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When I first became seriously interested in participating in historical reenacting it was through my old buddy Jean Baptiste LaJeunesse. He had been going to Rendezvous for more than a decade and was a ready source of knowledge, not to mention catalogs. To get me started on the right path he put a slew of his favorite sutlers catalogs in my bag as I left his house for mine. One of the catalogs was from C & D Jarnagin in Corinth, Mississippi.
C & D Jarnagin is owned by Carolyn and David Jarnagin and they have been making life easier for reenactors for more than twenty years. Their business is divided into two distinct areas, 18th century and 19th century goods and wares. Their 18th century catalog covers the period from the French and Indian War through the War of 1812. The 19th century catalog picks up during the Seminole and Mexican War era and goes through the end of the Civil War. There is no doubt that the main thrust of their business is supplying reenactors of the War Between the States but that doesn't keep them from offering a fine line of clothing and acoutrements for the colonials and revolutionaries as well. Oh, if you're looking for British uniforms, you're in the wrong place.
Jarnagin's products generally fall into one of three groups, uniforms and civilian clothing, shoes, bootees and other leather work, and tinware. While I must admit I believe they make the finest colonial-era linen shirt available today we're going to take a look at their tinware.
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My first piece of Jarnagin tinware was a gift from Jean Baptiste. It was a coffee boiler, also called a "Billie Cup" in their 19th century catalog. It is of heavy tin plate with rolled edges everywhere. There is a bale that allows you to hang it over the fire either from a trammel or just a green stick. It has a tight-fitting lid that helps the water boil faster and keep your hot beverage hot longer. It is perfectly safe to heat over the coals is at least half full of liquid but should be removed as soon as the contents boil. The ring on the lid lets you open it easily even when it's full of boiling water. It's large enough to store your coffee beans, cornmeal and even a small slab of bacon inside when it's in your pack or rolled up in your tumpline. With a folding-handled skillet and one of these boilers in your pack you can cook up just about anything while you're out on the trail. I did have some trouble with the first boiler Jean Baptiste got for me. The lid just didn't want to sit down flush on the cup's rim. I called the folks and C & D and they said just send it back in and they'd either fix whatever was wrong with it or give me a new one. So back it went and a new one arrived a few weeks later. No problems. Current catalog price is $33.95. |
| My next piece is called an Early Army Cup in the Jarnagin catalog, but it sure looks like a tankard to me. I added it on to an order I placed for one of their linen shirts. It was almost an afterthought tacked on to make the shipping costs seem a little more palatable. It is of similar construction to the coffee boiler with rolled edges, a riveted handle and food-safe solder joints throughout. It holds about a pint and a half, plenty of liquid to wash down a meal or just clear the trail dust out of your throat. I think it looks expecially good with a nice head of ale foam slowly drifting down its frosty sides. While probably more at home in an officers mess or a trailside tavern this cup was standard army issue until 1851, but its history probably goes back to the earliest days of the tinkerer's craft. It lists today for $19.95 |  |
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I guess I had become convinced of the quality of Jarnagin's tinware, and their other products as well. Besides a second linen shirt and kerchief I had also purchased a caped rifleman's frock (I'll be reviewing their clothes in a subsequent column) and had decided that I needed a canteen to carry some water to drown my thirst on those long treks. The character I portray is of a man in his early fifties who fought in the French and Indian War and now fights for independence in the Pennsylvania militia. This way I can use dress and acoutrements from the earlier period and still remain in character. The Jarnagin Ft. Ligonier pattern canteen fit my needs excatly. It is an absoutely perfect copy of an item recovered from Ft. Ligonier, so much so that it is pictured in Neuman and Kravic's Collector's Illustrated Encyclodedia of the American Revolution as a "reproduction of a British tin specimen as excavated from Ft. Ligonier c.1758-1766." As with all Jarnagin tinware the workmanship is impeccable, tight fitting pieces with clean solder joints. It features the correct cord suspension with plenty supplied so you can customize the fit to your stature and a black leather shoulder sleeve. It holds a little more than a quart, plenty for a days trek into the "wilderness." It is offered in black Japanned finish as well as unfinished tin. Those who prefer modern convenience over authenticity may order it either painted or unpainted in stainless steel. In tin it is priced at $29.95 unpainted and $35.95 painted. In stainless it is $54.95 and $59.94. |
