tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42786897884995555392024-02-06T18:04:56.560-08:00Clerk of the Fur TradeThe Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-38495523891322603902014-10-08T06:51:00.001-07:002014-10-08T06:59:03.416-07:00Gambling rules from the Journal of the Early Americas articleIn case you have not read the latest issue of the <a href="http://www.journaloftheearlyamericas.com/" target="_blank">"Journal of the Early Americas"</a>, I wrote a short article on colonial gambling to complement the cover art. Space did not permit the printing of the rules for some popular games that were a part of the article. They are reprinted here for your enjoyment:<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1. Four of a kind, one
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If no one holds a
brélan <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>all dealt cards along with the
turn up are shown and those of each suit valued (ace 11, face 10, others per
their spots). The player, not having dropped out, holding the highest card in
the suit with highest counted value and wins the pot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Whist</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Players 4</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cards 52 (Ace high)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Play
clockwise</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Partnership
play; partners sitting opposite. Deck is cut or drawn to determine partners
(two highest vs. two lowest) and then to determine deal. No comment or signal
on the cards is permissible. Cards are shuffled, cut, and dealt one card at a
time face down so that each player has thirteen cards. The final card, which
belongs to the dealer, is turned up and is trumps. That card remains face up
until the dealer 's turn to play the first trick.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The player to the dealer's left leads to the first trick. He may lead any
card in his hand. The other players, in clockwise order, each play a card to
the trick and must follow suit by playing a card of the suit led if they have
one. A player with no card of the suit led may play any card, either discarding
or trumping. The trick is won by the highest card of the suit led, unless a
trump is played, in which case the highest trump wins. The winner of the trick
leads the next trick.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Play
continues until all thirteen tricks are played. Count the number of tricks each
player has </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">scoring 1
point for each trick won in excess of 6. The game is over when a partnership
reaches 5 points. In some longer variations of whist where winning score is
higher than five, extra points (honours) are assigned after a game to a partnership
if they were dealt the ace, king, queen, and jack (knave) of the trump suit; a
partnership with three of four honours (A, K, Q, J) receive 2 points, four
points for all four. However final game winning point cannot come from honours
points.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hazard</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Players 2+</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dice 2</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Only one
player, the caster, may hold and play the dice at one time. In each round the
caster specifies a number, 5 through 9, which is called the "main".
The dice are cast.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If he rolls the main, he
wins (<b>throws in</b> or <b>nicks</b>).</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If he rolls a 2 or a 3, he
loses (<b>throws out</b>).</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If he rolls an 11 or 12, the
result depends on the main: </span></li>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">with a main of 5 or 9, he
throws out with both an 11 and a 12;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">with a main of 6 or 8, he
throws out with an 11 but nicks with a 12;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">with a main of 7, he nicks
with an 11 but throws out with a 12.</span></li>
</ul>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If he neither nicks nor
throws out, the number thrown is called the <b>chance</b>. He throws the
dice again: </span></li>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">if he rolls the chance, he
wins;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">if he rolls the main, he <b>loses</b>
(unlike on the first throw);</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 1.0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">if he rolls neither, he
keeps throwing until he rolls one or the other, winning with the chance
and losing with the main.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The caster
continues until he loses three times in a row and thence passes the dice to his
left.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bets are
made between the caster and the "setter" (the bank which can be an
individual or the players as a group). If the caster nicks the first throw, he
wins his stake. After the first throw the caster wins his stake if he gets his
chance before his main. After the first throw the caster and others, as side
bets, may wager that chance will come before the main.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">**** Here
there are odds tables that can be used but I kind of think this will make for
really confusing reading and extra length. We could include a URL for the odds
tables. But I think messing with odds is something that would detract from
play, rather than just side betting--whose going to remember or want to
calculate? I've included the odds tables and explanation here just FYI:</span></div>
These bets are made at odds determined by the relative proportions of the
main and the chance:<br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td rowspan="2" style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Main</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td colspan="7" style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Chance</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>4</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>5</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>6</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>7</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>8</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>9</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>10</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>5</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
4/3<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
—<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
4/5<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2/3<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
4/5<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
1/1<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
4/3<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>6</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
5/3<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
5/4<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
—<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
5/6<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
1/1<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
5/4<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
5/3<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>7</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2/1<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
3/2<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
6/5<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
—<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
6/5<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
3/2<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2/1<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>8</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
5/3<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
5/4<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
1/1<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
5/6<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
—<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
5/4<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
5/3<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>9</b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
4/3<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
1/1<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
4/5<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
2/3<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
4/5<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
—<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
4/3<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
For example, with an odds stake of £10, a main of 7 and a chance of 5, a
castor stands to win £15 (3/2 × £10); with the same stake, a main of 5 and a
chance of 6, he could win £8 (4/5 × £10). ******<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<br />
<b><i>Gama'giwe'binigowin (The Snake Game)</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Players 2+</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iwMXPs2Q3epZ9987Gf-UHqu1uYw4z6PK2o40kDXqFGqHls_1beLCPn-TrbiswRn25o26se9MQX1gPIer-O7W-euR5OJ3dl0v5rQcPKQ4CwV5VimuQkbR5s6zctcTnJNdsgJSSiojcRrC/s1600/gambling+sticks2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iwMXPs2Q3epZ9987Gf-UHqu1uYw4z6PK2o40kDXqFGqHls_1beLCPn-TrbiswRn25o26se9MQX1gPIer-O7W-euR5OJ3dl0v5rQcPKQ4CwV5VimuQkbR5s6zctcTnJNdsgJSSiojcRrC/s1600/gambling+sticks2.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">crafter and photo credit: Jeremy Kingsbury</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Equipment</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Four
flat sticks of even length (some players carve wavy sticks to mimic snakes), 6
or more counter sticks. The four flat sticks are marked so one side will be the
same for all four and on the opposite side of two sticks identical markings are
made (none on the other two).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
players take turns tossing the sticks up or to the ground; points are
determined by their fall. If all sticks show same marking, take two counter
sticks and throw again until a toss produces no points. If a toss produces two
pairs of matching sticks, take one counter and throw again. No other counts are
allowed. During play a player may also take counter sticks from other players
if the common or bank pile is empty. When a player has gained all counter
sticks that player wins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bets are
made before each toss with the player tossing making the first bet. Side bets
between players and onlookers can also be made (will the toss be successful?
