Original hardtack boxes

[gnpgoat]

If anyone here has examined original hardtack boxes, I would like to ask some specific questions. Alternatively, what museums have original boxes?
Thanks!

Eric Giese

[ajhamler]

The Museum of Connecticut History in Hartford, Conn., has an original A.T. Hanks hardtack crate. While I've not had the opportunity to have a hands-on examination of it, I do have several photos and corresponded with the museum to get many other details. The museum administrator is Dean Nelson, a really nice guy, and he took several detailed measurements for me and provided other info on it.

His number at the museum is 860-757-6534. His email is dnelson@cslib.org .

Hope this helps.

[gnpgoat]

Thanks AJ! That's a big help and a good start.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Now here is a question. How common are hardtack crates? I would think there would not be that many.

[gnpgoat]

That's what I'm thinking Robert. But I have seen a few photos so there must be some in museums. And some of the purveyors of reproduced boxes seem to have had access to at least one box.

[CompanyWag]

I believe that many of the reproductions have been based on descriptions and the photo of the officer sitting among stacked, stenciled boxes.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/9477

[Matthew Semple]

The 1863 revision of the 1861 US Army Regulations gives dimensions for a hardtack box under the Misc. Section. I always figured that many of the reproductions (at least measurements) were derived from that. One problem from this is that contractors did not always conform to what the Army wanted.

The Quartermaster Officer sitting among the crates shows a lot of great details with those specific contractor's boxes when you blow up the picture to examine it. I have always found the tacking in the sappling banding very interesting. We are lucky that the box was turned upside with the stenciling facing the camera.

[Mark Susnis]

Eric,
Here's one I found via Google images.
http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/cgi-...read;id=370810

v/r
Mark Susnishardtack crate.jpeg

[CompanyWag]

Nice! I wish the photo was bigger.

[gnpgoat]

Yep. That one is in Paul Loane's collection. It's the same one pictured in Echoes and was on display last year in New Jersey. I've been exchanging emails with Mr. Loane. Thanks!