore, Dwain Thompson, James Rubinfine, William Eaton, P.J. Spangenberg, Dr.Jerry LaVelle, The Brotherhood of The American Mountain Men, Charlie Richie, Rick Edwards, my good friend Peter Gobel and my family.
Some nice remarks from various editors about us, we thank you for your kindness gentlemen.
To read their list of goods offered, one feels as though they are standing at the counter of a pre-1840 St. Louis trading post or they are preparing to place an order to the stores of George Morgan during the 18th century. It seems that you can find anything you might need in the way of foods and grains for your trek on the trail as well as period correct cookware, copper, tin, and iron. C&S Mercantile has given us a much needed source for authentic early American food-stuff and I encourage you to write for their list. Their prices are as fair as one could hope for.
Rick Edwards, Editor - “ On The Trail ” magazine
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Experience the 18th and early 19th century camp life with authentic foods, mill products, seasonings, cooking and camp wares from one that deals in only early camp equipage.
James Rubinfine, Editor - “An Earlier Time“magazine.
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Looking at what is offered by Clark & Sons Mercantile, really opens the re-enactors eyes to what a variety of items were available for different time periods. What we liked, is they deal as stated, “camp life equipage”, foods, mill items and camp supplies of early North America. What a great find for the serious historical interpreter.
William Eaton, Field Editor -“The Colonial Society“ magazine
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I have dealt with The Camp Blanket several times, ordering a variety of period-correct foodstuffs. His catalog is a treat, for he spices up the lists of grains, teas, coffee, sugars and cookware with quotes from original documents that put the food he offers into a particular time and place. When I review his catalog, I can imagine what the shelves and barrels of George Morgan’s Kaskaskia store might have displayed during a typical day in 1768.
Mark Baker, A Pilgrim’s Journey- “ Muzzleloader “ magazine
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A wealth of information of some of the more common foods grown or foraged, along with recipes, remedies and quotes from the French and Indian War to the end of the Fur Trade.
Veron L. Bigsby, Along the Way - “The Collector’s Guide” magazine
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Clark & Sons Mercantile has been around only a few years, but the experience level goes back to the mid 1950’s for the owner, with several other related supply business in the 1750 to 1850 time frame, a great find for the history buff’s. I’ve known Buck since the mid 1970’s and dealt with him many times, a real gentlemen.
P. L. Spangenberg, Editor - “ Blackpowder Annual “ Peterson Publishing
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Authenticity is what Clark & Sons is all about. The Camp Blanket is a little hard to explain because they aren’t only in the business of selling, it is also a how a how-to of what was eaten in yesteryear, how to prepare it and little known facts about what foods were popular in those days. One thing is certain, if you want period food, tin and copperware, toiletries, blankets, grains, teas, sweets and fire building, smoking, sewing , books and writing supplies, then it behooves you to get their list and catalog.
Charlie Richie, Editor - “Backwoodsman” magazine
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I would like to thank these kind folks for their support, efforts in testing out goods and the kind remarks they have written.
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GRAIN - MILL ITEMS – SEASONINGS
Our grains, seeds, milled products and seasonings are organically grown in the original colonies from which they were planted, when arriving from other lands. As is the mill’s location, built before the American Revolution, she sat idle from 1875 until 1955, when that generation wanted non-chemically grown or processed foods.
Thanks to these non-conformists, the mill lives again with her water powered system in full swing.
You will note; that these products are coded for their popularity or availability for a specified time frame in our catalog and on our price sheet.
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FOOD SAFETY
All our tin items are 100% food safe for all foods.
NOTE: Brass and copper items that are not lined with tin are safe for NON-ACID foods only. These items must be well cleaned after each use, and food must not be allowed to remain in them for long periods of time. (This may cause a chemical reaction and create a poison!) Never cook in any vessel that has turned green! (This is verdigris, and is a poison!)
Brass or copper vessels which are tin-lined are 100% food safe for all foods. Our suppliers, carry this warning for your safety. All carried “brass and copper cookware” is tin-lined for your safety at Clark & Sons Mercantile.
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When reading our catalog, if you find a spelling error, just think of Mark Twain’s statement; “ it’s a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word.” another one of his statements was; “never tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
HISTORICAL REMARKS OF EDIBLES
Interesting comments made by others that have traveled this land and what they had to say of some “things’ ate”.
