Workman's (tradesman's) apron....

[Ken Knopp]

I tried the search engine here with no luck. I am trying to find a pattern (or photos) of an authentic "workman's apron". By that I mean the kind that a tradesman would wear such as a harness maker, horseshoer, leather worker, tinner, cobbler, etc. The few I have seen in photos cover the front upper torso (with a neck strap), utilize a waist tie of some kind then extend down below the knee covering the entire front of the body. Also, what would be the predominent material for such an apron- canvas, leather? Does anyone have any ideas on this or better yet period photos they can post? I thought I would post this here because of its military applications such as horseshoer's.
Does anyone make such an authentic "workman's apron"?

Ken R Knopp

[Annette Bethke]

Try this site http://tinyurl.com/you5yo. There are some working men photos with aprons, you'll have to search through them. I did not see any with the full apron, only waist aprons but the bibs may have been turn down.

[C.R. Henderson]

Also, Ken, the material it is made out of (canvas/leather/ kidskin) depends on the trade you are portraying. As a woodworker, a canvas one works fine for me. I made one a couple of years ago that I wear in my shop but I didn't base it off anything in particular, I just made it to what I needed to use it for and made it to cover part of my torso and my thighs. I'm also doing research on workmens' aprons as I need to make one to use at events that I go to. Some of the pictures I've seen have one that is similar to modern aprons with the squared top and neckstrap and some of the others have either no top/ strap or they have a triangular top and neck loop. I wish I had saved the pictures that I found but you can do google and yahoo searches on occupational images.

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

The fellas in a Government Trimming Shop send this with regards:

http://www.myrtle-avenue.com/hires/trimmingshop.jpg

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1215/543633062_a6fdfc860b.jpg" width="416" height="500" alt="Civilian" /></a><br>A Cobbler

Jarnagin Co. also has a period photo of four gents tanning leather in aprons, if you click the first bullet "Leather Definitions." (http://www.jarnaginco.com/confedcatframe.html)

[PFLINT]

While its a little dated by the 1860s, "The Workwoman's Guide" (1838) has two patterns/descriptions of mens aprons. I imagine this sort of thing changed very little, the aprons pictured above are very similar to the aprons in this resource and ones commonly worn today. One being a "pantry apron" for "men servents to wear when trimming lamps, cleaning shoes and knives, &c." and the other "useful for gentlemen when turning, or using tools...." Both of these are described on page 79 and pictured in Plate 11. The Workwoman's Guide is available online at http://books.google.com/books?vid=0zXTJUDurSAzYjJe&id=JCsBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA181&lpg=PA181&dq=The+Workwoman%27s+Guide,+1838#PPP1,M1


Patrick Flint

[23rdIllinoisIrish]

Sir, here is the drawing from the Workwoman's Guide apron mentioned above.

Thanks,
For Missouri and the Cause,
Matthew Jas. Shomaker

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97113375@N00/2085272165/

[LibertyHallVols]

The fellas in a Government Trimming Shop send this with regards:

Marc,

What is the name of the whatchamajiggy those fellers are sitting upon? I have some ancestors who were harness makers and what have one of those around my folks' house. ...and, what's its purpose? Is it to hold an item securely to allow the maker to sew with both hands?

Many thanks! ...and, great pic!!

[cap tassel]

It may be my imagination but these cook's aprons seem to be made of lighter material than the more heavy duty workmans ones talked about in this thread. That would make good sense.
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/8116/cooksalexvagi9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[jacobite8749]

"What is the name of the whatchamajiggy those fellers are sitting upon? I have some ancestors who were harness makers and what have one of those around my folks' house. ...and, what's its purpose? Is it to hold an item securely to allow the maker to sew with both hands"

Not sure what the name is but it is used to hold your work whilst handsewing, seen in a saddlers or harness makers. I used one as a younger person learning handsewing. I have never seen a purpose built workstool with one attached. But I'll have to make one now. What a brilliant photograph.

The cross section ogf headwear is also an eye-opener six caps, six hats

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

"What is the name of the whatchamajiggy those fellers are sitting upon? I have some ancestors who were harness makers and what have one of those around my folks' house. ...and, what's its purpose? Is it to hold an item securely to allow the maker to sew with both hands"

Not sure what the name is but it is used to hold your work whilst handsewing, seen in a saddlers or harness makers. I used one as a younger person learning handsewing. I have never seen a purpose built workstool with one attached. But I'll have to make one now. What a brilliant photograph.