what will be tossed? and so on). The side bets can often be the most
entertaining and profitable.</span></div>
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The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-46907857942546712862012-10-21T13:32:00.000-07:002012-10-21T13:32:42.869-07:00Recreating Punch articles publishedMy posting has been so occasional as to be almost non-existent. However, that does not mean I have not been busy. <br />
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The second part of my article on recreating the 18th century Punch and
(originally Joan, her name became Judy by the 19th century) has been
published in <a href="http://www.journaloftheearlyamericas.com/" target="_blank">The Journal of the Early Americas</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdm-AA_epSnuk561C_qb2nzR5zIWu9XHH3ZhumJvNhGlm4qFybJgfq0Vip_QWmsz9ddu9DyExbBUTSUSccq8IXWfkHr0WmCJHGpg5cAbTYkkigsYaOmlcFi0XdJ21xzmDa5T939ME_fLg/s1600/pnjgp12.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdm-AA_epSnuk561C_qb2nzR5zIWu9XHH3ZhumJvNhGlm4qFybJgfq0Vip_QWmsz9ddu9DyExbBUTSUSccq8IXWfkHr0WmCJHGpg5cAbTYkkigsYaOmlcFi0XdJ21xzmDa5T939ME_fLg/s320/pnjgp12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Punch at Grand Portage Minnesota</td></tr>
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A number of puppeteers have expressed interest in this article and wanted to buy a copy of the journals for Parts I and II.<br />
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By arrangement with the editor/publisher, if you are not a subscriber
and would like to purchase a copy of the two issues (Part I and Part II)
contact me at <a href="mailto:wayne@otisrabbit.com">wayne@otisrabbit.com</a> and I can mail you both issues at cover rate plus mailing.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNPSuoG6q1pCL8eX9NkCMlrqkVGItk-8vx6SA0ZaovDgF9fiuiwxylwfRGzOJdTSzHkQtusepTPA9CRcDRg0-QxXtrj1iQi1H6t17GFfkTTrK4h8A6YAb-r2KtLxSxwWcZyJvPhpsftoX/s1600/otter+and+death+madeline+island+2012.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNPSuoG6q1pCL8eX9NkCMlrqkVGItk-8vx6SA0ZaovDgF9fiuiwxylwfRGzOJdTSzHkQtusepTPA9CRcDRg0-QxXtrj1iQi1H6t17GFfkTTrK4h8A6YAb-r2KtLxSxwWcZyJvPhpsftoX/s320/otter+and+death+madeline+island+2012.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Otter and Death at Madeline Island</td></tr>
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Puppeteer or history buff the Journal of the Early Americas has some
really cool articles on, well, early history of North America. If you're
not a subscriber, check out the issue preview at <a href="http://www.journaloftheearlyamericas.com/" target="_blank">The Journal of the Early Americas</a> and I think you will be convinced to become one.<br />
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The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-5278787368414777072012-01-10T13:42:00.000-08:002012-01-11T15:18:26.580-08:00Recreating an 18th Century Punch showOne of the projects crowding my "to-do" list is creating new heads for the characters in my Punch show.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofwqETw3WkasYYJzvjRZOFz1VOiy71S0VKcgR-YsjHd0cDQuym70dJgEn7sDfaunl4RRKWgY65L6HCFF5oNDtRDQmM76opviPwo8pX_Qo5zG90QxmYGuXdpraJbD1mGlql2pmNffKI84U/s1600/punch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofwqETw3WkasYYJzvjRZOFz1VOiy71S0VKcgR-YsjHd0cDQuym70dJgEn7sDfaunl4RRKWgY65L6HCFF5oNDtRDQmM76opviPwo8pX_Qo5zG90QxmYGuXdpraJbD1mGlql2pmNffKI84U/s320/punch1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Currently, made of non-period materials, I want wooden heads to match the period puppets for my show. The heads are patterned after Cruikshank drawings and I want to reproduce the same look in wood.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPY1vo7S9qr9ZeN17wxQ2gLGYWGQCLgROcahZ0-y6ghyphenhyphen8_GfsrhpDWuQp6C9pF6lRkttGsMfLzsBs7DUa2t5ia1vszYKArE8tZZe-zvu6uTFyAxTnLtJrTNF5xkCN_850vrjPX5h-F5GO5/s1600/punchead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPY1vo7S9qr9ZeN17wxQ2gLGYWGQCLgROcahZ0-y6ghyphenhyphen8_GfsrhpDWuQp6C9pF6lRkttGsMfLzsBs7DUa2t5ia1vszYKArE8tZZe-zvu6uTFyAxTnLtJrTNF5xkCN_850vrjPX5h-F5GO5/s320/punchead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHE_Xpo8XpU9C7l-nlw0XHhZg5ExozRuYr8Sljq2aSAt2XgENdnQVZCKzpLYaqPLXp4FEy6FdH7bMhRtpIaw254jKwvPSnFDjcsxIjX5JVyVrHbrQQz-j5fP0vRcwbodPQNokd31izx2v/s1600/punchblk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHE_Xpo8XpU9C7l-nlw0XHhZg5ExozRuYr8Sljq2aSAt2XgENdnQVZCKzpLYaqPLXp4FEy6FdH7bMhRtpIaw254jKwvPSnFDjcsxIjX5JVyVrHbrQQz-j5fP0vRcwbodPQNokd31izx2v/s320/punchblk1.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />
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This is the start of the process and I'll update progress on this project from time to time here as well as on the <a href="http://www.woodlandpuppets.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Woodland Puppets News</a> blog. I hope the heads will be done sometime this summer so that all future shows will be totally period correct to the 18th century.<br />
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I will also post about the process of building the show, stage, and other aspects, too. I am writing a longer article for publication in the<a href="http://www.journaloftheearlyamericas.com/"> Journal of Early America</a> and possibly the <a href="http://www.puppeteers.org/puppetry-journal/latest-issue/">Puppeteers of America's Journal</a>.The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-64667973302251442602011-11-28T16:41:00.000-08:002011-11-28T16:41:18.028-08:00Some things never change--"hunting the squirrel"Well, it seems time has passed quickly and over a year has passed since my last post. Life, as they say, intrudes on life.<br />
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All the raging stampede in the stores this past weekend, not to mention the tear-gassing taking place in many venues for many reasons, reminded me of another kind of rage and riot that also has not changed. And you may be surprised at this.<br />
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In Liza Picard's "Dr. Johnson's London" (p. 31) we find that life then as now had a certain outrageous flavor:<br />
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Riding a coach had its own set of dangers, what with abysmal roads, wide carter wagons, and bad suspensions, "If the coachman was wicked, he would follow a 'one horse chaise . . .passing so close to it so as to brush the wheel, and by other means terrifying any person that may be in it.' This incitement to road rage was know as 'hunting the squirrel'." (taken from Francis Grose's "A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue", London 1785).<br />
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On a different note: check out the latest <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/northamericanvoyageurscouncil" target="_blank">NAVC Gathering in Winnipeg.</a>The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-22606389809517653132010-10-05T18:22:00.000-07:002010-10-05T18:22:06.189-07:00Eagle River Clerk's ReportThe following is an excerpt from the journal kept for the post at Riviere d'Aigle in the fall of the year:<br />
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<span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><em>Sept. 29 Wednesday Rainy<span style="font-family: inherit;"> cool weather. Arrived riviere d'Aigle in the late afternoon as the house is already built we Moved our goods and other supplies inside and Readied for trade. Mr. Oakes being yet upon the Portage I expect him tonight We shall greet him with a fire, a pip, and a toast to our Safe journeys here.</span></em></span><br />
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<span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mr Oakes & co arrived some time later while still light But two more upon the trail did not arrive until Late</span></em></span><br />
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<span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">30th Thursday Sky clear temp 44 Heavy dew We were up early lighting a fire and awaiting the arrival of the local band of Sauteur The post was occupied all day with comings and goings though Without much trade activities. old A-- brought in some castorum and a few musquach the Night was passed quietly until the Men got into a keg of HW.</span></em></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivibU5Z9UPkYTPNjoDLEKCgVyL51D6mPiGMMQzrYcpGZxxnLBulH87ZuQk2znnKryTkMRGxV1EwQ_9a9XGIIsuA15d-7YUwgtdE7QDJdZ3JqQ3E-aya4z1Im0Tx2r4gqzQW2oJi81JRzL/s1600/er10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivibU5Z9UPkYTPNjoDLEKCgVyL51D6mPiGMMQzrYcpGZxxnLBulH87ZuQk2znnKryTkMRGxV1EwQ_9a9XGIIsuA15d-7YUwgtdE7QDJdZ3JqQ3E-aya4z1Im0Tx2r4gqzQW2oJi81JRzL/s320/er10.jpg" width="238" /></a><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fri Oct 1 Cool 36 degrees at dawn the Post was comfortable at 50 degrees A fire was laid in preparation of the day. Piere des Auniers accused one of the men of stealing his Cassette we discovered a keg full of water upon a shelf, this after much desire of water but none willing to fetch it.</span></em></span><br />
<span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></em></span><br />
<span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Soon we were busy with many Natives arriving to trade and Look over our goods. The day which had been overcast became Rainy shortly after noon Many of our visitors came I </span>believe mainly for the warmth of our fire Mr Oakes exhorted them to trade with us and bring us their Furrs and meat.</em></span><br />
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<span id="search" style="visibility: visible;"><em>Sat the 2nd Cool 37 degrees Parly cloudy Last nights Regale has made for a quiet morning A-- a local free trader came by this morning and shared the meat he had taken this morning. Passed the day giving credits to 3 families that came on their way to Winter camp. Sun later but quite cold.</em></span><br />