“MEAT’S MEAT”
Who said; “meat’s meat”, many people in the “know” claim that Bridger made the statement on a return trip from the shining mountains. You may be surprised to know that was a very common term made by many, famous and not-so-famous starving men....
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George F. Ruxton wrote “meat’s meat, is a common saying in the mountains”, and “from buffalo down to rattle- snake, including quadruped that runs, every fowl that flies and every reptile that creeps, nothing comes amiss to the mountaineer.
Moses Schallenberger was snowbound in the Sierra Mountains in 1844, he wrote after trapping a coyote. “I soon had his hide off and his flesh roasted in a dutch oven. I ate this meat but it was horrible. I next tried boiling him, but it did not improve the flavor. I cooked him in every possible manner of my imagination, spurred by hunger could suggest, but could not be eaten without revolting my stomach.” On another occasion he wrote of catching two foxes, roasted one and found “the meat, though entirely devoid of fat, was delicious.”
Lewis & Clark remarked “on October 2, 1805, nothing except a small prairie wolf killed that day” they did not comment as to the flavor. Merriweather Lewis’s journal entry of June 3, 1806 states “our party from necessity having been obliged to subsist some length of time on dog have now become extremely fond of their flesh; it is worthy of remark that while we lived principally on the flesh of this animal we were much more healthy and more fleshy than we had been since we left buffalo country....”
Charles Larpenteaur wrote of nothing but dog to eat, which the squaws cooked. Some of the group cried out “Mad Dog! Mad Dog! sure enough, he did look like a mad dog; his head sticking partly out of the kettle, with his fine ivories, growling as it were, and the scum was frothing about his teeth....”
James Clyman while camped on the Sweetwater River in 1825 became separated from his companions, he wrote “after having killed two badgers, I skinned and roasted them, making a suitable meal with parched corn...”
Thomas Becknell while on the Santa Fe Trail in 1821 wrote “I killed one small prairie dog, roasted it, but found it strong and unpalatable...”
John R. Bell, on the Arkansas River in 1820, complained that “Our hunters came in having killed a skunk, which we must keep for our dinner tomorrow.” The next day “boiled the skunk, which tasted skunkish enough...” Joe Meek had similar remarks for eating polecats...”
Osborn Russell reported that “beaver feeding on wild parsnips were poisonous and those that ate of the meat, within a few hours became sick at the stomach and the whole system became cramped...”
Rev. Samuel Parker said “that while flesh of the beaver was usable, the fore part is of a land animal while the hind part is of the taste of fish like...”
Joseph R. Walker and his party considered all eggs edible regardless of their age or condition, embryos well developed, and small birds only a few days old, would be cut into small pieces and used in soup or stews. The same group had a feast with Indians on the Sierra Nevada range to find that “pounded fish was really not fish but worms, which suddenly was rejected by our stomachs when found out...”
Buck G. Connor’s journal stated that “ants and snakes when cleaned and roasted were eaten with flour cakes for evening meals while in the employment of the Mexican Army....” and “was probably one of the better meals available at the time” a reporter for the hometown newspaper, the Phila. Evening News wrote.
Joe Meek wrote of the Indians of the Great Salt Lake area pulverized grasshoppers which they mixed with a jam of service-berries and dried in the sun to form a “fruitcake”. “Fried grasshoppers, caterpillars, wood-boring beetles, termites and spider bodies were disguised in stews.” “Rattlesnake was occasionally eaten by these people as a special treat.” Nuts; hazel, walnut, pinion and acorn were favorites of these travelers.
William Ashley’s journal of May 28, 1824 records that “during the last two days we have lived on fish we caught with hooks and lines...” Hooks and lines were often mentioned on lists of supplies by traders.
John C. Fremont, Benjamin Kern and Jed Smith have written of eating “mule meat, making minced boiled mule meat pies for New Year’s treat... and mentioned that the pies were very good...”
These early travelers made good use of any provisions available showing great resource fullness for the situation and location they were put into.
A FEW FACTS ABOUT GRAINS, ETC.
As you do your research on edible foods, wild and planted, you will find that a large amount came from Pennsylvania Germans, who brought them from their home lands in Europe from as early as the 1500’s.
There is a large variety of preferred seeds that have made their way from gardens of the east to the growing beds of the west and everywhere in between, thanks to our early explorers.
