[BCMA] Food display tips needed

Mon Aug 13 14:12:01 PDT 2012

When possible, try to avoid reinventing the wheel.

Historical reenacting is very popular, especially in the USA and UK.
Replica clothing, equipment etc., is available and now includes the food
and odds and sods stuff. Some "food" is intended to be consumed by
reenactors "living" the life they portray for a weekend or even a week.
Others are for display only so that it looks like they have 100% of the
items that a person they are portraying would have had. Many time periods
are portrayed including Roman Era, US Civil War, WWI, WWII, Viet Nam War
and even the Gulf War of 1991.

If your time period is at all flexible e.g. 1946 when war surplus food was
available in North Vancouver, you can buy 1940s replica containers with
food made for reenactors. Not only that, but they can be CANADIAN food
containers!  http://reprorations.com/Canada%20WW2/WW2-Canada.htm   (source
is in Oregon)

Their US WWII page has a kit with Charms candy, V matches, Camel cigarettes
(yes, hikers used to smoke - a good point for discussion with kids),
Wrigley's stick gum and a packet of lemonade. Click on more and you will
find WWII toilet paper!  Even have matches with VD warning showing a woman
. "Easy to pick-up. Don't get burned ... use cover."
http://reprorations.com/USA%20WW2/WW2-US.htm
Under their British section, British toilet paper is available (judging by
soldier's reports, US toilet paper was far prefereanle to the British
stuff!) as an alternative. Boiled sweets are available.

Some original products are still available. e.g. Licorice all-sorts was
created about 1908 and although in modern packaging, is available. British
stores stock British candies and some of these have very traditional
packages still. Corned Beef might be available in traditional packages (go
for the British shops to get historically appropriate English only labels).

For older time periods such as the 1860s "haversack stuffers" (not food
items) one could try http://www.fcsutler.com/fchavers.asp

http://www.replicawarehouse.co.uk/food.htm Replica (non-edible) "food" for
museum displays, in styles as far back as Roman Times!.

There are likely other suppliers out there and you can search for them on
the Internet using various words

Colin Stevens

On 12 August 2012 10:42, Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. <
bcma at lists.vvv.com> wrote:

>  Hi there,****
>
> ** **
>
> I’m a historical interpreter with the North Vancouver Museum and Archives,
> and I’m seeking tips on how to compile a convincing historical “food
> package” for a mountaineering display. The premise is that a mountaineer is
> going on a weekend hike in the 1930s and needs to pack enough food for two
> nights. We have a list of items that would likely be taken along, but we’ve
> hit a bit of a roadblock on how to suitably emulate the food package.****
>
> ** **
>
> Many of the items are dry bulk – rice, nuts, etc. – but as we hope to use
> this package for a few years, using actual foodstuffs seems undesirable. We
> also wonder the most effective and eye-popping way to present such dry
> foodstuffs. We have bandied around the idea of using bags made from jute
> and labelling them; however, this does not seem engaging enough for what we
> wish to convey. We also have a few items which would be tinned – milk, for
> instance – and we wondered how others have used tins in their historical
> display, including how they have labeled them. Finally, some meat products
> will be emulated using brown paper and wax paper. Some ideas about what to
> generate in substitution of actual meat would also be greatly appreciated.
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> Thanks very much for any advice on how to make this display
> attention-getting and authentic!****
>
> ** **
>
> Leigha Smith****
>
> Theatrical Interpreter – Waterfront Productions****
>
> North Vancouver Museum and Archives – Community History Centre****
>
> 3203 Institute Road****
>
> North Vancouver, BC V7K 3E5****
>
> Phone: (604) 990-3700 ext. 8008****
>
> Email: smithl at dnv.org****
>
> ** **
>
> Iain Baxter&: Information/Location, North Vancouver ****
>
> At North Vancouver Museum, 209 West 4th Street****
>
> June 17 to December 30, 2012****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> _______________________________________________
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> BCMA at lists.vvv.com
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>
>

-- 
Colin MacGregor Stevens
Richmond, British Columbia,
CANADA
Museum Manager (Retired)
Served as a Captain in the Army
Researcher, collector & author
Specializing in WWII Canadian special units such as:
1 Canadian Parachute Battalion; 1st Special Service Force ("Devil's
Brigade"); British Security Co-ordination; Canadian SAS Company; and
Canadians on special service in S.O.,E. (including Force 136); SRU; MI-9;
Commandos; airborne units such as the Parachute Regiment etc.
604-341-1917      seaforth72 at gmail.com      http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net

* Military Vehicle Preservation Association # 954 (since 1977)
* Author of "The Ferret Scout Car in Canadian Service" by Service
Publications (Dec. 2009)
* eBay identity: seaforth_highlander
* Member (Associate) # 472, Bornewest CAFA Branch #8
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