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The text ends abruptly in torn pages. Perhaps the rest will come to light upon investigation. In the meantime, your Obt Clerk is obliged to return to the accountbooks.The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-23148357033043999842010-10-05T12:59:00.000-07:002010-10-05T12:59:19.537-07:00North American Voyageurs Council Fall Gathering a month away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAgjLwhKz2oWOIYwf1ZgtlzxUCnbKBKVDWyNEdFxfi31xODMscgiydwBGr__-HUZ3b07-6JPMHsqPn4J6KB5DqPxcPp3KmiQC60PwFI-TGYGEU4RcLosAZuE9KeQ_VtJ-dRxa44dIFznw/s1600/wampum09tb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAgjLwhKz2oWOIYwf1ZgtlzxUCnbKBKVDWyNEdFxfi31xODMscgiydwBGr__-HUZ3b07-6JPMHsqPn4J6KB5DqPxcPp3KmiQC60PwFI-TGYGEU4RcLosAZuE9KeQ_VtJ-dRxa44dIFznw/s200/wampum09tb.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>The North America Voyageurs' Council annual Fall Gathering is just a month away. For those of you who have attended, you know the wide range of workshops available, not only on the fur trade but relating to 18th century living, Native peoples, and so on. For those of you who have not attended before, this is a chance to meet interpreters and reenactors from all over the Midwest and Canada (and Alaska and New York, you get the idea), and discover the rich resources of talent and knowledge NAVC gathers each year.<br />
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And at a cost of $85 (which includes a $10 yearly membership) that includes your food, lodging, all this knowledge (a few workshops with hands on "take away" projects have minimal materials fees), you can't go wrong!<br />
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Sign up today. Visit the <a href="http://www.navoyageur.org/gathering10.htm">NAVC Fall Gathering web page</a> for more information.The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-84483087911928198692010-09-27T17:37:00.000-07:002010-09-27T17:37:19.096-07:00North American Voyageurs Council Fall GatheringWe're just a month away from one of the country's best educational programs for reenactors and interpreters, especially those involved with the fur trade of North America.<br />
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The North American Voyageurs Council presents <a href="http://www.navoyageur.org/gathering10.htm">Fall Gathering 2010 </a>the first weekend in November. This year we are meeting at the <a href="http://theforts.org/?110230">Forts Folle Avoine</a> near Danbury Wisconsin. Folle Avoine is the site of two fur posts, the North West Company and the XY Company, which have been reconstructed on the original footprint. Attendees will be able to sleep right on the same earth that Michel Curot, John Sayers, and George Nelson, amongst others lived.<br />
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Some exceptional workshops this year, plus an appearance by none other than Punch and his 18th century coterie of mayhem. <br />
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Click on the Fall Gathering link above to get more information and download a registration form. More info needed, contact <a href="mailto:clerk@navoyageur.org">clerk@navoyageur.org</a><br />
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Hope to see you there!The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-5799942920060963452010-09-23T20:26:00.000-07:002010-09-23T20:26:45.585-07:00One post to anotherNot much to report of late since moving from one event to another over the past 8 months has meant equipment repair and preparation, not to mention also working.<br />
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Last weekend was the Fall Gathering at the Snake River fur post in Pine City which was great--good weather, better friends!<br />
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Coming at the end of September/first weekend of October is the Living History Event in Eagle River, WI. This event used to be in February (-40, as seen below). Should be be much warmer and, I hope, drier than it has been the past few days.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BS-39FOj1vu7mdoNKZxWCAEoya-cwZKDRPsnAKfV4-n6ur-TUYmLkKEW-3VJtOOAFdHw9-EWxL_SrWH8UpPaBAt3FYXM19DmXvrGhiH_qle4hlUP13lt-ZrqHQow4l6apo_VdP3q0TTu/s1600/er08+camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BS-39FOj1vu7mdoNKZxWCAEoya-cwZKDRPsnAKfV4-n6ur-TUYmLkKEW-3VJtOOAFdHw9-EWxL_SrWH8UpPaBAt3FYXM19DmXvrGhiH_qle4hlUP13lt-ZrqHQow4l6apo_VdP3q0TTu/s400/er08+camp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> I'll post some pix of the trade goods I've prepared for this year's event--packages and fabric bolts. Between my goods, Karl Koster's, and Dave Klessig's I think we'll have a very full trading post.<br />
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Haven't had a chance to get out to gather oak gall due to weather and other commitments. I hope to get out next week or the first week in October.<br />
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I will be processing the oak galls at Eagle River in preparation to make more ink to dehydrate for powder (batch number 5; batch number 4 was small but very nice and for sale along with a couple of batch 3 left).The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-51727836447311748982010-09-07T19:53:00.000-07:002010-09-07T19:53:49.437-07:00Grand Portage revisited, pt 2 Punch and friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74NTqilt7GNlefg-5gFsR7iK6d-xU0rvXsEIeMDAJELOcHI8pf6knrPelLS5YeZ3eedaniu-d1DReJJfm4dP2dEXgytiLB5R-_7UbYQM5sGZTKoJLkC4odnKnaBOiNWdVBBHFHpOOZZGO/s1600/KreftingPJ051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74NTqilt7GNlefg-5gFsR7iK6d-xU0rvXsEIeMDAJELOcHI8pf6knrPelLS5YeZ3eedaniu-d1DReJJfm4dP2dEXgytiLB5R-_7UbYQM5sGZTKoJLkC4odnKnaBOiNWdVBBHFHpOOZZGO/s400/KreftingPJ051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Early one evening during Rendezvous week at Grand Portage, Mr Punch made his appearance. No modern or PC character he, this was the 18th century antagonist, the street theater Punch of Everyman.<br />
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The English street show grew out of the Commedia del Arte tradition of Italian theater. Pulchinello found new homes and audiences outside Italy, becoming the founding character for a variety of puppet traditions throughout Europe. Coming to England in the 17th century as a marionette (though he was already a glove puppet, too, in Italy), Punch as he became known soon moved from a comedy relief character in larger theater pieces at fairs, notably Bartholomew Fair, to a character with his own story, outlook, and personna.<br />
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England already had a long tradition of glove puppetry. Punch began life as a glove puppet "out front", doing fight schtick and inviting the public into see the larger marionette productions (you can see such characters in <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Hogarth-Southwark-Fair-1734.png">Hogarth</a> look at right side of the photo for the glove puppets, with a painting of Punch with his wife, Joan, in a wheelbarrow).<br />
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Although there is a lot of exposition behind what is really going on behind the action of Punch (political and social, the rage of the lower/middling classes to the institutions that controlled their lives, and so on), suffice it to say that Punch represented the "great unwashed" who enjoyed the show for what it was and what Punch was able to do.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPtcZCHVLTgBV-ZEdMlILPKZud4Tk8iKK-eMuFg66TtUbKeOsrIxrJwCXy7rHen4CVNSNsYwkifSokC27zjfbPGJBv1w9aPQMUntHXzBsLAgwsl1jBl1k2QAwP_yglKJvRa3ByGozLCy2/s1600/pnjft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPtcZCHVLTgBV-ZEdMlILPKZud4Tk8iKK-eMuFg66TtUbKeOsrIxrJwCXy7rHen4CVNSNsYwkifSokC27zjfbPGJBv1w9aPQMUntHXzBsLAgwsl1jBl1k2QAwP_yglKJvRa3ByGozLCy2/s320/pnjft.jpg" /></a></div>Even though the actual crowd at Grand Portage would not have seen something like this, Punch and his puppet cohorts had existed in the New World for a couple centuries, certainly being performed along the Atlantic seacoast according to various accounts (ref. Paul McPharlin's "Puppetry in America"). The audience attending this 18th century performance, albeit in the summer of this year, were definitely engaged. I was a bit apprehensive of the children in the audience, but they were even more vocal and boisterous, encouraging Punch, than their elders.<br />
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All in all, I want to thank Ft William Historical Park for "calling my bluff" and encouraging me, as a professional puppeteer in real life, to mount this show for their July rendezvous, and Grand Portage for inviting me to present, too. And most of all, the audience. I believe that puppeteers and reenactors are the two groups who present the best audiences for this type of show, understanding both the context and temper of the times, and the Art.<br />
