bead authenticty

[Forty Rod]

General call to Chuck Burrows, Will Ghormley, or any other historically savvy pards:

I just found a small stash of red and yellow mellon beads approximately 7/32" diameter, and a smaller lot of green and white mellon beads the same size.  I've had these for close to 35 years and have no idea why I got them in the first place, but it happens I can now use both on a couple of projects I'm working on.

Question is, would these be authentic for pre-CW / percussion era mountain man costuming?

[Curley Cole]

4T

I have a book on indian stuff. In it is a pix of a Buff Bill vest from 1880s and it has both red and yellow as you mentioned. I will bring my books on GLB and show you what I have.

so you can see it.

see ya on Thurs.
curley

[GunClick Rick]

I wear a large Forty

[Ranch 13]

General call to Chuck Burrows, Will Ghormley, or any other historically savvy pards:

I just found a small stash of red and yellow mellon beads approximately 7/32" diameter, and a smaller lot of green and white mellon beads the same size.  I've had these for close to 35 years and have no idea why I got them in the first place, but it happens I can now use both on a couple of projects I'm working on.

Question is, would these be authentic for pre-CW / percussion era mountain man costuming?

Yes they are.

[ChuckBurrows]

While the larger trade beads are not my forte (my area of knowledge has to do with the smaller pound and seed beads), the melon beads you describe would be fine for the pre-1860 era. You can check out some info on what beads were carried pre-1840 by checking the trade lists here:
http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/amm.html

You can also check with the Museum of the Fur Trade for further info....

[Forty Rod]

Thank you all.  Guess I'll go ahead and use these.  I also found some half red, half yellow beads that are about the same size, but decided that they are too ugly for my taste.

If I could find pound beads in the colors I want I'd go that route, but there are very few places locally and none have much in the way of pound beads.  I can get the seed beds in several sizes and some truly humongous mosaic beads, brass beads of all sizes and descriptions, and bone beads no end.  Just can't find what I want.

I have seed beads on hand in the right colors.  Maybe I'll see how lousy my eyesight has become and use them.

Thanks again.

[ChuckBurrows]

Rod - re: pound beads I get most of mine from Crazy Crow in the 8/0 size which is the closest to most originals - I generally prefer the Old Time French or Old Time German - the colors are "softer" and more like the original pre-1860 beads.

For museum quality work I will get originals when possible - not cheap though.....