Proper outfit for a period blacksmith

[macdonjr]

I believe I'm in the right place for some advise, I am an engraver in training, specifically revolvers in the CAS area. I would like to start getting familiar with the CAS events and would like to blend in a little. I'm guessing an Engraver may fall into the occupation of a Blacksmith..am i correct? If so could you suggest an outfit from boot to hat? Thanks, great site......

[Pancho Peacemaker]

I believe I'm in the right place for some advise, I am an engraver in training, specifically revolvers in the CAS area. I would like to start getting familiar with the CAS events and would like to blend in a little. I'm guessing an Engraver may fall into the occupation of a Blacksmith..am i correct? If so could you suggest an outfit from boot to hat? Thanks, great site......

Welcome!  Folks much smarter than I will chime in, but first I'd offer a few old tintypes to study period blacksmith garb:

[River City John]

I would think most engravers, at least gun engravers, would be dressed like most any other town tradesperson.
I imagine delicate, artistic engraving would have been an entirely different skill set, or esthetic, than what a blacksmith called upon to shape metal to his will.

Research jewelers who worked on silver hollowware or similar, or illustrators who produced engravings for print houses or banknotes.  I would imagine the truly artistic gun engravers worked in a studio workshop environment, not a forge or foundry. What would those trades wear? Wouldn't have been a particularly dirty environment or physical work that would call for the rough clothes a blacksmith required.
Common trowsers, shirts, vest and perhaps sack coat. Headwear of derby or narrow brimmed hat or a wheel cap. Low cut townie shoes or brogans.

Our best NCOWS engraver dresses like an Irish duffer or bicyclist. Sporty wools or tweeds, with a "piece 'o' eight" cap.

RCJ

[River City John]

Another blacksmith tintype, if this is the look you're going for.





The above could be town impressions that could fit many tradesmen.

It's what you would feel comfortable in.

RCJ

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

If I were doing engraving and fine metal work, I would add a light thickness leather/suede below-the-knees apron and some light leather/heavy gauze shirtsleeve protectors that would be worn at work and then hung up when going outside the workplace ...

Something in darker colors that would not show polish,solder and other things used in the trade...

And if you were really into the 'look', perhaps a visor of some kind of darkened plasticine visor and some jeweler's loupes  (the kind that are suspended from a pair of glasses) ...

[Major 2]

I would think most engravers, at least gun engravers, would be dressed like most any other town tradesperson.
I imagine delicate, artistic engraving would have been an entirely different skill set, or esthetic, than what a blacksmith called upon to shape metal to his will.

Research jewelers who worked on silver hollowware or similar, or illustrators who produced engravings for print houses or banknotes.  I would imagine the truly artistic gun engravers worked in a studio workshop environment, not a forge or foundry. What would those trades wear? Wouldn't have been a particularly dirty environment or physical work that would call for the rough clothes a blacksmith required.
Common trowsers, shirts, vest and perhaps sack coat. Headwear of derby or narrow brimmed hat or a wheel cap. Low cut townie shoes or brogans.

Our best NCOWS engraver dresses like an Irish duffer or bicyclist. Sporty wools or tweeds, with a "piece 'o' eight" cap.

RCJ

macdonjr
As I read your post,  I was thinking along " John's thoughts "  I think he and Wadd nailed it.


I have pair of Land's Montacello brogans  (3rd photo down)

[Major 2]

This is like mine, though mine is lighter color wool.
 

[Major 2]

 

[macdonjr]

Thanks for the replies, I'm liking the image of the Tradesmen rather than the Blacksmith, now I have a better direction in my search....Thanks

[jefff]

engraving would fall into the catagory of whitesmith,you may want to search that for your outfit.let me know if i can help .jefff

[Steel Horse Bailey]

engraving would fall into the catagory of whitesmith,you may want to search that for your outfit.let me know if i can help .jefff

MacDonjr, I doubt you know it, (unless you hail from Ken-tuck-ee) but this advice comes from a REAL-Live blacksmith.

From Wikipedia:

"A whitesmith is a person who works with "white" or light-coloured metals such as tin and pewter. Unlike blacksmiths (who work mostly with hot metal), whitesmiths do the majority of their work on cold metal (although they might use a hearth to heat and help shape their raw materials). The term is also applied to metalworkers who do only finishing work – such as filing or polishing – on iron and other "black" metals. Whitesmiths fabricate items such as tin or pewter cups, water pitchers, forks, spoons, and candle holders and it was a common occupation in pre-industrial times."



I think that a jeweler would be another job that an engraver might be do as well.  And RC John's suggestions for dress would be the same, rather than the outfit & clothing a Blacksmith would wear.

[macdonjr]

Thanks Jeff, getting a real education here...Whitesmith...Haven't hear of that one...

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Found a tintype from an 1870 Tinsmith.  Lots of good detail in this one:

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Thanks Jeff, getting a real education here...Whitesmith...Haven't hear of that one...

MacDonjr, you are welcome!

Like shown in Pancho's picture (above), I think "Whitesmith" was MOST commonly associated with Tinsmith, but not ONLY to tin.  Smiths.


We ALL get to learn from this site.  It's one of the reasons I LOVE CAS City and NCOWS, too.  There are some pretty knowledgeable folks!

Jeff - SHB

[litl rooster]

I thought "Whitesmith's" were a Punk Rock Group from the 90's


Another vote for jeweler

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I thought "Whitesmith's" were a Punk Rock Group from the 90's


Another vote for jeweler

"Lit'l Rooster for President in 2012!

Or are you gonna run again after the 2008 debacle?

[Texas Lawdog]

If he ain't running in 2012, we sure wasted a lot of campagin funds to support him.

[River City John]

For fun.

RCJ