Traders, merchants and just common people moving to new homes in the unknown territories have carried their seeds, dropped on the way by accident or gardens started, then minds and locations for a home are changed.
Let’s take a look at some of the types and varieties of grains, vegetables, spices and herbs that found their way across North America in the westward expansion.
Field Seeds
Buckwheat: Lewis & Clark mention buckwheat cakes, as do other colonists in our early history, not sure of how long it has been in North. America, or if the Pa. Germans brought it over, like so many other seeds.
Flax: Has been grown in the colonies as early as 1560’s, used for linen cloth and a number of other cloth by products. Ariane Flax seed is available today.
Rye: This is a good ground cover crop used by Pa. Germans for hundreds of years in this country. Flour is still available in stores today, good for period baking.
Spelt: A form of wheat with a little difference in texture, was originally from Europe but found its way to the colonies when settled. Spelt Mills were popular during the 1800’s in producing flour. You will probably not be able to find seed that is suitable for human usage.
Gourds: In colonial America, old Mexico and parts of Europe, gourds have been used for a number of storage vessels. They have been cooked, fried, boiled or any other way you can think of to be prepared to be eaten. Dipper and large bottle gourds are as old as anything we can find today.
Kale: A good green that will fill in for cabbage or cauliflower in one’s diet. Russian or Rugged Jack are good choices that will fit a period menu.
Leeks: A member of the onion family, used as a vegetable and will be correct for an early 1830’s meal. We like the Swiss Coloma Leeks for a green with meat.
Peas: A native to Europe they came over with our friends the Pa. Germans during the migration to the colonies in the 1700’s. The closest to the original would be the Risser Early Sugar Pea.
Pumpkin: Native to the Americas, there are six types listed but no longer available with only a close relation still around, the Fortna White Pumpkin.
Turnips: From Germany originally this turnip of today is only 100 years old, not really period as to say,
Gilfeather Turnip.
Vegetables
Tomatoes: Originated in South and Central America, they found their way to Thomas Jefferson’s garden as early as 1781. Red Brandywine are as close as we can come to today, as to the originals he grew.
Beans: Beans were often planted with corn and squash, called “Three Sisters” plantings, the colonists used this Indian method as early as the 1650’s. Fisher, Smith, Hutterite and Jacob’s Cattle beans are still available. Pole beans; Hoffer Lazy Wife, Smith and Scarlet Runner beans have been around since before 1800.
Beets: Native to Europe and N. Africa, their first appearance in N. America is not clear, but reference has been made of them in journals dating to the early 1600’s. Deacon Dan or Lutz are a good choice for the older types.
Cabbage: This mustard family member has been around for 5000 years according to history books. Early Copenhagen, Early Jersey Wakefield and Red Drumhead cabbage will put you into the late 1700’s.
Carrots: Member of the parsley family, came to South and North America from Europe and Asia, in the form of animal fodder, with the colonies employment in the early settlements. The only one that comes close for period use would be the Early Scarlet Horn Carrot.
Corn: Maize is a native of this country, introduced to the early colonies by the natives. This was not a sweet corn as we know it today, more of a field corn, eaten when still young, it passed as a good filler in lean times.
Herbs
These herbs are used as medicine, seasonings or just for decoration, all have been dated earlier than 1800.
Agronomy/American Pennyroyal: Listed in history as an American Indian herb, used for insect repellent.
Basil/Brunet: A well known pair of herbs, known to provide a aromatic relief for the nose.
Butterfly Weed: Same as above.
Caraway: Has some medical uses, licorice taste used on rye bread by early colonists.
Chives: A flavoring for soups, breads, salads, etc. by native Americans and colonists.
Coriander, Dill: Flavoring or seasoning.
Garlic Chives: Member of the onion family, used for seasoning in soups and salads.
Horehound: Used in teas, candy for sore throat problems.
Sweet Cicely: Licorice flavor used in cooking for seasoning.
Sweet Marjoram: Old medical herb, used for colds in soup and stews.
Columbine, elecamane, feverfew, hollyhock, job’s tear, larkspur, lunaria, thin-leafed coneflower, these are all decoration plants and not to be used internally by all means.
Apples
Baldwin Woodpecker: Found in history around the mid 1700’s in southern part of Massachusetts.
Black Gilliflower Sheepnose: American grown, found in Connecticut around 1800 and listed in 1817.
