The Evolution of British Reenacting Redcoats

[@TheFarOffStation]

Hey everyone, I was able to find more information about the original 10th buttons, and they were likely cast like all other regimental buttons! This means they are even more accurate than stated in this video! A great success for the reproductions!

[@BrandonF]

It's a testament to the 10th's care for their equipment that the old coat, even if obviously it was sorely needing to be replaced, was able to last so long! This was a really topic to cover, Jon. Thanks for a great video!

[@TheFarOffStation]

Most certainly! I hope this video helps remind us of how far we can come as a hobby, from simple things like this, to re-enacting that actually now has its own history!

[@Dreadnought586]

Thank you, John you encouraged me to get into reenacting (As well as Brandon and Chris) I have joined Seven years war reenacting in the George Mercer company of Virginia. This one of the Companies Washington was in command of in the Seven years War.

[@TheFarOffStation]

Glad to have helped! I hope that you enjoy every moment of it!

[@ChristheRedcoat]

To quote a mutual friend: “too much Rev War.”

[@TheFarOffStation]

Let it begin here.

[@HM10thFoot]

Well done! 💯

[@TheFarOffStation]

Many thanks!

[@power2ix605]

Thank you John. I had always wondered how reenactment was before modern understandings of the past.

[@TheFarOffStation]

You're very welcome, I hope that was as thorough as you would have liked!

[@power2ix605]

@@TheFarOffStation very thorough, but maybe more videos on topics other than Coats please.

[@CaptRons18thcentury]

Excellent video… buttons often were polished with a button board/stick, with the wood to protect the facing from polishing compound… button sticks weren’t issued to individual soldiers… but at platoon or company level, I don’t remember exactly, will have to research that again… both of those are nice coats though…

[@TheFarOffStation]

They most certainly are!

[@CaptRons18thcentury]

@@TheFarOffStation I recently purchased some British uniforms from a friend downsizing his collection, and it adds to my collection of Continental uniforms ( all reproduction of course ) looking forward to events starting up again, if covid is going to allow it this year… thanks again for the video, the internet has greatly improved access to a lot of documents not available in the 70s and 80s…I didn’t get involved with re-enacting until 2003, but started researching in the 80s…

[@TheFarOffStation]

@@CaptRons18thcentury yes, let’s hope there finally are events this year! I’m really glad we have the internet in this case, really helps make information more accessible!

[@TheAuditor6846]

A history of reenacting love it

[@TheFarOffStation]

It is indeed!

[@cjthehistoryperson]

A very enjoyable video! Glad to see another one so soon after your last video!

[@TheFarOffStation]

It's a miraculous bit of efficiency!

[@richardtucker6300]

I'm so glad I'm doing British reenacting now as the progressive movement has taken hold and such incredible resources are available to base one's kit off of. I've been in this hobby for 30+ years and I have to say it's been interesting to see the progression as well. I remember when Linen or Cotton "duct" fabric was considered ok to make small clothes out of. Everyone British and American were doing it. I'm so glad to see proper fitted small clothes out of period materials :D I think it really gives one the proper silhouette as well as being just all around more accurate. Great video! The 10th really is an incredible unit as it keeps progressing as research demands. Bravo Sjt.

[@TheFarOffStation]

Thank you for the kind words, old boy! I severely enjoy being in this hobby with you all!

[@hardalarboard8876]

Thanks for the video!

[@TheFarOffStation]

You’re very welcome, I hope that you enjoyed it!

[@Comma_Man64]

The difference is even more pronounced with our Light infantry coats, because our tails had to be heavily reworked. Also, I’m pretty sure my old coat came from the same time as yours (flannel wool and all)

[@TheFarOffStation]

I didn't even think about that, that's very true! The LI coats have quite a significant amount of change and development!

[@neilmorrison7356]

Do you know what dye they used for the cloths? I would think the correct dye would give you the correct fading with age and weathering. My Mess dress jacket was made with broadcloth and felt great!

[@TheFarOffStation]

Historically it would have been madder root for the red, but I’ve no idea what they used in the 1970s or what they use today. The only other thing I know is that the broadcloth we use today is made in Yorkshire! Broadcloth is such a great fabric! It feels and looks so good!

[@neilmorrison7356]

@@TheFarOffStation I went down a bit of a rabbit hole looking into this last night. The simple rule was that ORS jackets were madder and Officers was cochineal which gave a more vibrant scarlet.