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Next up for Punch, the <a href="http://www.navoyageur.org/gathering10.htm">North American Voyageur's Council Fall Gathering (NAVC)</a> in November at Folle Avoine, Danbury WI.The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-20473110627310711582010-09-05T19:42:00.000-07:002010-09-05T19:42:49.242-07:00Grand Portage revisited, pt 1This year's trip to Grand Portage started earlier than usual, picking up Gene Tisdal, Henri, at the Duluth airport before arriving late at night, well early in the morning, in the 18th century of Lake Superior's premier historic site and encampment. You can see a few of the sights on <a href="http://frontierfolk.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=32247">FrontierFolk postings</a> such as this one (check a few others on the <span class="nav"></span>Colonial Nouvelle France/New France section of FF).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURPYMKT9yVj1jEUaMVko1wT5O3e3nLvkNVScd8U2-9-79DoJgvFQaurhHl3jSCYNsq3Y-YVw02N4rtB5tBBW6cn-Bk7XKCgKmVDq9HOcCPUsN0bHL80Ys6jrcYSP_aZaUhKDRGOuuXsds/s1600/SrClrk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURPYMKT9yVj1jEUaMVko1wT5O3e3nLvkNVScd8U2-9-79DoJgvFQaurhHl3jSCYNsq3Y-YVw02N4rtB5tBBW6cn-Bk7XKCgKmVDq9HOcCPUsN0bHL80Ys6jrcYSP_aZaUhKDRGOuuXsds/s320/SrClrk.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As usual, the week in the countinghouse talking with visitors to the site and interpreting both fur trade history and the business end of the . . . business was terrific! In addition, the Department of the Interior has been filming a movie for the interpretive center at the site since July and was using the August Rendezvous to move into high gear, filming canoe brigades on the Lake, the Native inhabitants of the Portage, and the frenzy of activity that took place during the summer while trade goods from Montreal where unloaded for distribution to the interior and furs from the interior posts were readied for the journey to Montreal.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkRdzh8ca_cy7Hy8Fuv8gGqnuMuT2CGZudGcvHJldmiVwRQkTc1VXMFyEr5paXpqbiSx-l3zAJJwh-sTFR43261wF6_PBDULAsKc0eO4utwZyhWCSLClrymCHnITOZMJ9kFbsvoO715xj/s1600/Partners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkRdzh8ca_cy7Hy8Fuv8gGqnuMuT2CGZudGcvHJldmiVwRQkTc1VXMFyEr5paXpqbiSx-l3zAJJwh-sTFR43261wF6_PBDULAsKc0eO4utwZyhWCSLClrymCHnITOZMJ9kFbsvoO715xj/s320/Partners.jpg" /></a></div>Many photos from the week, and the shoot, have been posted on Frontier Folk and FaceBook. If you have trouble finding some of them, let me know and I'll pass along the URLs since there are just too many to post here.<br />
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A few here may whet your appetite. The partners meeting is a traditional event, with the various wintering partners reporting on the year's returns and the trade good needs for the coming year. <br />
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At the end of the Rendezvous, the partners who don't winter over leave for the safety and comfort of their hearths in Montreal, while the rest of us return to the interior and the search for our "gold", the beaver fur.<br />
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Next up, part two, Punch and his wife attend the Rendezvous at Grand Portage.The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-62136785584685126032010-09-04T13:49:00.000-07:002010-09-04T13:49:33.459-07:00Gall nuts, gall nuts, who's got the gall nuts?This is the first in a flurry of posts; I probably should space them out but I've got the time over the long weekend so here goes:<br />
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Gall nuts are starting to appear. Apparently, the weather or something has delayed the wasp egg laying component here in the Upper Midwest. I've been finding gall nuts, though not as abundantly as I would hope. Going up to the oak savannah in Anoka MN next week to check out the supply there.<br />
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The gall nuts I have found have ranged from dried to green and probably still containing the larvae. They are, for the most part, rather large. I've picked a few green ones as an experiment to see how they compare.<br />
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Next up, Grand Portage's countinghouse and the movie filmed there, and Punch and Judy arrive at Grand Portage from the 18th century. See you in a day or so.The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-65642768956031652492010-07-29T09:08:00.000-07:002010-07-29T09:08:08.481-07:00Where have all the gall nuts gone? . . . long time passing . . .<br />
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A scrivener song by Pierre Seeger? Well, undoubtedly not, but an anthem for me this season nonetheless.<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_marble_gall">Oak gall nuts</a> seem to be missing in action this summer, at least in the Upper Midwest area around the Twin Cities. I don't know if this is due to the weather or climate's effect on the <a href="http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/insects/wasps/gall_wasp/">wasps</a> that usually lay the eggs in the oak branches creating the galls or some other cause. <a href="http://mymissourian.com/2010/07/12/oak-galls-seen-across-the-state/">Missouri</a>, on the other hand, seems to be having a bumper crop year.<br />
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Bees in general have been going missing and although I've seen a few wasps and hornets of late, nothing like former years. Local calligraphers who use the galls to make their ink, too, have been unable to find the galls around here. George Yanagita, from whom I've received a few bags harvested in the backyard marsh, hasn't seen any in his oak trees this year.<br />
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A conundrum to say the least.<br />
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As a result of my weekend of fur trade interpretation at Madeline Island demonstrating ink making and so on, I am preparing and drying a new batch of ink for powder. Maybe I can salvage something from the summer. If you have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_marble_gall">oak galls</a> in your backyard and are close enough to make harvesting and transfer to me possible, let me know.The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-87530999517605849392010-02-23T10:58:00.000-08:002010-02-23T11:00:30.170-08:00Ink BatchesAmazingly, I have been able to post twice in one month! I need to restrain myself lest expectations rise to unattainable heights.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-400VOR1ACEt7j6OlXgNop4Q8byMMkPPsd23rpTFs7dwYh6ia0qoHjM8zd1xhnOi5ZW9P9Qs9dYrXqrO5NZ4ACOIzlMzRszQSSJwYEn8VJYbv5_dY4t-_4LToSMX20HChWfcW3Hd9SlD/s1600-h/gall+and+quill+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-400VOR1ACEt7j6OlXgNop4Q8byMMkPPsd23rpTFs7dwYh6ia0qoHjM8zd1xhnOi5ZW9P9Qs9dYrXqrO5NZ4ACOIzlMzRszQSSJwYEn8VJYbv5_dY4t-_4LToSMX20HChWfcW3Hd9SlD/s320/gall+and+quill+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>A new batch of ink is completed and is awaiting the completion of the slow dehydration process in the oven. Unlike batch numbered 3, this ink has a very dark, stout character with a bit of shine. Batch 2 as you will recall seemed a bit timid and not quite as permanently impressed upon the paper fiber as I would have liked, though still quite usable.<br />
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So, I should have a completely adequate supply of period correct 18th century ink ready for sale come Spring.<br />
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Packaging is set set, with instructions in both period and (inside) modern day wording.<br />
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Now, I await the return of Spring, the budding oaks, the busy wasps, and nascent galls ready to be turned into more ink . . .The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-69754622139857432522010-02-18T08:34:00.000-08:002010-02-18T08:34:39.552-08:00Putting electronic quill to electronic laid paperI find myself apparently as constant a correspondent by this means as I was consistent with letter and thank-you writing in my youth. In other words, not so much. I beg your pardon for my lack, though with the steady stream of postings from others I doubt my missives have been sorely missed.<br />
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Still, the purpose of this setting seems to be to generate a persistent flow of communication about the subjects of interest to the originator. And to this task I have not stayed true. I could plead that "life intrudes" as it has with work, family, and other commitments. I could as well plead that I had nothing of note, at least to me, that seemed worthy of your ear.<br />
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This is not to say your correspondent has not been busy with attention to those things pertaining to the Clerk.<br />
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Indeed, since my last missive in November regarding NAVC's Fall Gathering, I have, amongst other endeavors, spent a good deal of time reading a pile of books and journal articles (I won't bore you with a list, you can send me a message if you want a "reading list") regarding 18th century shipping, trade, merchant activity, insurance, and other subjects relevant to 18th century economics. I hope that I can, at a not too future date, put together an article or presentation regarding the understanding I have gained in this area as regards the economic workings of the fur trade. With, I hope, a practical application, such as my workshop "And Take a Receipt", which examines the fairly dry topic of: "the type and use of fur trade documents to figure out the cost and profit on a 2 1/2 point blanket and its comparative value both to trader and Native in the context of 18th century price structure" and presents the information in concrete terms applicable to the interpreter.<br />
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That said, I've taken up mixing the latest potion of ink, using the last of my oak galls. I hope these are a better batch than the last one which did not produce a colorfast a liquid as previous concoctions. I will also be using a dried gum Arabic rather than the liquid form more readily available in art stores. I will chronicle that venture in the next "chapter" in our continuing serial. With, it is to be hoped, not such a long gap.The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-69803758423511507082009-11-21T09:28:00.000-08:002009-11-21T09:28:26.620-08:00North American Voyageurs Council Fall GatheringSome of you are already acquainted with NAVC, but for those that are not here is a look at how history interpreters learn and have fun in the Upper Midwestern US:<br />