Cox’s Orange Pippin: Came to the colonies from Bucks, England, seeds only brought in 1827.
Fameuse-Snow Apple: From Canada originally brought there by seed from France around 1600.
Jonathan: A New York farm apple grown as early as 1800.
Smokehouse: Lancaster County, Pa., medium to large in size, good for cooking, listed in 1801.
The list of grains, vegetables, herbs and apples are not complete, that would take a book with many volumes. This was just a list of the more popular items, listed in a simple way to give the new and the seasoned re-enactor an idea of the large amount of available edibles for different time frames.
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ON THE NEXT PAGES YOU FIND A LIST OF WARES WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF ITEMS WE CARRY AT CLARK & SONS MERCANTILE.
WE DO NOT SHOW PICTURES, AS MANY OF THE OLDER LISTINGS OR CATALOGS DID NOT HAVE THEM EITHER.
LEGENDApproximate documented and dated items grown or traded in North America, we have found something’s earlier than listed, but not that common for the working class or local trade.
Pa. German - before 1750 * Before 1800 - trade item ** Northeast - before 1820 @ Southwest - before 1830 # Watkins - after 1850 + used raw for centuries ++
(now in handy capsules)
Grains & Seeds
Wild rice (lg. broken) ** Barley-pearled * Lentils * Smith beans *
Rice (India Import) ** Rye-kernel * Split peas-yellow * Split peas-green *
French pop-corn * Corn yellow * Parched corn *
Flours
Barley * Buckwheat * Rye * Wheat * Corn *
Mixes
Mary’s Frybread Mix ** Prairie Fire Jerky Mix + Ranch Cut Jerky Mix +
Cereals & Meals
Blended meal @ Barley grits * Rye-rolled * Corn grits *
Oats-rolled * Oats-steel cut * Wheat-coarse * Corn meal *
Millet meal *
Pasta
Vermicelli-coils Fettuccin Straw twists
A common trade item on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers in the late 1700’s, but as John Curry and others agree, it was available for ones that could afford the price, not an item a traveler or hunter would likely have. More of an item found in the settlements or at a fort trading post.
Herbs & Spices
Basil * Bay leaves * Cayenne pepper * Cinnamon sticks *
Cloves-whole * Garlic-granules * Ginger root-dried * Mustard seed * Nutmeg-whole * Pepper-crushed red * Rose hips-seedless *
Oil
Walnut oil-haines *
Coffee
French: La Compagnie
Vanilla bean was a favorite of the officers on New France. A blend of coffee and vanilla for a correct drink fitting 1670-1800.
French Officer - Choice of government and fur trade officials in New France, a special blend. 1650-1780
Spanish: Santa Fe Trail - Used throughout the S/W of N. America, a blend of coffee and chocolate. 1760-1830.
El Capitan - Spanish Governors to Army Officers of the S/W along with fur trade Factors involved with the Santa Fe trade, favored this coffee. 1600-1850.
English: From the Colonies (manufactured in N. Amer.)
A collection of beans and nuts blended to the common man’s taste.
Used throughout the colonies. 1610-1810.
Coffee Beans (Green /not roasted and Roasted) These coffee beans have been imported from the coffee capitals of the world, for centuries by the English, French, Spanish and American ships, taken to their home ports. We carry (raw) green coffee beans from Columbia in 10oz bags.
Tea
Brick single-tile; * Pressed cured blocks of tea, from Yunnan province, used as a currency for hundreds of years, traded in Europe and N. America in the earliest markets known.
Gun powder; * Course granulation tea that resembles cannon powder, a quarter teaspoon in a 1/2 pt of boiling water produces a pleasant cup of tea.
Hyson; * Small leaf green tea, name means “bright spring”, a good period tea for any camp.
Bohea; * Black orange pekoe, many recipes for this tea can be found throughout history, was a very popular trade item, found on most supply lists.
China Black; * The tea that started the “Tea Trade” in Europe and is still a leader today, in markets around the world.
