any experience with Jackware?

[SteveJ]

Hello all,

Wondering if any one out there has had any experience with Jackware. In particular, things like buckets, mugs, flasks, etc. It is a fairly ancient art, but I haven't had much success in finding any details on construction techniques. It is something that I always wanted to try, but I would like to get some more info.

Steve

[Don101]

Hi steve what is jackware ive never heard of that term before?

[David Genadek]

Steve,

When I was young there seemed to be a lot more information on that topic than what you see today. Of course the renascence festivals were new back then and when you went to them there were all kinds of hand made leather mugs very unlike the crap they sell at them today. I remember articles in the Leather Crafters journal sometime in the 70’s on the subject as I was always intrigued by it myself but I couldn’t tell you which issue.

At this point museums might be of more use though. Are there many on the lists that do Renascence festivals? Surely someone knows of someone!

David Genadek

[SteveJ]

Hi steve what is jackware ive never heard of that term before?

Hi Don,

The examples that I have seen are usually leather containers of some type. Mugs, flasks, buckets. Heavy leather for the most part. I would think that things like flasks would almost have to be molded, but then again I just don't know. I've heard that it has been around since the 1100's, but again it's just what I've heard.

[SteveJ]

Hello David,

I agree, I could swear that I found some articles in the past. Beats me what happened to them. There also seems to be very little on the web, but maybe I just haven't found the right site.

I also agree that some of the modern stuff that I have seen has not been up to the standards that they once were. I believe that there is , or was a cordwainer by the name of Busch up here in Wisc. that did some extremely nice stuff. I will see if I can find some info on him.

[joet]

Digging around in my indexes for all the leather magazines I have looked up information on mugs. There are at least two articles mentioned. A Blackjack mug by David Frantz is located in the Jun/Jul 1976 issue of Make It With Leather. A second article is by Russ Holzer in the Oct/Nov 1978 issue of the same magazine. I think there was an article for leather buckets used by firemen, but not sure which issue that one is in. Make it With Leather has been replaced by Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal (for those that don't know), which is the best (and only) magazine out there for us leather crafters.

[David Genadek]

Steve,

I use to have a guy working from me that was really into living history. I think he still might be at Fort Snelling. His name is Ken Holmstrom and he would probable be able to hook you up with the right people. Give Fort Snelling in St Paul MN a call and see if he is working there. If not him, some one there could probable point you in the right direction. I know he had made some mugs and he is a very good source for hand sewing knowledge.

David Genadek

[SteveJ]

Digging around in my indexes for all the leather magazines I have looked up information on mugs. There are at least two articles mentioned. A Blackjack mug by David Frantz is located in the Jun/Jul 1976 issue of Make It With Leather. A second article is by Russ Holzer in the Oct/Nov 1978 issue of the same magazine. I think there was an article for leather buckets used by firemen, but not sure which issue that one is in. Make it With Leather has been replaced by Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal (for those that don't know), which is the best (and only) magazine out there for us leather crafters.

Do the articles go into any kind of detail about construction or materials? Or are they just finished piece display articles?

Steve

[SteveJ]

Steve,

I use to have a guy working from me that was really into living history. I think he still might be at Fort Snelling. His name is Ken Holmstrom and he would probable be able to hook you up with the right people. Give Fort Snelling in St Paul MN a call and see if he is working there. If not him, some one there could probable point you in the right direction. I know he had made some mugs and he is a very good source for hand sewing knowledge.

David Genadek

Thanks for the lead David. I am only about a hour and a half from Ft. Snelling. Is he the leather worker in residence over there?

[joet]

Do the articles go into any kind of detail about construction or materials? Or are they just finished piece display articles?

Steve

If I remember the Blackjack article it was very discriptive with a several pictures. It covered about as much detail as any article in the LCSJ, which can be quite a lot in such a short space. I don't really remember the other article but from the discription in the index it was mostly covering an already existing container, but I'm not sure of that. I didn't look up the leather bucket one, but I think it also went into some detail on construction. Sorry I can't help more, it would take several days to locate the actual magazine to find the article as it is burried in my basement/workshop which I haven't seen in some time.