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<a href="http://www.navoyageur.org/fg09.htm">NAVC Fall Gathering photo gallery</a><br />
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Enjoy.The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-6609803666545284472009-10-26T08:26:00.000-07:002009-10-26T08:45:16.765-07:00A friend reaches the final portage<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOGODJGieJr_YGvd8oXQq8h0-DUk18dmaoZF1SESZWi1tz1bvXOUjrREx8awhdYC9ZHMHZ84zgbwgHZHcx6UWD04N0qL11-uduP3V0YC9wm7wlbnVr3yEmcm6hFXI3JpB2P6ThEKgs7WA/s1600-h/mike+a.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOGODJGieJr_YGvd8oXQq8h0-DUk18dmaoZF1SESZWi1tz1bvXOUjrREx8awhdYC9ZHMHZ84zgbwgHZHcx6UWD04N0qL11-uduP3V0YC9wm7wlbnVr3yEmcm6hFXI3JpB2P6ThEKgs7WA/s320/mike+a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396934977027454786" /></a></p><p>Most of his friends and acquaintances will have undoubtedly received the news in other forums, but I must also comment here, though I have been remiss in timely postings on other matters.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mike Ameling, "that grumpy old blacksmith out in the Hinterlands", has died at age 56.</p><p><br /></p><p>I first met Mike when we took the "Grand Portage Choir Boys" tour van to DeChartres Spring Frolic a number of years ago. The thirty-somethings through fifty-somethings piled into the Timmerman's van (the "Otter" family van for those of you who know Tim and Brenda) and headed south.</p><p>It was, to say the least, a rollicking good time, and has been every year since. Although only two of us in that crew could be considered "liberal" or other left-leaning labels, and we definitely did not agree on any number of political issues, we became nonetheless close friends and comrades.</p><p>Mike was a blacksmith, and more. Amongst his other skills and areas of knowledge, his study of the firesteel, an integral part of anyone's interpretation of our time period, was comprehensive, spanning Roman times to now. His artifacts were fascinating and his reproductions were amazing. His reproductions now reside in various interpretive centers. Many camps have any number of his fire steels, metal pipes, rat spears, chisels, knives, and more.</p><p>Beyond that, Mike was a really nice guy. That "grumpy" epitaph was just a label he liked, I suppose because he really did live in the hinterlands. But he was kind and generous, and like many Midwesterners, ever self-effacing.</p><p>Mike, you deserve all the compliments and honors and love your family and friends around the world are pouring out to you.</p><p>Godspeed, Mikey, and we'll see you further down the portage.</p>The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-31141977494130258602009-10-03T12:02:00.000-07:002009-10-03T13:02:48.175-07:00Ink takes a powderAnd so another month has passed; how time flies and how fleeting the enterprises and intentions of man . . .<br /><br />In the while, though, amongst life's other endeavors your correspondent has found time to continue the exploration of 18th century inks, the creation of ink powders, and the formulations necessary to create a powdered ink suitable for reenactors and others interested in this the task of writing in this time period.<br /><br />In the past month, I have found my way through at least 4 to 5 works on ink, ink of the 17th and 18th century, and chemical composition of such ink, not to mention other works related to the function of the clerk. I am indebted to a large extent to Jack Thompson of Thompson Conservatory, mentioned in previous postings, for leads to a number of the works--either through his direction or found amidst reading such.<br /><br />I think I have arrived at a suitable ink which I can render in powdered form and which I will be making available in a period packet shortly.<br /><br />A few remarks, however, are necessary as a result of the my various readings, especially so given postings regarding inks on other bulletin boards.<br /><br />1. Iron gall ink, other postings elsewhere not withstanding, is the proper writing ink to be used for our time period of the 18th century. It goes back much further, probably at least to the 9th century though carbon inks were also in use early on. In the class of carbon ink is included the "logwood" or "lamp black" inks. These carbon based ink were not desirable in that they did not meet the test of suitable ink:<br /><br />To wit, "The requisites of a good black writing ink or black writing fluid require it to flow readily from the pen, to indicate in a short time a black color and to penetrate the paper to an appreciable degree, and more important than all the rest, to be of great durability. When kept in a closed Bessel no sediment of any account should be precipitated, although such will be the case in open ink-wells, and this the quicker the more the air is permitted to get ot it. If it is to be used for record or documentary purposes it must not be altogether obliterated if brought into contact with water or alcohol, and should depend for permanency on its chemical and not on its pigmentary qualities. . . ."<br /><br />(David Carvalho, "Forty Centuries of Ink", Banks Law Publishing: NY, 1904, p. 132; plus a variety of other authors including Mitchell, "Inks: Composition and Manufacturing", Griffin and Co.: London, 1924; and Barrow, "Black Ink of the Colonial Period" in <span style="font-style: italic;">American Archivist</span><span>, 11:4 plus the bibliographic references contained in these works).<br /><br />2. The point made in all the works I have read agree that the image produced by the action of writing with ink is best when the ink penetrates the fibers of the material written upon, not a surface image (which is what carbon inks accomplish). In other words, when you write on paper with iron gall ink, the image is produced not by the application of opaque material upon the page but by the chemical reaction of the gallate tannin in the ink actually absorbing into the fibers chemically and changing its composition and hence color.<br /><br />This is the reason why the various calligraphy inks and so called "period" inks sold by various companies are inadequate. In the experiments I have done, those little packets sold with or without a quill produce a nice, shiny, black ink that runs, smears, or otherwise is obliterated when wet.<br /><br />If you examine period writing, especially period fur trade journals which underwent some serious abuse in their time of use, and then later storage, you will not that even under the insult of liquid of various types they are still legible, not having run or smeared.<br /><br />3. Other inks, such as "India ink" or "Japan ink" are not and were not considered appropriate ink for writing as they "clumped" up or otherwise impeded the use by quill, being better suited to the brush of Chinese and Japanese (and Indian) writing. Such ink was better suited of artistic endeavor.<br /><br />4. Powdered inks, contrary to the surmise of the archivist I quoted in an earlier post, seem to have been made from dehydrated or dried ink rather than a package of the various dry ingredients finely powdered, mixed, and sold to be later constituted with water. In the various reading mentioned, all mentioned this latter to be undesirable, creating a very pale image unsuitable for writing (perhaps if left long enough for the tannin to leach . . .).<br /><br />At the same time, however, powdered inks were found to be inferior to the ready made ink "from scratch". In the "wet" ink, the pigment is held in the solution while the process of drying and reconstituting takes away this property and holds particles in suspension rather than solution.<br /><br />I have found this to be the case in comparing my "wet" and reconstituted inks. And yet, the ink from powder, though seeming to be applied as a thin and pale solution to the paper, turns a dark black upon the paper as the ink dries and oxidation takes place (this oxidation being the cause of the dark image on paper created by iron gall ink).<br /><br />Based upon those considerations, and more, the ink I have formulated meets the tests of readily flowing and penetrating the writing surface fiber to create a permanent, black record.<br /><br />Given the choice of ink made from ingredients (that is, purchasing "wet" ink) or ink made from powder, I would probably opt for buying a bottle of prepared ink, from my readings and my own experience with making ink.<br /><br />But, given the mess that carrying around ink prior to use, especially prior to sale, ink powder seems to be a good avenue. The product does not seem to suffer from the drying process, though shininess is not evident any longer. This really doesn't seem to be an impediment as a shiny line doesn't seem to have been a prerequisite of period ink, and ink powder was a common product.<br /><br />It seems that those wishing a shinier ink can merely add a bit of sugar, or even mix the powder with white wine rather than rain water (both period formulae). Though vinegar is sometimes suggested in period recipes, vinegar has been found to be detrimental to paper.<br /><br />One other note to this rather long exposition, period recipes call for the boiling or at least use of warm water to process the gall nut. In the course of reading, I have found that the better method, found later (but possibly used by some??), should have been a cold soaking.