So tell me about dusters???

[Dakota Widowmaker]

I did a bit of digging and see that "dusters" were worn alot during even a hit of a storm.

But, were all dusters created equal? the classic "mustard duster" appears in alot of movies, but, were they as common as we think?

Also, were they ever "water proofed" or treated to repel water?

And lastly, where does one get a good simple "mustard duster" that won't fall apart at the threads after the first washing?

[St. George]

This article appeared awhile back.

More common than the duster was the 'Fish' - and popular enough that a poem was written...

Period-correct linen dusters are also available at the locations mentioned below, but every cowboy carried a 'Fish' slicker...

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'The Old Yellow Slicker'...
« on: December 08, 2006, 09:41:49 AM »     

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The Old Yellow Slicker

How dear to my heart was that old yellow slicker,
   I carried 'way back in my cowpunchin' days;
'Twas stiff as a board, but I wasn't a kicker
   When it was a-rainin' an' me huntin' strays.
I carried it tied at the back of my saddle,
   All ready for blizzard or windstorm or rain,
An' 'twas my salvation when I had to straddle
   My bronc' an' lope out on the mud-spattered plain.
        That old yellow slicker,
        That spacious old slicker,
   I carried on many a round-up campaign!

That old yellow slicker! 'Twas big and 'twas roomy;
   It sure kept me dry when the rain trickled down;
I wore it on night-herd with skies black and gloomy,
   It covered me well from my feet to my crown.
No matter how sloppy or muddy or lowery;
   No matter how cold or unpleasant the storm,
No matter how blusterin', gusty or showery,
   That old yellow slicker I wore kept me warm!
        That ill-fittin' slicker,
        That fish-oil-soaked slicker,
   Its mission it never yet failed to perform.

That old yellow slicker which I have defended
   Hangs there in the bunkhouse agin the log wall;
Its mission's fulfilled, an' its range life is ended--
   No more do the herds on the cattle-trail call.
But sometimes I dream in the dim summer gloamin',
   An' there in the embers which flicker an' change,
I catch a faint glimpse of the herds that were roamin',
  An' think of that slicker I wore on the range.
        That battered old slicker,
        That old yellow slicker,
   A cattle-day relic I'll never exchange!

From 'Trail Dust of a Maverick', 1914 - E.A. Brininstool

That 'Old Yellow Slicker' is a most valuable piece of gear - and when you're creating any sort of Impression that deals with the trail-driving days, cowboying, or outdoor work - you need one...

Originals were soaked in an aromatic oil derived from fish - for the waterproofing/water repelling properties.

They also could be somewhat flammable...

Today - Wyoming traders makes a helluva nice example, and they're available at a couple of places:

'The Fort' - Lincoln, NE - 1-877-907-3678 X199 (toll-free) - ask for Terry Lane or Glen Carman

'Tonto Rim Trading Co.' - Seymour, IN - 1-800-242-HATS - (toll-free) ask for Denny Shewell

'River Junction Trade Co.' - 1-319-873-2387 - ask for Jim Boecke

I'm certain that there are more - but finding them is up to you.

When you're sizing - remember that you'll most likely be wearing extra clothing and order appropriately.

These are 'slickers' - the unlined Gore-Tex of the open range - and like that fine product, they're most definitely not warm unless you have something on underneath that helps the process (that's why God invented wool) - but they do ward off rain and wind admirably, and they enhance your Impression authentically.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Dr. Bob]

What would a townsman wear to keep off the rain?  I'm NO cowboy!

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy!

Dakota, the fish slicker that St. George mentions is pretty much required for real cowboys and you can get decent ones from several sources like the ones he posted.

I also have a Wah "Duster."  It's kind of a dark yellow with brown corduroy collar & cuffs - like Wah favors.   It's tailored with saddle use in mind.  It's one layer of material and ONLY intended to keep off dust.  Not really for warmth, but it DOES help on cool mornings.  (I've been known to add a modern US Military parka liner under mine and it'll keep ya warm!    I really don't feel like being "period correct" cold on really cold shoot days!)

Dr. Bob, a Townie would probably wear a linen duster like my friend and yours, Mr. O'Toole (to keep off the wind) and carry a brolly.  Or a bumbershoot. 

[Fox Creek Kid]

Sergio Leone films aside  , the LONG linen type dusters did not exist until the Stutz Bearcat era from my research and were for automobile riders. There were people (mainly physicians) who wore a short linen duster in the field in the 19th century, but not like those in the Spaghetti Westerns. Then again, a photo may turn up.   

[Books OToole]

Long Linen dusters were worn to keep your clothes clean.  Kind of like a smock.

There are several examples in early photographs.  I am not close to my reference material at the moment but some off the top of my head are:

Time life Civil War set;  Spys, Raiders and Scouts.  Picture of a group of several "spys."  One or more is wearing a duster.

There is a photograph of Mathew Brady wearing a duster.

In Happy as a Big Sunflower, there is a discription of Boone May wearing a linen duster.


However most dusters offered by venders are made of canvas and too heavy.  River Junction Traders offers a true linen one.

My trade-mark duster is of linen an was hand made for me.  I have it well documented for my "Originals Character."

Books

[Delmonico]

The word duster is mis-used a lot.  The heavy canvas ones should be called a range coat or similar term, they are not really a duster.  Stage lines often loaned them to passangers.  Most dusters are off white and were cotton/linen or a linen cotton blend. Anything that is rainproof should be called rain gear or a slicker. 

Frontier Classics makes a 40% linen/605 cotton one and can be gotten from the same source St. George meanioned for the Fish Slicker.

[Boot]

The 'duster coat' as has been covered already was a light weight over garment designed purely to keep your clothes clean as the name suggests, it is unlikely they were ever worn by Cowboys.

Yellow Slickers, such as the ones currently reproduced by Wyoming traders were not pattented untill 1881 so it's unlikely that they were available before that date, therefore they were not in use during the Trail Drive era.

There were some black rubber coats or Talmas made during the 1850s and latter so it's possible that some of these were worn also rubber ponchos as issued to mounted Federal troops during the civil war may of seen limited use.
As most of the early drovers came out of Texas it's unlikely they'd of had access to either, it's more likely they'd of had home made ponchos of linseed oil treated cloth or similar.

Boot.