Cravats, period correct??

[mravery]

Hey guys,

Quick and simple question here……

Are the ‘pre-tied’ and ‘spring’ cravats period correct or just something that the re-enactors made for ease?

I used to use the pre-tied ones but instead, I actually purchased the ‘un-tied’ cravats and tie them myself every morning. It’s actually not that hard to do, especially if you have years of experience wearing a tie for work. The Cravat ‘knot’ is the same as a bow-tie.

I would like to hear your thoughts.

Cheers
Mark

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

They were indeed available pre-tied and with spring steel, and for once isn't one of those "reenactorisms". I have seen far more "regular" tie-yourself kind in images, however in the right numbers there is alot of basis for pre-tied. I've seen period advertisements for them in Harper's Weekly, Leslie's, and at least one issue of a Cincinnatti newspaper from 1864, and I found the patent info for the spring steel type cravat awhile back when I was searching for the same thing. The spring steel cravats currently being reproduced by Nick Sekela come from an original in his or a private collection and is quite faithful to the original. There used to be a photo of the original floating around someplace, perhaps on his site.

[mravery]

Really?

Wow.. and I thought the 'pre-tied' ties/cravats/bow-ties were created in the 1960's, when I was a youngster, for me to wear for Sunday School (along the same time that the 'clip on' ties were popular ) :)