<br /><br />Ultimately, the cold water method is what I have ended up using by default and without a thought. After the cold water soaking for a few days, or possibly allowing soaking in the warm sun, I have usually strained and then reduced the concoction by boiling it to half before adding the other ingredients.<br /><br />I hope to see some of you at the <a href="http://www.navoyageur.org/gathering09.htm">NAVC Fall Gathering </a>at which time I hope to have some sample ink powder packets for perusal. For those of you wondering what is this NAVC Gathering and what goes on, click on this link to see our <a href="http://www.navoyageur.org/newsletter/NAVC%20Fall%202009%20v32%20n3.pdf">Fall Gathering Preview newsletter</a>. Having <a href="http://get.adobe.com/reader/?promoid=BUIGO">Adobe Reader 9</a> will provide best viewing of all PDF documents.<br /><br />Next time.<br /></span>The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-89231921013813607862009-09-01T19:33:00.000-07:002009-09-01T19:49:41.642-07:00Back to the countinghouseAfter a month hiatus, the Clerk returns. Lest you should think your humble Clerk has been lacking in industry, this past month has been occupied with travel to Grand Portage to participate in the Annual Rendezvous and greet visitors to the post in the countinghouse.<br /><br />Beyond that trip, the days have been taken up in my "other life" as a <a href="http://www.otisrabbit.com">puppeteer</a> in performance and in building characters for a company in northern Minnesota.<br /><br />However, I have returned.<br /><br />During this period my experiments with ink have continued. I have taken the greater part of the ink I have produced in the past and dehydrated it producing a powdered ink. I had earlier stated that I wasn't enthralled by the produced outcome, the product having much particulate residue and seemingly quite thin.<br /><br />I was wrong!<br /><br />After using this reconstituted ink, I found that it worked quite well. The liquid applied quite nicely to the paper. At first contact the ink was quite a faint gray, but within seconds as it dried, the ink took on a dark complexion. This is possibly due to the tannin etching in the paper's linen/cotton fibers, but perhaps the iron sulfate play some part.<br /><br />I have yet to strain the reconstituted ink to remove the particulates as some instructors of the 18th century advise. They claimed that the particles interfere with the flow of the ink but I have not found that to be the case.<br /><br />More as it develops.<br /><br />On a related theme, I have also been exploring what form actual period powdered ink took. In my search, I found the following information which I posted in another forum:<br /><br />Whilst searching out information on forms of powdered ink, having gone the dehydrated route, I found this<a href="http://www.si.edu/MCI/downloads/RELACT/iron_gall.pdf"> series of abstracts from Smithsonian workshops</a>. The particular one that caught my eye was Elissa O’Loughlin's on Powdered Inks.<br /><br />"Powdered iron gall inks are not reconstituted inks. . . The packets, usually made of paper, allowed the user to carry large quantities of ink without the bulk of the liquid. The ink was mixed with water as needed, and presumably formed a dark writing ink within a short period of time."<br /><br />Which caused my question about the time element since "a short period of time" was defined.<br /><br />"Erasmus is said to have carried powdered inks with him on his travels. One could assume that they were in common use when writing materials went “on the road” with officials such as circuit court judges. Colonial American records contain many references to these inks. Benjamin Franklin sold them in his shop in Philadelphia, and the Congress of the United States purchased large quantities of the ink in paper packets."<br /><br />This is an interesting note on the actual types of the ingredients, as opposed to the commonly used materials:<br /><br />"One extant sample of powdered iron gall ink in the U.S. National Archives (c. 1830) exhibits some properties which suggest that the form of the iron was chosen carefully. The powder is light brown-gray in color, appears finely divided (not clumped) and the particles of gum are glassy and brittle."<br /><br />Apparently, rather than the ferrous sulfate (iron sulfate) obtainable from chemical houses (school supply warehouses), the type used possibly used was pure heptahydrate, not hygroscopic and so does not readily oxidize in air.<br /><br />Another thread to pursue.The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-41147644482048293892009-07-31T07:12:00.000-07:002009-07-31T07:22:25.239-07:00Pointed question<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I received a recent inquiry regarding the use of "points" on blankets and whether they related to weight or thickness of the blanket. I thought the reply might be of use to you:<br /><br />Blankets, from the reading I've done on English manufacture, were indeed produced by weight (and sometimes, consequently, length of the complete piece, many many yards) as the completed blanket fabric was taken to the guild hall for weighing and approval. Various widths of fabric were produced which pertained to the ultimate size of the blankets to be manufactured.<br /><br />However, the weight referred to does not refer to the individual blanket, rather the total piece which would be later cut up into pairs. The thickness of the knap and the quality of the fabric were more a function of the maker and were not indicated, as far as I have been able to determine, by the points (weight could vary from country to country, by manufacturer or weaver; the guild was the ultimate arbiter of whether the fabric was of good quality). The use of points, when they were used and not everyone used actual points apparently, were for indicating size. They would be especially useful as a handy tool for finding the right blanket at a glance.<br /><br />The "point" is sort of a matter of contention. According to the HBC blanket historian, Harold Tichenor, the "point" may have evolved from French useage in the 16th century. However, there was never a consistent standard for a "point", per Tichenor, until the 19th century when HBC set a standard. In reading about blanket manufacture in Witney and Oxfordshire, there seems to have been an understood set of sizes, though they may have varied from guild hall and manufacturer (remember all work was piece work sent out to individuals and groups by the blanket company). From the use of the "point" in inventories, etc. there must have been a common understanding as to the sizes, or relative sizes each appellation indicated ( 2 point, 2 1/2 point, etc).</span><br /><br />And yet, when the point sizes are compared by manufacturer they vary. This site (I may have already passed this on to you) has a messed up page, but toward the bottom there is a comparison of sizes to various companies late 18th into the 19th centuries: <a href="http://hrd7.tripod.com/hbc/hbc.html">http://hrd7.tripod.com/hbc/hbc.html</a><br /><br />Off to Grand Portage next week.The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-63250010929275783742009-07-20T19:09:00.000-07:002009-07-20T19:14:32.934-07:00Blankets, one more timeSince there was a question about sizes, this page about <a href="http://www.pointblankets.com/pages/pb003.htm">Point Blankets </a>is a good, quick reference, especially if you can't get a hold of other books. Remember to double the length indicated to derive the "pair of blankets" size. Ex. the one point at 46 inches long is about 8 feet as a pair or double.<br /><br />You can figure the half point as in between the point sizes.<br /><br />Contact me for some bibliographic references on blankets and weaving in England (Witney, Oxfordshire, etc).The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-59383000457227170102009-07-20T17:56:00.000-07:002009-07-20T18:39:58.683-07:00Blankets, pelts, and costs: a clarification<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I recently received an email requesting more information and a clarification on my previous posts. I thought it might be helpful to post my reply here, also, in case I was unclear or others might desire an encapsulation:<br /><br />First, a bit of a correction. The 2 1/2 point blanket is sized more along the size of a modern twin bed blanket. I'll check the actual dimensions and send, but I'm sure you have a number at the fort (can't remember if you have Rob Stone's among your blankets; his are well sized and used by many of us). So they aren't 12'x12'. They were woven, by individual weavers (some with multiple workers), on looms in varying overall sizes depending upon the type and size of blankets being called for. The Alfred Plummer books, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Blanket Makers 1669-1969: A History of Charles Early & Marriot (Witney) Ltd"</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The London Weavers' Company, 1600-1970"</span> are two good resources, among a number of others I have used.<br /><br />The blankets were taken in large batches (I forget the term) to the Hall for guild approval before being cut for shipping, usually into double lengths of the blanket size ordered. The blankets were shipped in the double lengths, hence the term "pair of blankets". The whole sale price (which I am trying to track down from mill to sale) is based upon this double blanket (price paid to weavers was on overall length woven or weight).<br /><br />On the price, 8s. is indeed an "average" wholesale price for an individual blanket (one half of the double blanket sent as a "pair"). This is based upon the Grand Portage inventory, the Grant Campion invoice, and other price documents. The 8s. is considered the "cost" (wholesale plus overhead--canoes, men, food, etc) to get that blanket to Grand Portage, and most likely by extension Fort William, though the price and cost was higher by the time period you portray there.