[@TheFarOffStation]

You went down a rabbit hole...we do that all the time in reenacting 😂 Welcome! Yes, that's pretty much the simple rule for the dye color of the different coats! The officers broadcloth would also be a much finer product than the ORs wool. For Sjt's it'd generally be finer than that of the other ranks as well, and would be of a mock scarlet color. Sjt's are interesting in this period, as they're kind of this weird thing between rankers and officers. A mate of mine use the term "discount officer" term for them, as in many regards, they're just dressed like officers with less fine materials.

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Nice video

[@TheFarOffStation]

Back in the ASAP commenting group I see!

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

@@TheFarOffStation Of course

[@TheFarOffStation]

@@CivilWarWeekByWeek Excellent!

[@Dreadnought586]

Great Video

[@TheFarOffStation]

Thanks!

[@danielnewman9457]

Good job Sgt.!

[@TheFarOffStation]

Thanks!

[@MGMan-ce7sf]

Yep, we all talked that way in the 1970s. "what is thish, what is thish?"😊😊

[@winstonstone]

Also to remove them to get the coat dry cleaned and they were afraid of the buttons being stolen. Truth

[@TheFarOffStation]

This is the 1970s we’re talking about, they’d steal anything 😂

[@da90sReAlvloc]

Any reenactment of the war of 1812 the war Britain won

[@TheFarOffStation]

Except this one’s a wee bit earlier.

[@Bountyhopper]

So British battalion coats where lined with baize and not wool?

[@TheFarOffStation]

Baize is still in fact a wool, it is just a very course one. It has a "waffle" like weave.

[@yank-tc8bz]

In the 50s Sears sold US Civil War uniforms which were nothing more than cotton workman pants and shirts with yellow trim.

[@TheFarOffStation]

That sounds authentic

[@thedamnyankee1]

I dont have anything snarky to say. So here is a comment for the algorithm.

[@TheFarOffStation]

The algorithm appreciates you doing your bit! The algorithm 🙌🏻

[@lightinfantrybugler]

Also look at the kings royal regiment of New York

[@TheFarOffStation]

I don’t have access to KRRNY stuff, sorry.

[@winstonstone]

Engage!

[@TheFarOffStation]

Yes yes!

[@vonrall]

The original 10th buttons did not have the numbers stamped in they were cast. Also they were well know finds in the 1920s Calver and Bolton digs. The the finds in Michigan were the first of the officer's pattern but the enlisted were around .

[@TheFarOffStation]

If you leave the documentation here it can be added as an addendum! Also, I’m not sure which officers buttons you’re talking about as two different patterns are known to exist!

[@vonrall]

@@TheFarOffStation The documentation for the enlisted buttons is those that are extant , which are all cast with the numbers like all of the British regimental buttons. I have one and have seen many others. British army buttons were never made with hand stamped numbers . There are two types of officer's buttons buttons known. The repousse examples with the Arabic number, pie crust edge and scroll. These have been found at Michilimackinac which date 1768-1772. The other type with the Roman X in a star which dates sometime after 1773 and is shown in the 1781 portrait of Captain Hewitt

[@TheFarOffStation]

I'll consult the Troiani book again and add something in! Cheers!

[@vonrall]

@@TheFarOffStation No need I wrote the Troiani book!

[@TheFarOffStation]

Ahh, most excellent! Forgive me, I just can't normally take the word of random internet comments. Anyway, I added that bit into the description last month, and added a pinned comment two weeks ago! Seems regimental documentation wasn't too hot on this topic. Apologizes for the late reply, YT decided to put your comments into the "held for review" folder. 🙄 Garbage platform.

[@Robert-ku6jx]

Paper mâché and bathrobes? That’s painful to hear. I’m so glad that things have improved, lol.

[@TheFarOffStation]

Oh yes indeed!

[@thalesmiletus5256]

It’d be more educational if your comparison included the VAST differences between how these items were made then vs now. Wool was the fabric of choice because the cotton gin hadn’t even been invented then and was the EASIEST fabric to make considering all the steps needed. Cotton was the most difficult to manufacture because cleaning just picked cotton by hand required immense time in comparison to shearing a sheep, carding etc.

[@TheFarOffStation]

That’s slightly off the mark, wool was used for its durability, warmth, and protection from the elements. Even past the invention of the cotton gin, wool was still the material of choice for British Army, all the way till the later half of the 20th Century.