Cartridge packages

[smithjub]

Does anyone know of a site that has pictures of Colt Army revolver cartridge packages and labels? I'm trying to make several reproduction packages of cartridges for a living history demo for local highschools. The demo will have several items found in an officer's kit. I thought cartridge packages would be something the kids would like, and I've made several dummy revolver cartridges to show them as well.

If anyone can help I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

[Foggy Bottom Jim]

If you haven't received feedback on this one yet, try this link:

http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/7475/labels.html

[M.Latham]

Try this, as you did'nt specify Federal or Confederate...

~Mark Latham

Originally Posted by smithjub

Does anyone know of a site that has pictures of Colt Army revolver cartridge packages and labels? I'm trying to make several reproduction packages of cartridges for a living history demo for local highschools. The demo will have several items found in an officer's kit. I thought cartridge packages would be something the kids would like, and I've made several dummy revolver cartridges to show them as well.

If anyone can help I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

[Cfarrell]

Gents,

I've been talking with several pards and other fellers about authentic cartridge tubes here lately. I've always enjoyed making tubes, but for the nine years I've been in the hobby I've mostly made the standard blank reenactors tubes. I have made several authentic tubes though, and know how to do it. My question to you gents is how they did it? I have read many articles on "HOW TO", but thats all they do is tell me...how to. I'm interesed in finding out how it was done by those who made the tube. Did they take a 5/8 inch dowel rod and sand it down to a size of a .58 cal ball or what. I thank you for your time.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Kamerad!

Instructions are given in the ORDNANCE MANUAL, pages 267-268:

To Make the Cartridge.

Workmen.-- 1 master, 10 boys
Implements for each boy.-- 2 boxes to hold cylinders, 20 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 4 inches high, in the clear, made of 1/2-inch boards, without a cover: they are placed on their sides, their backs inclined against the partition in the middle of the cartridge-table, the front resting on cleats nailed to the table; 1 former, cylindrical, of hard wood, of the same diameter as the ball, 6 to 7 inches long, on end pointed, almost as much as the ball, and marked with a shallow groove 4.0 inches from the end; 1 sabot or frame, tacked to the table, to hold balls, placed at the left hand of the boy; 1 spool of thread, turning on a vertical spindle fixed in the table near the balls; 1 choking-string, made of 4 or 5 cartridge-threads twisted together, about 9 inches long, with a wooden toggle at the end,-- fastened to the edge of the table at the right hand of the boy; 1 knife-blade, 1 1/2 inch long, hooked, driven into the front of the table below and near the choke-string.
To Form the Cylinder.-- Lay the trapezoids on the table with the side perpendicular to the bases toward the workman, the broad end to the left.
Take the former in the right hand and lay it on a trapezoid, the groove in the former against the right edge of the paper, bringing the pointed end 1/3 inch from the broad end of the paper; envelop the former with the paper, turn the former and roll all the paper upon it; hold it with the left hand, and, with the choking-string in the right, take one turn around the cylinder at about 1/3 inch from the end; hold the former firmly in the left hand, and draw gently upon the choking-string, pressing at the same time with the left forefinger upon the projecting end of the cylinder, this folding it neatly down upon the end of the ball. Having choked the cylinder close (sic), carry it to the rigth side, and, with the thread in the right hand, take two half-hitches firmly around the part that has been choked; cut the thread on the knife- blade, and press the choke in a cavity in the table; place the former, with a cylinder on it, on a second trapezoid; put a ball over the end of the former; roll the paper on the former and the ball; hold the cylinder in the left hand and choke and tie it as just described for the inner cylinder; withdraw the former, pressing the cylinder with the left hand, and place it in the box.
A day's work.-- A boy can make 800 cylinders in 10 hours.

To Fill the Cylinder.