Sweets
Maple sugar (bag) ** Maple sugar (cake) ** Cone sugar-piloncillo #
“Hat” of sugar (p. wrp)* ** Spiced chocolate ** Chocolate (ibarra) # Muscavado (in corn husk) **
* is thought that this is where the term “I’ll eat my hat” originated, wrapped in blue paper like the originals. (piloncillo and ibarra are still molded in the same design form as the originals in a museum
in Santa Fe, NM)
SaltSea salt (sun dried) ** Orsa salt (sun dried) **
Nuts
English walnuts (meats) ** Sun flower (rst/unslt) ** Sun flower seed (raw) **
Spanish peanuts (rst) ** Spanish peanuts (raw) ** Pumpkin seeds (raw) **
Dried Fruit
Apples (unsulphered) * Peaches * Pears *
Dried Meat (jerky)
Buffalo ** Elk ** Here’s the meat that everyone asks us about, can’t get more period than elk and buffalo jerky, fits in all time frames and the largest part of N. America.
Personal Care
Soap: Castile bar (Jamaica); the one the boys wanted at Morgan’s stores and on supply lists of various traders.
Bar soap: (bayberry or lavender); a product of Williamsburg, Va., saponified from fat and is much like the soap ordered by Bent, St. Vrain & Co. in 1838, lightly scented.
Florida Water cologne; a popular trade item on the Santa Fe Trail, originated in 1808. A cologne for after shave, hair tonic or a deodorizer.
Personal Items
Bone handle toothbrush; popular, bone handled, natural bristled toothbrush like those sold at forts, trading posts and stores across N. America.
Horn comb; made from cow horn in the early 19th century, these are made in the same way for the correct look.
Medication
Watkins Liniment (red) (large bottle)
Watkins Petro-carbo salve (small can)
Watkins Menthol Camphor (small can)
* Watkins, still uses same style containers as they did in the mid-1800’s, good product for a sore body after a long foot, horseback or canoe trek),we carry this product because of its healing nature, even though it’s a little late for some periods.
Garlic
Garlic/parsley (caps) (an easy way to use these very valuable herbs, good health herbs and good bug control).
Camp Items
Tin-copper-wood & ironware
1000 eye lantern; Just enough light to move around camp, light in weight and size, great for those evening errands. Uses a 1/4” or 3/8” candle, 1 1/2” dia.x 5 1/2” length. (Tin) Clark Collection.
Clark lantern; The original was found in Ohio, after the Civil War and considered old then, the style is a common one for homemade lanterns of the late 1700’s and copied for generations, simple and it works. Clark Collection.
Pail-creamer; Here’s what all good camps need, a container to keep your food items clean and free from insects. This tin cream pail is correct for all periods, used from the colonies through the westward movement and later. Equipped with a wire bail and snug fitting lid, pours good too, 2 qt. capacity. Gobel Collection.
Tin Plate; Here’s a tin plate with the appearance of being heavier because of the detail to its design, a step above the standard but not too fancy.
Kidney canteen; Correct for the F & I through the Rev. War, rolled lip on spout, comes with a cork and jute cord, heavy gauge tin. Stands 7” tall and pitch lined like the originals.
“D” canteen; Correct for 1740 through the Rev. War, rolled lip on spout, comes with cork and jute cord, heavy gauge tin. Stands 7” tall and pitch lined like originals.
Cup (unlined); An accurate tin drinking cup that will fit all time frames from the F & I War to the fur trade. Sturdy hemmed edges and handle, 3” x 3 7/8” tall.
Porringer; Hand hammered from heavy copper, tinned 100% food safe, very popular through the 1820’s in N. America and south of the border in Mexico. 4 1/2” x 6” x 1 3/8” deep. Muller Collection.
Boiler w/o handle; Authentic non-hinged lid, tin-lined copper of a heavy gauge, fits in the 17th and 18th century time frames. Sturdy construction, 4 1/2” dia. x 5” tall - wire bail.
Corn boiler w/handle; Authentic later period, hinged lid, tin of a heavy gauge, fits in the 18th and early 19th century time frames. Sturdy construction, 2 1/2 gt. capacity - wire bail.
Coffee pot; Correct early F & I to Rev. War, (7) cup coffee pot made of heavy gauge tin, nice addition to any camp, large capacity - wire bail - strainer spout. Muller Collection.
Grater box (small); Nutmeg grater from the 1780’s, hand carved maple block, with well to collect the grated nutmeg or tea , a heavy tin pierced cover that does the grating and also acts as a cover over the well. A common item for the working man. Conner Collection
Trade kettle; Historically, this style kettle was traded from 1600 to the early 1800’s, Being lighter than cast iron. This is a handmade brass, tin-lined Trade kettle with ironbail and is 100% food safe. Measures 4” deep x 6 1/2” dia. at the top rim, x 5 1/4” at the base, 6 cup capacity. Gobel Collection.
Skillet w/extra long handle; Steel frying pans are 1/3 the weight of cast iron, 11” in dia. with an extra long handle, a good camp skillet.
Pot scrubber; These are a handy item in any camp, made of natural sisal fibers, a correct look for a cleaning tool and they really work and lasts.
Beeswax candles (tappers); These are 100% pure beeswax and smell good, hand dipped, a soft gold color. (store in a cool place).
Spice jar - oct. glass; Small in size, these green glass jars make an authentic way to carry and store salt, spices, oil, etc. Comes with a cork stopper for a sealed container. 3 1/2” tall x 1 1/2” dia. Pander Collection.
Spice jar - sq. glass; Small in size, these green glass jars make an authentic way to carry and store salt, spices, oil, etc. Comes with a cork stopper for a sealed container. 4 1/4” tall x 1 1/2” dia. Pander Collection.
Bottle - 4 oz; Small in size, these glass jars make an authentic way to carry and store salt, soap, cooking oil, etc. Comes with a cork stopper for a sealed container. Pander Collection.
Copper boxes; made of heavy gauge copper with tight fitting lids, great to keep small items together, the best small period containers we’ve found. Available in (3) shapes. diamond - rectangle - round
Small funnel; This funnel has a hundred uses, we use it to fill our salt barrel listed below, made of tin, it will last a life time. Conner Collection.
Small salt barrel; We made this barrel up after seeing one at The Museum of the Fur Trade, years later Charley Hanson sold a spare original one to us. Seen in one of the Sketch Books that Mr. Hanson has published. Conner Collection.
Mercantile sacks; choose from (5) cloth sacks marked with the names of products of the trading posts:
Hyson Tea Pen & Co. Coffee Clark & Sons Mercantile Salt Havana Sugar
Fingerless gloves; Keep your fingers free for those camp duties, while your hands stay warm. Grayish brown, 85% wool 15% cottonette, correct for any F & I to Indian Wars time period.
Voyager cup; We made this maple cup up after seeing one at The Museum of the Fur Trade. Seen in one of the Sketch Books that Mr. Hanson has published. Excellent quality, hand carved maple. Museum of the Fur Trade Collection.
Bone handle fork; A table style, bone handle, with two-tine steel fork made in the traditional shape of eating ware of the Rev. War through the westward movement. Nice set with the table knife listed below.
Bone handle knife; A table style, bone handle, steel knife made in the traditional shape of eating ware of the Rev. War through the westward movement. Nice set with the table fork listed above.
Trek spoon; Many of the trekkers we know have used this spoon for several different uses, with its long handle and hooked end, it serves as a pot holder, as well as a nice size spoon. Many uses for one item, a though that should be kept in mind when traveling light, with all your equipage.
Green River butcher knife; The standard in knives has been Green River, quality was and is this knife, since the early 1800’s. For a good camp knife, we carry the 6” blade, 10 1/2” overall, butcher knife, another spare of the Museum of the Fur Trade. Conner Collection
Pack fork; Another good pack item, light in weight and handles many different cooking needs around the fire. Made of 1/4” steel and forged in the old way, a very popular camp item.
Folding trivet; Hand-forged a small and compact for those trying to save on space and weight. Great for packing in a canoe or on horse, we use them on most treks. Steel construction, riveted and made to last, a good working trivet for the traveler. The Museum of the Fur Trade Collection.
Trivet 8” dia, 3 legs; Hand-forged, high leg trivet for those cast iron pot and kettles. App. 7 3/4”- 8”dia x 7” tall, with a 1/8” thick strap iron handle 11 1/2” riveted to frame for that authentic style. Museum of the Fur Trade Collection.
Folding grate; A sturdy, handy grate for pots, skillet and kettles, hand-forged 3/8” square steel bar, 22” long x 9 1/2” tall, easy storage or carrying.
Brazier; Similar to originals from the Rev. War era, these were used for cooking and general camp heating duties. Equipped with a cooking grate 8” x 8”, hinged for easy access to the 6 1/2” tall coal box. 3” legs keep base up off the ground, giving a 9 1/2” overall height. A bail has replaced the handle sticking out, making it easier to pack from one location to another. The Museum of the Fur Trade Collection.