| I wanted to do a how-to article on making moulded candles so I bought a large tin six-gang candle mould from Jas. Townsend & Sons as Jarnagin doesn't make them. I did learn how to use the mould but haven't written the article yet. I made several batches to get it right and wanted to display my hand-made beeswax candles in appropriate, period correct candle holders. Here again Jarnagin had a wonderful offering in their Petticoat Candle Holder. It is based on period designs and as well made as all of their other tinwork. It has a large base for stability and a beautiful ruffled "petticoat" to catch any errant drips. Its large ring handle allows for easy carry and it looks at home just about anywhere, whether you're in camp or back at the settlement. They are available for $9.54 each. |  |
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While my collection of colonial tinware was certainly growing there was one item I did not have, a candle lantern. I have seen many examples of them in catalogs from various purveyors to the hobby yet none seemed to quite provide the utility I was looking for. I wanted something that I could use in camp that would also be able to find employ in the "settlement" should that new-fangled electricity stuff every quit working. In short I wanted to be able to justify its purchase to my "Secretary of the Treasury." Again Jarnagin had the product that fit my needs exactly. Their Tin Hand Lamp for Candle looked to be a "colonial flashlight." Something that would allow me to read after dark in my tent or light my way to the privy over unfamiliar ground at Rendezvous and an item that would certainly prove itself useful as California looks forward to more rolling blackouts. It takes a six inch candle (I let my 9" candles from the mould burn down at a romantic dinner for two until they are just perfect) and throws plenty of light for reading or just walking about after dark. It features a "cold handle" that keeps your hand safe and cool because, as with most candle lanterns things can get pretty hot after a while. Catalog price is $34.95. |
Having sung their well-deserved praises for most of this article I feel I should mention the one drawback, if it is a drawback, I've noticed in my dealings with them. It appears to me that they have very little in the way of in-stock merchandise. Everything I've ever ordered from them had to me made especially for my order. I suppose this is to be expected when one is ordering clothing, especially when it is made-to-measure. Yet one might expect a certain amount of stock for their regular items, like candleholders and cups. I don't think I've ever gotten anything from them in less than five weeks and it is often longer. Once I did call looking for a Civil War forage cap to wear when my daughter and her 5th grade class do their "camp out" as part of their study of the Civil War. I didn't care whether it was an enlisted or officers model or whether it was Federal or Confederate. As long as it was in my size it would do. They had one in stock and sent it out the next day. I'll probably review it when it arrives, too. I just like their stuff.
In all fairness to them they do come right out and explain the situation on the first page of their catalog. And their admonition to "please plan ahead" should be well heeded. Yet every time I've called to inquire about an order they have been most courteous and helpful, even on those rare occassions when I have not been as nice as I should have.
In closing I'd just like to say that everyone at C & D Jarnagin has been very pleasant to deal with regardless of my mood. And I've yet to find a better source for period tinware anywhere. They maintain excellent quality at an affordable price. Maybe next time we'll talk about their clothing. It's every bit as good as their tin. ---JBW
C & D Jarnagin may be reached on the Web at www.jarnaginco.com or by mail or phone at:
C & D Jarnagin Company, Inc.
103 Franklin Street
Corinth, MS 38835-1860
662-287-4977 - Office
662-287-6033 - Fax
All prices are subject to change without notice. Please call to confirm prices and availability,
Don't forget to say you saw them on the Armory Hill Web site.
Addendum:
Read about some recent dealings I had with C & D Jarnagin.
All photographs © 2001 by the author.