Implements.-- 1 charger, made of a cylinder of wood or brass pierced with two holes through its length, holding the exact charge of powder; a funnel attached to one end of the cylinder, and a discharge-pipe to the other. The holes in the cylinder are made to communicate and shut off, alternately, from the funnel holding the powder, and the discharge-pipe at the lower end, by a reciprocating motion given to the cylinder by the hands.
Fill the funnel with powder; insert the discharge-pipe in a cartridge, holding the charger in both hands, and turn the cylinder; the charge of powder is deposited in the cartridge: insert the pipe in the next, and turn the cylinder in the opposite direction; and continue in the same way for all the rest.
Cartridges may be filled with a copper charger made to hold the exact charge, pouring the powder by means of a small funnel which is inserted into the cartridge.
To Pinch the Cartridge.- Take the cartridge in the right hand, strike it lightly on the table to settle the powder; flatten the empty part of the cylinder, and bend it, flush with the top of the powder, at right angles to the cartridge, the oblique side of the trapezoid on top, the cartridge standing vertical on the table; fold the flattened part in the direction of its length with two folds from the exterior, meeting in the middle; bend this folded end back on itself, and strike it on the table top to set the folds.

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt

[bluebellybugleboy]

Kurt :
thank you . I've been wondering about this for a while. i've been learning to make cartridge for a month or so now. all i'm confused about is where do I get the period paper for making the paper holders that the cartridges come in . i'm pretty much stumped here.


Rob young

[Cfarrell]

Mr. Schmidt,

I thank you for your help. Its just one of those things that has always bothered me while I was rolling my tubes. Thanks, again.

Your Pard,

[Missouri Mule]

Rob,
You might try a local newspaper to see if they have any remnents of paper they can give you. I have heard different opinions as to the authenticity so check around.

Cody,
I've heard that the cardboard on a dry cleaner's hanger is about the right size to roll cartridges.

Or another option is to contact Mike Watson of St. Louis. He makes top rail cartridges, filled or empty. Sure does save a boatload of time.

Matthew Easley
Barleycorn Boys

[bluebellybugleboy]

Mathew:
no , I have the paper . I just need help packaging the cartriges in the paper sleeve. i want to know if they're's a trick or something.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Kameraden!

In brief...
The Federal arsenals tended to use untreated rag paper that varied in color from off-white through pale yellowish white through light brown (the "Ordinary color" specified for the M1842 musket and M1855 rifle-musket and rifle).

In our modern era, laid and cloth fiber (rag) paper has mostly been replaced by pulp paper, which is crushed wood fiber which is then often bleached and made into rolls. Laid and rag type papers can sometimes be found at stationery shops and calligraphy shops but can be pricey for the amount of rounds one uses in a season...

Many lads go with modern "Kraft Paper or 3M Masking Paper available at many hardware stores and paint stores in small and large rolls. It is not a "too bad" of a substitute, being somewhat similar in weight and thickness, and "within" the color range of period cartridge papers (a bit darker)- but is hard and has a smooth finish compared to period papers.

Continuing from the ORDNANCE MANUAL....

To Bundle Cartridges.

Utensils.--1 box without ends or top: width equal to 5 times the diameter of the ball, height equal to twice the diameter, and length that of the cartridge. It is tacked to the table, the sides parallel to and near the edge of the table.
Put a wrapper in the box, the long side perpendicular to the edge of the table, the middle of the paper in the middle of the box; place, parallel to the sides of the box, two tiers of cartridges of 5 each, the balls alternating; bring the short ends of the paper together, and fold them twice close down to the cartridges; insert a package of caps in the end of the bundle next to the ends of the lower tier; fold the wrapper on the ends, and tie the bundle, first in the direction of the length, then its breadth, with the twine fastened in a single bow-knot. The wrappers are of different colors, to distinguish the cartridges for the different arms.

Cases for Percussion Caps-- These are rolled on a former, .54 inch in diameter, choked at one end and tied. Twelve caps are put in, and the case is closed by twisting the open end of the case.

The Manual speaks to a bundling box that I call a "female system." Some lads, including myself, favor an alternate method using a "male system" that consists of a solid wooden block the size of the bundle's interior dimensions, with a lag bolt for a handle on one side. Rather than construct a wrapper inside of an open "box," the block is like wrapping a Christmas present box, and then inserting the tiers of cartridges and cap tube- which I like better (although I have used both).

If you are having problems, please free free to e-mail me off-forum.

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt