Buckles Blog: 19th Century Tents #5

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Transverse View

Anonymous said...: Ernest Chandler, whose father before him had sewn canvas for 55 years, wrote an extensive treatise on the design and construction of tents and awnings that he published in 1914, the decade of the biggest tents for B&B. It was the bible for Bernie Mendelsohn of O'Henry Tent, who introduced me to the 325-page book, as well as for Harold Barnes who told me he had a photocopy of the book since it was an invaluable resource. In discussing "circus tops," Chandler reported that "The dimensions of the largest tops manufactured, such as those furnished to the big three-ring shows, measure 450 by 200 feet...The round end consists of thirty-one 10-foot sections, each of four cloths, and is finished to lace in four parts...The large rectangular areas between masts measure 50 feet, and are also arranged to lace along the ridge. A 200 x 450-foot top would thus finish in eighteen separate parts." He then goes on to discuss the special positioning of quarter poles required due to "the great seating arrangement of these tents."
Dick Flint
Baltimore; 09 February, 2008 11:05
Anonymous said...: Sir:
I have sent 5+ years trying to find an original copy of this book. I would be interested in talking to anyone who has a copy that they wish to sell.

K. Kuppin
kkuppin@sbcglobal.net; 08 May, 2008 13:29

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