Forage Cap Ventilator...

[WoodenNutmeg]

If this has been covered already, I apologize, but, could someone please historically reference this for me?

I have never seen one before or witnessed it in documentation, so, therefore I am incredibly interested and curious.

http://www.njsekela.com//OSCommerce/catalog/images/ventilator.jpg

http://www.njsekela.com sells the item pictured above.

Is this a mid-20th century model?

[paul hadley]

There's a good discussion elsewhere on this forum. Search for "ventilator."
Regards,
Paul

[WoodenNutmeg]

I found the original topic post, thanks.

At first glance, I didn't even notice the ventilator on the McDowell cap that http://www.njsekela.com had for sale.

Very interesting!

I wonder why, then, if these were as common as well researched materials detail, you don't see many being referenced to in common text or in reenacting?

I can only acetate that the latter is probably a result of cosmetic issue/concern.

[Rob]

Acetate?

...

I have three NJS caps. Two have the vent, but neither vent has spikes on it like those pictured above. Once installed, they don't move.

[Swag]

Yes they are really nice, keeps your head cool well worth getting one if you have more then one hat, especially for those hot summer days.

[TimKindred]

I found the original topic post, thanks.

At first glance, I didn't even notice the ventilator on the McDowell cap that http://www.njsekela.com had for sale.

Very interesting!

I wonder why, then, if these were as common as well researched materials detail, you don't see many being referenced to in common text or in reenacting?

I can only acetate that the latter is probably a result of cosmetic issue/concern.

Comrade,

I suspect that the main reason you don't read much about the use of these items is because they were so common. Soldiers rarely comment about mundane items, their routine, etc. Their letter are, for the most part, reserved for the exceptional, the out-of-the-ordinary things that they experienced, witnessed, etc.

Rarely do you read a letter from a soldier commenting upon their clothing to say anything more than "we drew new suits of clothing" or, perhaps, we were issued with new caps and shirts today. To them, as to the army, a cap was a cap was a cap. Same with the ventilator. It was there. it was fairly common. It was rarely spoken of because, well, because it was a common item.

Respects,

[WoodenNutmeg]

It was supposed to be "assert" Rob.

I guess spell checked goofed on me.

[toptimlrd]

Acetate?

...

I have three NJS caps. Two have the vent, but neither vent has spikes on it like those pictured above. Once installed, they don't move.


Rob, once installed the "spikes" are flattened out to hold the vent in so they end up flat against the crown. Since we don't sell them separately (only as an optionon our forge caps) you probably didn't notice them since they were already installed. As to the providence, we copied ours from an original in the Paul C. Loane collection. These were very difficult to reproduce and quite expensive to set up the tooling on them.

[WoodenNutmeg]

Well, congrats, toptimlrd, as they appear to be beautifully crafted.

I am saving my pennies as we speak so that I might purchase one soon.

[Rob Weaver]

Rob - I "acetate" that the word you were looking for was "provinance." :D (I'm not the grammar police; just the neighborhood watch.) Ventilators are one of those things that you never see when you're just starting to research, then after you've seen one, you see them everywhere. I've been thinking of putting grommets in my Hardee hat like the extant 2nd Wis. hat. Any idea of how useful that would be?

[Rob]

Rob, once installed the "spikes" are flattened out to hold the vent in so they end up flat against the crown. Since we don't sell them separately (only as an option on our forge caps) you probably didn't notice them since they were already installed.

Regarding the two caps with the vents, one is a standard Type II, and one is a B&B private-purchase cap.

The vent in the Type II was faulty (the disc was very loose), so I sent the vent back at Nick's request and put the vent from the B&B cap in the Type II. Nick sent a replacement vent, which I then put into the B&B cap.

So I have removed and replaced both vents myself... there are no spikes in either one.

[Rob]

It was supposed to be "assert" Rob.

I guess spell checked goofed on me.

Spell-check didn't goof - it's a valid word. I was merely seeking clarification - it could have been some local slang or something, for all I knew.

When the "T" key on my laptop got stuck, I was constantly typing stuff like "even" instead of "event" and "he" instead of "the" - both valid words. Spell-check was of no use whatsoever. Now I just use a separate keyboard...

[Rob Weaver]

Hey - Hukt on foniks werkt for me!

[WoodenNutmeg]

http://www.ala.org/ala/ert/HOPImage.jpg

[Rob Weaver]

LOL - :D Actually, I taught our kids to read with "Sing Spell Read & Write," an excellent self-paced system. You will, however, find yourself singing "A-A-Aple, B-B-Ball..." for the rest of your natural life. What about that hat in Echoes of Glory that doesn't have a ventilator, the guy simply punched a circular pattern of holes in the top. Has anyone done that? Does it work? Is it worth potentially ruining a good hat?

[Huck Finn]

Several years ago I punched three holes in the top of my forage cap for ventilation. No idea it was done back then. How about that.

[toptimlrd]

Well, congrats, toptimlrd, as they appear to be beautifully crafted.

I am saving my pennies as we speak so that I might purchase one soon.


The congratulations go to Nick Sekela, I'm just a regional guy selling his wares. Nick spends a lot of time researching and perfecting his wares. Another reason you probably don't see many of them at events is the cost of the tooling to make them plus I must be honest they do add considerably to the cost of the cap.

As to the "spikes" talked about earlier, if we are talking about the same thing, these are basically the "tabs" that bend back once inserted to hold the ventilator in place. The one in the picture is taken right after assembly of the ventilator before it is put in the cap.

Let me know when you are ready for one and I or your local rep will get you taken care of.

[Rob]

I have exchanged messages with Mr Collett on this subject, so I think we're on the same page.

For everyone else: in the photo at the top of this thread, there are, clearly visible at the four- and eight-o'clock positions, two spikes, or pins, projecting downward from the set of brass tabs which rest on the top of the cap. These are what I was referring to.

The vents added thirty greenbacks to the cost of each of the caps. Worth it, too - especially when standing out in the sun for what seems like forever because the officers forgot what it was like to shoulder a musket.

It's quite a little piece of machinery.

[toptimlrd]

I have exchanged messages with Mr Collett on this subject, so I think we're on the same page.

For everyone else: in the photo at the top of this thread, there are, clearly visible at the four- and eight-o'clock positions, two spikes, or pins, projecting downward from the set of brass tabs which rest on the top of the cap. These are what I was referring to.

The vents added thirty greenbacks to the cost of each of the caps. Worth it, too - especially when standing out in the sun for what seems like forever because the officers forgot what it was like to shoulder a musket.

It's quite a little piece of machinery.


Ah, I see now what you are referring to, they didn't stand out to me in the photo. Since the only ones of these I have seen have already been installed I can not say what those are. I will try to find out though.

[Rob]

I could see the pins being used to anchor the vent in place while securing the tabs underneath the crown, but, really, they are totally unnecessary; in fact, by requiring one to push them through the crown disc, it would make the job a bit harder.

All you need to do, once you've positioned the vent the way you want it, is to hold it in place with a finger and turn the cap over. Once you've bent two or three of the tabs underneath the crown, that sucker isn't going anywhere.