<br /><br />On the <em>plus, </em>I thought I had included some of the documentation sources. Mainly, the references used had to be secondary (Innis <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Fur Trade in Canada"</span>, and Parker's <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Emporium of the North"</span>) because I don't have access to the records they have/had. Those that were at the MN Historical Society have disappeared.<br /><br />However, the primary documentation they cite seem to agree both on the varying price structure for the time period I am viewing (1780s to around 1800) and weight of the pelt itself. Ross was one of the cited primary sources. The actual prices varied widely (and wildly) in this time period making comparisons that much more exciting.<br /><br />Using the records compiled by Harold Innis <span style="font-weight: bold;">“The Fur Trade in Canada”</span> and James Parker <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Emporium of the North”</span>, beaver brought 8/6 to 10/2 (1784), 15/6 (1789), 1802-5 average 14/. A. Henry in 1806 mentions a beaver pelt being worth 10/ Halifax.<br /><br />Two pounds for the weight of a pelt seems to be the consensus average, thus the 3 to 4 plus "price" for the 2 1/2 point blanket times the particular price for peltry at any given time.<br /><br /><br /> 1784<br />1 beaver pelt worth 17 to 20/4<br />Return on one 2 1/2 pt 46-55/ Montreal<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >1789<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >1 beaver pelt worth </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >31/</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Return on one 2 1/2 pt</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > 88/</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >1801<br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >1 beaver pelt worth </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >28/</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Return on one 2 1/2 pt</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > 79/</span><br /><br /><span style=""><span style="font-family:arial;">One thing to keep in mind, most of the blankets were not sold at either Grand Portage or Fort William, so the overhead was much higher, almost prohibitively so by the time it reached the Athabasca Department. Parker's </span>"Emporium"</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> has some good information on this. No matter the overhead (and the Wallace documents gives a rudimentary idea with the advance percentages charged clerks in their minutes on partner agreement regarding prices to be charged) the Native trading partners wanted the blankets for the customary price of 3-4 pelts. So going west, profit became problematic.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Let me know if I am still lacking clarity. You can post here or reach me at </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.blogger.com/furtradeclerk@q.com">furtradeclerk@q.com</a></span>The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-72312019164284471772009-06-30T13:55:00.000-07:002009-06-30T17:28:37.326-07:00What this blanket cost . . . the final stanza, more or lessMore than a month has passed since my last post, and people were beginning to wonder whether starvation or some other calamity might have befallen this Post. Fear not, just life intruding.<br /><br />Though no post has appeared, your Clerk has been nonetheless busy: besides work with the automatons, the past five weeks has been filled reading and research to trace the blanket's cost back toward it's source in England (much reading on blankets, weaving, and the process of producing blankets in Witney, Oxfordshire, and Yorkshire) among other pursuits. During this time, a pleasant weekend was spent on the Yellow River in the Fond du Lac District (the <a href="http://www.friendsofthefolleavoinefurposts.com/">Folle Avoine posts of the NW Co. and XY Co</a>.)<br /><br />In previous posts, we have established, rather loosely I hope you will understand, the wholesale cost of the 2 1/2 point blanket in Montreal ( 5s., five shillings) and Grand Portage (7s.) and the "value" such an item brought when traded with the Native peoples with whom the various fur companies traded (3-4 beaver pelts or <span style="font-style: italic;">plus</span>).<br /><br />In some later post, I will endeavor to describe my search to find the source cost in England and the difficulties in terminology, differing qualities and sizes, and other conundrums which have presented themselves. For now, let me turn to what these <span style="font-style: italic;">plus</span> represent in terms of financial return and how it compares to the wholesale cost. I will end with some information on period cost of goods and income.<br /><br />The references for the worth of the <span style="font-style: italic;">plus</span> or beaver pelt are: Harold Innis' <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=eCgps70cHV4C&dq=%22fur+trade+in+canada%22&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=2YZKSriRNIngMcnRlLMK&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Fur Trade in Canada</span></a> (itself a huge reference work citing other primary references) and James Parker's <a href="http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?bi=0&bx=off&ds=30&sortby=2&sts=t&tn=%22emporium+of+the+north%22&x=0&y=0"><span style="font-style: italic;">Emporium of the North</span></a>.<br /><br />To put a very short leash on the the price of beaver, lest it run amok in its wildly erratic fluctuations from the French period through the second decade of the 19th century, I take an average price of £1. for parchment beaver. My reasoning is thus:<br /><br />Prices varied depending upon a number of factors from the supply (which itself was subject to the returns of any one year, the state of war which might or might not exist on the high seas, to cite just two conditions) to the quality of the fur (not just summer vs. winter, castor gras/caster sec, but spoilage, how much flesh was left on the hide, and so on) to the needs of the hatters and other end users of the furs.<br /><br />Innis and Parker (citing Morton's) are somewhat at variance with regard to their understanding of the beaver prices. At the same, they do not specify the unit of pricing quoted (though Parker is somewhat more clear). Innis give a price range 1784 through 1801 of 8/6 to 14/ with a high at 15/6 in 1789 (the price in shillings, and it is assumed <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">per pound</span> of beaver fur given his comments elsewhere in his book). According to Parker, the price of parchment beaver, castor sec (caster gras with its thicker coat minus the guard hair being worth more), in 1784 was 19s. 9d., close to £1. After the turn of the century, prices soared to over 30s. Given Innis' price range and the context of Parker's comments, these latter prices appear to be <span style="font-weight: bold;">per <span style="font-style: italic;">plus</span></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Beaver pelts themselves weighed in, on average, between 1 3/5 and 2 1/2 pounds each depending upon seasonal coat. Using 2 pounds as an average beaver pelt, the range of price for one beaver <span style="font-style: italic;">plus</span> in the Innis' time frame above would be 17s to 31 shillings (£1 11s.).<br /><br />Thus I take a conservative average of £1 as the return on one beaver pelt.<br /><br />If each 2 1/2 point blanket cost 3-4 <span style="font-style: italic;">plus</span>, then the average cost or return over the period is £3 to £4 for the 5s. wholesale cost. More precisely, using Innis' figures and subtracting the wholesale cost, the actual return on a blanket is between 45s. to 88s. in the period.<br /><br />Of course, the "overhead" in terms of wages and supplies would come out of this amount. Not a bad sum. Philip Turnor of the HBC noted in 1792 that the total NW Co. expense on 20,000 "made" beaver taken from Athabasca region in all likelihood did not amount to more than £3000 to and from England. Perhaps a £17,000 return from that Department alone.<br /><br />What do all of these financial numbers mean in the context of the period? Cost of living numbers for Canada are difficult to come by and I have not found any good overview resources of the cost of goods or comparative prices for Canada. However, some idea of what these monetary figures indicate can be seen from:<br /><br />In 1797 England bread sold for 1d. (one pence) and beer for 4d. (12d.=1s. 20s.=£1). The Dobie/Badgley 1797 invoice from Montreal indicates a good Hudson Bay fusee for 21s. 6d. or 15s. for a doz. pen knives.<br /><br />A typical voyageur might make £30 per year (a common laborer in England £26-40, the lowest being poverty wages), a clerk £50-150 (less than an English cabinetmaker, clerk, or weaver).<br /><br />At some future point, I'll post some more cost/wage comparisons with a idea of how these compare as percentage of income with percentage of today's income.<br /><br />Thanks for your patience,<br /><br />I remain Yr Hmble<br />ClerkThe Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-3357535333405567652009-05-24T13:28:00.000-07:002009-05-24T13:39:31.724-07:00Fish nets, fish nets, roly poly fish nets . . .As promised, a couple of photos of the completed fishnet.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZKo4lQ0KD9VJmiQusBP9tFkEoSVftR4WFzvPrwOkGFZyfUyLofluXQgkqN41B9Qz1fXieNwBz6ePqanTQZoFbj77in4x2YXrB-97r0d9EeGiHh8ZWY3JyIe0citsW34vzjmGGgUPzpXB/s1600-h/fishnet1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZKo4lQ0KD9VJmiQusBP9tFkEoSVftR4WFzvPrwOkGFZyfUyLofluXQgkqN41B9Qz1fXieNwBz6ePqanTQZoFbj77in4x2YXrB-97r0d9EeGiHh8ZWY3JyIe0citsW34vzjmGGgUPzpXB/s320/fishnet1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339491681827866610" border="0" /></a><br />It ended up much longer than expected.