Lump coal; This is the old style charcoal just like the coal used centuries ago, historically correct in every way.
Folding camp stool; Made of straight grain hardwood and brown canvas, a nice light duty camp stool for easy transport. 14” x 14” x 17” when opened for use.
Clark camp axe; Made by H & B Forge, this utility or small polled axe is the right size for those camp duties. Head is 5” long with a 3” blade. * extra hickory handle; handle fits the Clark camp axe listed above, white not stained.
Rope 3/8 in. x 25 ft.; An item that is always needed and most forgotten, in a camp. This 3/8” manila rope in 25’ lengths could not be any handier, light to carry and easy to store in camp or at home.
Blankets
Witney 4pt “Early”, white w/black shoots
Witney 3 1/2pt “Traditional” white w/black strips
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· * We carry the most common color traded in the 3 1/2pt and the 4pt blankets; white with black shoots or strips.
[NOTE: 3 1/2 pt. blanket was the common size sold or traded on the early frontier, larger sizes were usually special order]. The Museum of the Fur Trade Collection.
Sewing Needs
Scissors; (large or small) These are the Chinese scissors that are a 300 year old design, sharp, precise, small for packing in your sewing items, what else can be said. The Museum of the Fur Trade Collection.
Glover’s needles; Glover’s needles are sharp, triangular point and can be used on a number of sewing applications. We carry the (2) most popular sizes: size 0, 1 7/8” long “ 00, 2 1/8” long
Harness needles; Harness needles are not sharp, rounded point and can be used on a number of sewing applications. We carry the (1) most popular size: size 0, 2 1/4” long
Awl; Small wood handled awl with a sharp pointed steel shank, used for layout work, opening and piercing of articles being prepared for sewing.
Linen thread (light) & (medium); Natural linen thread (not washed) in a natural color which may vary in shade, depending on areas collected when grown. We carry the (2) most popular weights, light and medium.
Bee’s wax (small); Refined yellow beeswax, great for waxing your linen thread to ball lube, many uses. We carry the small size, to keep your items carried to a minimum.
B-Grease (small); A unique blend of beeswax, beef tallow and other natural ingredients which retain an even consistency with temperature changes. It’s been used for chapped lips to leather dressing.
Writing Supplies
Travel ink well; This round tin traveling ink well, with its friction fit top, when removed reveals (2) small quills, a corked ink bottle for ink storage, all in a compact 1 1/2”dia. x 5” tall.
Porte-crayon; Copied from a 1743 mechanical pencil, brass in construction, this little gem will last as long as you need to write your field notes. Lead from a China Marker is available from any office supply or art store. Its total length is 5” long.
Small document carrier; This was copied from a Rev. War example, great for keeping your papers, maps or art work clean and dry while making your travels. Comes with lugs for easy carrying, 6 3/4” wide x 9 1/2” tall x 3/4” deep, (tin.)
Period paper (100) shts.; Southworth Antique Laid Paper, ivory color, heavy weight, laid finish, 20 lb. weight, still made in Springfield, Ma. as it was in the early 1800’s.
Powdered ink; Mix the contents of this quaint packet with two ounces of water to produce a correct 18th century iron-gall ink. Formulated from modern ingredients to give the correct look without the acid content.
Small quills; Made from turkey feather quills, they are hand cut and gives one; excellent writing ability, with limited drag that so many quills present.
Games
Cup & Ball; A favorite game for centuries, unchanged in its basic design and still keeps people entertained for hours. Good for any time period, young and old will thank you for having one in camp.
Dominos; An all time favorite, these wooden dominos come in their own wooden box with a sliding lid.
Cards; These reproduction gaming cards have been poplar with all age groups for centuries, entertaining those who pick them up, whether its euchre, Monte or poker.
Wood dice; Considered gambling by many Virginians and not to be left in plain sight, one could write a book about the games and the people of all ages that have been taken with this game tool.
Smoking Items
Clay pipes Asst. styles-Oak leaf,etc.;
Assorted styles; oak leaf, fox & grape, castle & crown, our supplier tries to give us a little of each but can’t give anyone a special one do to supply, take what we got or we can order the one you want. 5 1/2” length.
1800’s Trapper pipe w/reed stem; Clay pipe with a reed stem, bowl is about 3/4” wide, 1 1/2” high, the stem is approximately 4 1/2” long. The bowls are red, white or brown clay, as above we can not give anyone a special one do to supply, take what we got or we can order the one you want. The Museum of the Fur Trade Collection.
