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Post by Rodman on Jan 11, 2022 18:09:15 GMT -7
Townsends has a tin that you can get with small bottles for spices and such. Thinking that is a bit small. What do you guys use? Where do you get these items?
RM
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Post by spence on Jan 11, 2022 20:49:43 GMT -7
My outings are solo, usually, and my cooking is always dead simple, so I don't need to carry many seasonings. That Townsend kit would do for me, but I don't see it as something I'd expect to find in the 18th century. My seasoning containers are pretty ragtag, mostly homemade, but they are easy to carry and supply more than I need. I collected these two very small glass bottles years ago, I use them for salt and cayenne pepper.  I cut 2" off the tip of a long-neck gourd and made a container for black pepper.  Nutmeg was a very common seasoning in the 18th century. I made this little grater and use it frequently.  A small gourd works well for my sugar, usually brown or maple.  I'm getting the itch to get out and put this gear to work. Spence |
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Post by Rodman on Jan 12, 2022 4:36:35 GMT -7
^ That is exactly what I am looking for, they almost look like ink bottles. Thanks spence for the reply. I got some Gourd seeds from Eiensiedler going to see how that goes. I got a small priming horn for salt but that is about it. You gave me an idea though, thanks.
RM
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Post by hawkeyes on Jan 12, 2022 7:54:56 GMT -7
Spence has nailed it. The townsends setup is more of a novelty item than a period piece.
I know hobby lobby sells those little Glass vials or jars, very inexpensive. The corks are terrible so I fashion my own from a larger one. The nutmeg grator and brown sugar are a staple amongst my provisions. Seasoning a fresh piece of meat with nutmeg is a delicious treat, very interesting flavor profile.
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Post by Black Hand on Jan 12, 2022 9:29:54 GMT -7
Skip the bottles and use cane/bamboo. Larger, cheaper and easy to make and replace. I have a couple that I've used for years.
I also have a small salt horn and some linen bags in my gear.
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Post by hawkeyes on Jan 12, 2022 9:40:54 GMT -7
Skip the bottles and use cane/bamboo. Larger, cheaper and easy to make and replace. I have a couple that I've used for years. I also have a small salt horn and some linen bags in my gear. What size cane you coming across? I've never found anything big enough to make a suitable container from. Gourds are excellent, but certainly more apt to breaking. The stem areas as Spence has shown above are perfect, thick and much more sturdy than a main gourd body. Concerning a salt/ pepper horn I've never personally done any period research on them... Do we have any? |
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Post by Black Hand on Jan 12, 2022 10:17:50 GMT -7
I use bamboo, so size is less an issue. Considering the vast canebrakes that existed, I don't believe this is a stretch. I've looked on salthorns in the past but don't recall the details. If there are any, Spence has probably got it in his library.  |
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Post by brokennock on Jan 12, 2022 12:26:37 GMT -7
...I'm getting the itch to get out and put this gear to work. Spence I hope you do that. |
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Post by brokennock on Jan 12, 2022 12:29:16 GMT -7
While I enjoy a lot of the rustic stuff that has been posted thus far, and generally that is what I use. I especially like the cane/bamboo containers and gourds, for my own use.
However, I'm wondering if things didn't get a little more refined by Rodman's period of interest. He does a little later than a lot of us if I recall correctly.
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Post by spence on Jan 12, 2022 15:09:12 GMT -7
I've never run across any reference to salt or pepper horns, but I've never researched them, specifically. Off topic alert: I love gourds. Besides three canteens, a gourd bowl and dipper, I use a few small ones as food containers, for flour, cornmeal, rockahominy, sugar, coffee and such. None are very big, but on short solo treks they are more than I need. The small round one is about 2 1/2 inches.  Spence |
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Post by Rodman on Jan 12, 2022 15:11:36 GMT -7
Yessir, I am a little after you folks but there is no reason I cant have a blend of the old ways as well as the new. This is one reason I like the first part of the 19th. Flint guns were still king!!! All this new fangled stuff was just that "new fangled" some of it worked lots didn't...so what did they do fell back on the old stand bys. Went by Hobby lobby on my way to get my ears lowered and picked up a few that I like. Wife likes the ribbed on so may loose that one. Thanks for the heads up Hawk! RM  |
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Post by Rodman on Jan 12, 2022 15:21:39 GMT -7
Thanks Spence I was going to ask about coffee. Do you seal them (gourds) with paraffin or beeswax? I am looking forward to getting these seeds in the ground I just hope they grow up here in North West Arkansas. They are pretty ubiquitous in east Texas. As far as the salt horn, I have a priming horn that I no longer use anymore and I noticed that the David Cooke Collection that he had one so I thought what the heck might as well use it for something. RM.  |
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Post by hawkeyes on Jan 12, 2022 15:37:38 GMT -7
I've never run across any reference to salt or pepper horns, but I've never researched them, specifically. Off topic alert: I love gourds. Besides three canteens, a gourd bowl and fork, I use a few small ones as food containers, for flour, cornmeal, rockahominy, sugar, coffee and such. None are very big, but on short solo treks they are more than I need. The small round one is about 2 1/2 inches. Spence These are marvelous, thank you for sharing. Gourds are just phenomenal, goes to show mother nature has herself squared away in every department, even 18th century tupperware. |
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Post by spence on Jan 12, 2022 17:49:53 GMT -7
Rodman said, "Do you seal them (gourds) with paraffin or beeswax?" I don't seal any of them. I'm swimming against the current on that, as most people do. I've never found it necessary, and have never had any problem using them raw. People sometimes complain of a taste with the canteens, which I've noticed when one is new, but it quickly fades, and besides, I like it, it brings back memories of the gourd dipper in the water bucket at Grandma's house. Being a country boy has some advantages.  Spence |
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Post by Sicilianhunter on Jan 13, 2022 6:46:33 GMT -7
BH,
What do you carry in the wooden box?
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