<br /><br />The whole net ended up about 16' long. I would like to have made it wider, but to be honest, I was really getting restless and needed to complete other work. I ended around 2 1/2'.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I wanted to try making the fishnet in the manner of the pictures in Diderot and others. I have found some very much simpler instructions, but not documentation that anyone "did it that way".<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHjKh0vBLAy1QFxgR4n4enrIlUZ096cYZvBMXzu6QMfNMeypKsUlQOPWdT5sICmnph7XBKctKAdn7qfpKyzdU9UdI_gdqI2ooS8mgZLrpl9mydy92SdTXkhqBvUPzmFC83iObcGfHtQhQ/s1600-h/fishnet2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHjKh0vBLAy1QFxgR4n4enrIlUZ096cYZvBMXzu6QMfNMeypKsUlQOPWdT5sICmnph7XBKctKAdn7qfpKyzdU9UdI_gdqI2ooS8mgZLrpl9mydy92SdTXkhqBvUPzmFC83iObcGfHtQhQ/s320/fishnet2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339491388678336034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So . . . after much mindless monotony, a fishnet made with period hemp material is born. The "diamonds" are about an 1 1/2 to 2" on a side.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The ClerkThe Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-17901728823609045722009-05-17T13:17:00.000-07:002009-05-17T14:32:08.410-07:00What this blanket cost . . . and the beat goes onHaving established the wholesale price of 5s (five shillings) for a single blanket, what would the actual cost be, say in Grand Portage, Fond du Lac, Athabasca, and so on.<br /><br />As any business knows, the factor in determining price (besides desiring to provide room for profit) is "overhead". In the case of our blanket heading into Upper Canada and the Northwest ("Northwest" being anything "Midwest" nowadays from Ohio through what is now Minnesota, the Dakotas, and into Canada), overhead was figured on the cost of goods at Grand Portage (or Kaministiqua later, or Rainy Lake) plus equipment items for personnel and interest. Two different interest items are noted in at least on account in 1801 (H. Innis, <span style="font-style:italic;">The Fur Trade in Canada</span>, p. 243; Coues <span style="font-style:italic;">New Light</span> I, 4 and 200-1): interest on goods for the year plus last year's inventory, plus an interest percentage added which included the previous year. To all this is added the cost of freight to carry the furs back to Montreal and wages.<br /><br /><br />More specifically, overhead included: personnel wages (the proprietor, interpreter, and clerk), transportation which included the wages of the voyageurs to and from posts and Montreal (the men paddling canoes, lugging goods across portages), the cost of the canoes, any tariffs/duties/fees/licenses, interest on goods (both current and carried past year), the costs of upkeep of the Grand Portage depot and particular post, gifts, spoilage, the "outfit" given to each employee each year, and so on.<br /><br />This latter cost, the clothing and equipment given to each man, was more than off-set by the fact that wages were for the most part paid in goods (Innis, pp. 240 ff, footnotes). And given daily necessities of the men (clothing worn out, tobacco and alcohol, and so on) and the inability to bring much in the way of possessions west, goods were often "advanced" to the extent that wages were never paid. In fact, many men owed years worth of service after a single "tour of duty" (Innis).<br /><br />Figuring out what the actual overhead for individual items was is nearly impossible, though some educated guesses can be made. A few examples suffice:<br /><br />1. The 1797 Grand Portage inventory indicates a pair of 2 1/2 point blankets as worth 14s. This would make the individual blanket worth 7s, a markup of 2s or 40%.<br /><br />40% seems a bit high, though the rate was probably variable depending upon the year, the rate of return on furs, competition, and so on. This variability lead to the NW Co. establishing, in 1804, a rate of increase or "tariff" to be assigned to calculate the freight and "advance" on price westward.<br /><br />At Kaministiquia (what became called Fort William), in 1804, the advance in price was deemed to be 23% on the Montreal "Cost of all Goods without reserve." (NW Co. minutes, in Can. Archives, Innis, and Wallace <span style="font-style:italic;">Documents</span>)<br /><br />This would put the price at Fort William of our 5s blanket (more like 5s 3d, five shillings 3 pence by 1804) at 6s 1+d.<br /><br />2. Zebulon Pike noted (<span style="font-style:italic;">Expeditions of</span>, ed/ Coues I, 283), in 1805, what he was lead to believe was the markup on goods between Montreal and places west: 250% at Fond du Lac (2.5 times the cost or 12s 6d).<br /><br />Other sources (La Rochefoucault in <span style="font-style:italic;">La Rochefoucault-Liancourt's Travels in Canada 1795</span>, p. 115) indicate a 3 times advance in Detroit, 4 times in Michilimackinac, 8 times at Grand Portage, 16 times at Winnipeg, all on the usual value at Montreal.<br /><br />The two examples, Pike and La Rochefoucault, I believe, indicate more of a "retail" price markup (including profit for the merchant) rather than reflecting a simple overhead cost markup. But they still give some idea of what needed to be factored into the cost of this blanket as it headed west for trade in exchange for furs.<br /><br />Therefore, let us take 7-9s at Grand Portage, as our base wholesale price (which includes overhead to GP) for a 2 1/2 point blanket. This blanket traded, usually for 3 (sometimes later 4) beaver pelts.<br /><br />What was the cost to the Native trappers on this basis, and what return did the 5s, now 7-9s blanket bring?<br /><br />Next time.<br /><br />The ClerkThe Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4278689788499555539.post-35867952260318639702009-05-10T13:37:00.000-07:002009-05-10T14:25:32.375-07:00What this blanket cost . . . stanza the thirdHaving taken the 2 1/2 point blanket as our basis and accounting the cost in terms of £ Halifax "money of account" reckoned in Canada (to be compared to the £ Sterling), let's take a look at what the price of the blanket would be. At this point, we're still talking about wholesale price (the imported price which a fur company would pay in Montreal for blankets to be shipped to what became called "Upper Canada" in the 1790s).<br /><br />Examining a 1791 shipping inventory supplied by Dobie Badgley & Co. of Montreal to the Grant Campion & Co. traders at Michilimackinac we find: pr [a pair of ] 2 1/2 pt blanket at 10/ (ten shillings).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaStkCNandDYftR1ZX-fxxpy29tE-8TPKhdUvnkr4YfRlcSzbGfOMBTY3MHHjw2DM_eSAJgWEVnCA-LfvqhBX5yIMkYp5P9bzop-6GdBSQTeR5CpoyySWfWuCTj_MNuY0yW7kQbTAjn2Bh/s1600-h/gcd+invent+blankets.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 436px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaStkCNandDYftR1ZX-fxxpy29tE-8TPKhdUvnkr4YfRlcSzbGfOMBTY3MHHjw2DM_eSAJgWEVnCA-LfvqhBX5yIMkYp5P9bzop-6GdBSQTeR5CpoyySWfWuCTj_MNuY0yW7kQbTAjn2Bh/s320/gcd+invent+blankets.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334307783265453010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This would appear to be in line with other documents from Carignant (merchant, 1775), Duffin and Taylor Accounts at Fort Niagara, in 1779, Cadot (1785), Phyn, Inglis, & Co. to Forsyth (1798), all within a shilling range over the time period. The average seems to be about 10/ to 10/6 for a pair of 2 1/2 point blankets. (The Grand Portage inventory of 1797 indicates the value of a pair at 14/6, which most likely reflects "overhead; Sayer's accountbook of 8/1797 values them at 14/).<br /><br />Figuring that this price is indicative of a two-blanket pair, we arrive at the wholesale cost for a single 2 1/2 point blanket to be 5/ (five shillings).<br /><br />I have not been able to examine shipping records from England, nor the more complete records of fur trade inventories/accounts housed in the Archives of Ontario and other repositories, so I do not know the "origin" price per unit. However, for our purposes, this 5/ figure should suffice.<br /><br />Knowing the wholesale price of the single blanket coming from Montreal is only part of the story, in determining what this blanket cost. Setting aside duties, fees, etc. at the dockside (not inconsiderable, but figured I think into this wholesale price along with insurance of goods shipped from England and so on), there are a number of other factors which determine the ultimate price.<br /><br />Just as today, there is a "markup" of goods for sale. This markup today can vary from a few percent to as much as 50% and more. Factors such as the "overhead" of shipping (labor, vehicles, wages, storage), projected incurred losses, "gifts", not to mention profit are a necessary ingredient to fixing the ultimate price.<br /><br />Whether a blanket was sold in Quebec, Montreal, traded at Grand Portage, Snake River, or Athabasca these factors needed to be accounted for by the merchant and trading partners.<br /><br />For the fur companies, another consideration was the ultimate price to be gotten for furs returned for sale to England. The difference in price structure between the time goods were purchased and furs arrived in London for sale at auction could be considerable, and either fantastically profitable, or ruiniously depressed. This lead to a number of plans throughout the period, both French and British, to control and stablize prices (without much success). These schemes, however, are not within the story here.<br /><br />Next up, overhead, returns on the beaver pelt, and what the price/cost represented (in "real money" of the time).The Clerkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600234622595950857noreply@blogger.com0