The cross section ogf headwear is also an eye-opener six caps, six hats

The whatchamajiggy those "fellers" are sitting on is called a Horse, and yes it is used to hold the workpiece in place when stitching together. The variety Mr. Hopper speaks of (the vice/clamp without the bench/stool) is called a Clam. The principle behind it is also to hold the work, but is a little bit more mobile, since it does not have the seat attached.

Paul

[gilham]

Hi All
I came across this yesterday while doing some research on tinsmithing. I too am looking for the same info in this thread .


http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf6199n8j1&brand=oac/?docId=tf6199n8j1&brand=oac&layout=printable

[ohpkirk]

That tinker appears to be blind in his left eye.


The zoom feature on that website if very helpful for picking out some minute details.

[jacobite8749]

Mr Boulden, yes a horse and clam.........memory. I try now to do a cobbler, and have been trying to find a portable work area. I have a stool/horse very similar, but have used my post and last on a variety of different things, small table, etc. but this is it. Kind of a Eureka moment.

One of the best photos I have seen in a very long while. So much detail and such a good photo.

[Ken Knopp]

WOW!!! This is trully one of the finest images I have ever seen! It is remarkable for several reasons....the civilian clothing, vests, shirts, ties, hats, aprons etc. of the period "working man". Equally important are the tools and, the items these men are working on.
First the "thingamajiggy" is commonly called a "stitch horse". It is used by harness makers to hold two or more pieces of leather together for sewing. They are still found in various places. The men are obviously leather workers (I assume from the Fed. Gov't or possibly a contractor's workshops?). They hold several harness or leather craftsman's "tools of their trade" and I might add, much of their contruction techniques a fast fading if not lost art today.
Another interesting tidbit is "what" they were sewing that day. Two of the guys out front are sitting their stitch horses and working on wagon bridles- (apparently mule bridles for quartermaster wagons?) with blinders and the common bit attached (sewn) into the bridle. I have seen and photographed a complete original of this item (formally of the Dubose colection now in the Atlanta History Center) very similar to these only slightly different in the shape of the blinder. A photo of this bridle can be found in my book CONFEDERATE SADDLES & HORSE EQUIPMENT (pg. 146). The bit is the same too. In fact, I have several of these same bits in my collection. They are commonly dug and still occaisionally found "here & there". Another fella seems to be sewing a saddle quarterstrap or stirrup leather.
What a superb image! Is there any more where that comes from????
Thanks to all for your contributions! This is a great example of what makes this forum so useful and important to our studies.

Ken R Knopp

[minieball]

That is a great picture of a government trim shop! Is this image from the LOC? Do you have any additional information on the image such as location, time period, etc?

Thanks in advance

[Foggy Bottom Jim]

there is lots of good imagery on the Library of Congress website:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/

For aprons, go to the above site and search "trimming" and "ambulance shop." You will get two great images of workmen in aprons. To get super details, download the uncompressed TIFF files and blow up the image using whatever software works for you. Powerpoint will work. They are 20 mbs each so it is a lot of data but the detail you can pull out of these, and many other images on the site is nothing short of phenominal.

[ferraius]

As a farrier I wear what I think of as a traditional horseshoeing apron which is just a below the knee to waist high apron with two waist ties at the top. Blacksmithing aprons usually cover the chest area also to protect the body from welding spatter. I have seen old photos of both patterns and variations of styles with pockets and etc. I have always wanted to make one out of horse or mule hide! I thought I was the only one out there even remotely interested in this subject.


Jon O'Harra
Heartless Bastards Mess

[Gary of CA]

Anyone wanting to learn about Antebellum clothes would do well to visit Conner Prairie Living History Museum in Fishers, Indiana (right outside of Indianapolis). A collection of recreated houses reflecting different time periods (with each period housed in a separate "village"), Conner Prairie is the midwest 19th Century equivalent of Colonial Williamsburg. Their interpreters study and make their own clothing which must past rigid inspection before they are permitted to wear them in their respective village. They have a Civil War shindig once a year there and offer craft classes including arms making (flintlock assembly, lock assembly, blacksmithing, engraving, relief carving, powder horn, hunting bag, quill work, finger weaving, tinsmithing) around October and other classes all year round.