1877 Tropical Hospital Fly

Question and opinion regarding Living History / Reenacting.
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Rustman
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1877 Tropical Hospital Fly

Post by Rustman » Wed Nov 20, 2019 1:57 pm

I acquired this “Tropical Hospital Fly" back in August. At the time I had just missed out on an original Pyramid squad tent and another tent from the same seller. All that was left was this fly. So I scooped it up. A friend of a friend picked it up. So I had no idea it was well before WW2 until I had it in my hands. It’s roughly 18x24. Neat brass tensioners. Sewn grommets with 8 crude brass ones apparently added to the ends. The tag appears to read 1877. That would be the oldest piece of canvas I’ve handled. Pardon the dirty fingernails, I was just working on a Jeep.
The only reference I’ve found is from a 1916 Quartermaster manual. But posting this to the US Militaria Forum Facebook Group did reveal the following Google Books link:

https://books.google.com/books?id=2yw2R ... e&q&f=true

Military Hygene published in 1909.
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So now what to do with it? I don't dare take it out and set it up at shows. Right now it's just a lump of canvas in my basement. it has a few tears, some of which have been repaired some haven't.

Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/


Ed Roberts
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Re: 1877 Tropical Hospital Fly

Post by Ed Roberts » Wed Nov 20, 2019 8:54 pm

Rustman, the sewn grommets bring back fond memories. As a young sailor, I was taught how to do those with a palm, needle and waxed thread. Doing those was the next best thing to goldbricking, 'cause you could try to tell the Bo'sun you had to make it just right. That's an outstanding piece you have there. Thanks for posting this.
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John Neuenburg
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Re: 1877 Tropical Hospital Fly

Post by John Neuenburg » Fri Nov 22, 2019 4:45 pm

What does it measure? I have a military tent manual that shows dimensions for the large wall tent, 1940s-50s type. The older ones might have been the same. If so, this fly could be used over the top of, for example, a WWII large wall tent. Just for show.

I think WWI U.S. tents were khaki like this one, drab, and maybe natural white.
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tranham
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Re: 1877 Tropical Hospital Fly

Post by tranham » Thu Nov 28, 2019 8:14 am

1877 might be model number or stock number. I had a early khaki small wall with those type tensioners.

Just saying I’m not 100% convinced it’s that old but very cool!!

Rustman
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Re: 1877 Tropical Hospital Fly

Post by Rustman » Thu Nov 28, 2019 3:30 pm

John Neuenburg wrote:
Fri Nov 22, 2019 4:45 pm
</s>
What does it measure? I have a military tent manual that shows dimensions for the large wall tent, 1940s-50s type. The older ones might have been the same. If so, this fly could be used over the top of, for example, a WWII large wall tent. Just for show.<br/>
<br/>
I think WWI U.S. tents were khaki like this one, drab, and maybe natural white.
<e>
</e></QUOTE>

It's roughly 18x24. The dimensions do not match those of a small, large or storage wall tents from WW2. The large fly was 21'6"x14'5". And the storage wall tent was 20ft long.</r>
tranham wrote:
Thu Nov 28, 2019 8:14 am
1877 might be model number or stock number. I had a early khaki small wall with those type tensioners.

Just saying I’m not 100% convinced it’s that old but very cool!!
According to friends who do Civil War reenacting the brass tensioners date back from ACW up through WW1.

Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

Rustman
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Re: 1877 Tropical Hospital Fly

Post by Rustman » Thu Nov 28, 2019 3:34 pm

John Neuenburg wrote:
Fri Nov 22, 2019 4:45 pm
What does it measure? I have a military tent manual that shows dimensions for the large wall tent, 1940s-50s type. The older ones might have been the same. If so, this fly could be used over the top of, for example, a WWII large wall tent. Just for show.

I think WWI U.S. tents were khaki like this one, drab, and maybe natural white.
It's roughly 18x24. The dimensions do not match those of a small, large or storage wall tents from WW2. The large fly was 21'6"x14'5". And the storage wall tent was 20ft long.
tranham wrote:
Thu Nov 28, 2019 8:14 am
1877 might be model number or stock number. I had a early khaki small wall with those type tensioners.

Just saying I’m not 100% convinced it’s that old but very cool!!
According to friends who do Civil War reenacting the brass tensioners date back from ACW up through WW1.

Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/

Rustman
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Re: 1877 Tropical Hospital Fly

Post by Rustman » Fri Jul 31, 2020 3:39 am

Figured there might be some new members/insight here. So I'm nudging this thread. I need to find a good home for this fly. Friends in Connecticut want to use it for a pattern to make replica(s).

Matt
1970 Kaiser Jeep DJ-5A Left Hand Drive
1945 Corps of Engineers Welder & Trailer
1943 G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Steel Body
194* G518 "Ben Hur" Trailer Composite Body
http://g518parts.com/


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