* extra reed stem; Approximately 9” long, ready to use. Conner Collection
* extra bone stem; White bone pipe stems about 4” in length, nice.
Small tavern pipe; White clay pipe made in Williamsburg Pottery and typical of the colonial mid18th century design, copied from originals found at that site. This is a good camp pipe, 9” in length with a 1” bowl.
Tobacco boxes by Ted Cash
Tobacco box w/burning glass; Early 19th century box was popular with trappers and fur trades, mainly because of the protection it provided for costly tobacco and an easy way to light your pipe. Available in German Silver, Brass or Steel. Measures 4 3/4” x 3 1/8” x 3/4”. The Museum of the Fur Trade Collection.
Tobacco box 1790; An excellent copy of an English tobacco box with its hinged lid, functional for many uses. Available in German Silver and Brass. 4” long x 2” wide x 5/8”high. Conner Collection
Oval tobacco/tinder box; A solid brass box patterned after Hudson Bay Tobacco boxes. Plenty of room for storage of char, flint and steel. Measures 4 3/4” x 3 1/8” x 3/4” The Museum of the Fur Trade Collection.
Tobacco/tinder box; Copy of an original box that was very popular to carry a number of different items beside tobacco. Available in German Silver, Brass or Steel, measures 3 /2” x 2 1/4” x 7/8”.
Wooden pipe boxes
Small pipe box w/sliding lid; A solid pine box with a plywood bottom, lap joint corners, glued and nailed. Handy to protect that pipe or other small items. 6 1/2” x 4 1/2” x 1 3/4” deep.
Large pipe box w/sliding lid; Made from pine with box joint corners and a sliding, this ideal for several pipes or misc. small items. A handy box with authentic appeal for the colonial era and later. 8” x 3” x 1 3/8” deep.
Fire starting
H & B flint striker; The classic c-shaped striker with room for four finger hold, hand-forged by one of the best. Fits the Ted Cash tinder boxes, made of the best steel available, 3 1/4” long copied from an original.
The Museum of the Fur Trade Collection.
Flint pieces; Random in size, flint spalls...the by-product of gun flint knapping. Convenient sizes with lots of sharp edges to produce excellent showers of sparks.
Tou; This is the natural flax, before combing and cleaning,it makes an excellent tinder for firebuilding.
Char cloth & tin; 2 1/4” tin container filled with char cloth, made from 100% cotton fiber, an excellent char and a reusable tin.
Tinder tube w/wick; 1/4” dia. brass tube with a loop fastened on its side for attachment to you gear and a lamp wick in the tube. With one end charred it catches sparks from your striker, to light that pipe or rolled smoke.
Tobacco - smoking
Cavendish; A historic pipe tobacco for the hardy, a good blend that was popular through-out the Rockies and Santa Fe trade routes. Packaged in a period style wrapper and marked “Payn and McNaughton” , well known suppliers to the early fur trade.
Northern Plains; Natives of the Upper Missouri country commonly blended these tobaccos, leaves and herbs.
Eastern Woodlands; Tobacco, roots and bark preferred by forest dwellers of the eastern colonies.
Northwest Coast; An aromatic blend of tobacco, herbs and bark of the Pacific Northwest.
Prairie Pride; A mild blend of tobacco with natural herbs and leaves.
Western Rockies; Early settlers of the western Rockies brought this blend with them from the eastern colonies.
Varieties of smoking tobacco
Our Pride (sack); Three varieties of smoking
Old Hill Side (sack); tobacco, completely natural
Red Cap Brazil (sack); with no flavor or moisture added. Each blend comes in its own cloth bag.
Good for those that roll their own.
Tobacco - chewing (twist)
American Fur Co.; One leaf of tobacco, twisted and dried in the traditional manner of tobacco growers, done for centuries this way. An enriched taste for those young at heart with a strong stomach.
Rocky Mountain Pride; One leaf of tobacco, twisted and dried in the traditional manner of tobacco growers, done for centuries this way. A common leaf and taste of many a trekker found in the western mountains, only for the young at heart with a strong stomach.
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If you have any questions, please drop us a line and we will try to fill your needs or research the needed items you are interested in or looking for. Your humble servants, Clark & Sons Mercantile.
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