Reenacting and Vintage/Retro Living - Anyone else?

[kapitanprien]

I was just wondering if anyone else here was involved with reenacting/living history and/or vintage/retro living?

I've been getting more involved (and more focused) with what I do with both as the years have passed by.

[Laurasia]

I have never been able to actually get into reenacting (due to lack of funds & lack of opportunities for such things in my area), but it is something that I've had a great interest in for some time. In fact when I was younger I had wanted to study to be a professional reenactor (for the Renaissance), but I ended up not being able to do so.

I do love my vintage items though.

Sincerely,
Laurasia

[kapitanprien]

That's cool

Yeah here in PA - there is the WWII Weekend in Reading:

www.maam.org/maamwwii.html

There are also other events here in the state, but that is the biggest. I live 2 hrs from Reading and try to attend (although there isn't much there for a U-Boat commander *laughs*). My favorite event that I had been to - as it was Kriegsmarine related was at Ft. Miles in Delaware: www.fortmiles.org/

The American CO fought to get us KM members in and I wound up being volunteered to be the surrendering U-Boat commander there (as that is where the U 858 surrendered). I haven't been there though since 07. There are U-Boat crewmen down there though that have formed their group for that event specifically from what I can gather.

I'm just a 'wandering soul' and have 'attached' myself to the UK based U-Boat Society - as I started with my research in 04 and had a ton of information to augment what they had (as they didn't form until 4 years later).

It is expensive though...I'm surprised that I can manage what I manage now with it. I must be nuts because I'm looking to put together a WWI U-Boat Commander's 'on board' impression...

What vintage items do you collect? I pretty much have 'everything' I need really...the only modern piece of furniture I have is a futon (as that is a spare bed for someone if they stay over...and that is probably the only thing that would fit - since it can be taken apart - in the apartment).

[Laurasia]

Hi Prien.

There really aren't any reenacting groups for much of anything in my area. The closest would be in the next state over & include things like the renassaince, Civil War reenacting, & (maybe) some things from the mining boom in the area. And like you mentioned, even if I could readily get to them, the cost is pretty prohibitive.

Well my place is by no means furnished solely with vintage items. (Though Hans' pretty much was! LOL!) I have some decorative items that I love though. Some antique pictures, an antique shawl that I use as a scarf over a light, antique photographs, postcards, a cherub table that I inherited from MissBothmanns' grandmother, my cameo collection, etc. I also have some WWII items such as my $5 Reichmark, picture of Hans, & my reproduction SS dagger.

Sincerely,
Laurasia

[kapitanprien]

Oh that's neat

It sounds like mainly Victorian era items. The area I live in is big in Victorian era, but I don't really have an interest in it. There are tons of antique shops just in my area of the state though!

I too have a repro dagger, but it is WWI.



There is a high quality repro (WWII style) of the German officer's dagger:

www.militarysabers.com/german-military-swords/navy-daggers.html

One of these days I would like to get one as I did have an original with the hangers, but had to sell it in order to obtain furniture for my first apartment - as I had nothing aside from my bed and an old console radio. The building I live in though has much of the original items in it - sink from 1939, radiators probably date from 1921, orig. mouldings, cabinetry, some lights, etc.

And since I'm involved in the hobby - I of course have the uniform parts.

[Laurasia]

Yep, lots of Victorian.

There is also a reproduction Hitler Youth dagger that I would like to pick up as well. What I REALLY want though is my SS honor ring. That would really be something for me to get.

While I don't have any actual uniform parts (though I have always been drawn to purchase one of the swastika armbands), a lot of my clothing leans towards the military-like styles.

Sincerely,
Laurasia

[msmir]

I have a lot of stuff in my home having to do with the Victorian era, isn't that strange? I had a past life during that time in Bristol and I actually had a good life but have been paying for it since I did such not nice things. More so the fact that I was irresponsible and abused my freedom.. but man when I think back, it was good times.

[kapitanprien]

Re Laurasia: You can get a reproduction of those rings you do know that? As I have a reproduction of the U-Boat ring I used to wear...I even mention in my site about it - how I got it and had it fitted for my left ring finger only to find sometime later, a photo of me wearing the ring on that same hand and finger:



(I apparently missed putting this in my website...when I transferred from Blogger to Webs.com)

My clothing is mainly vintage style - but not in the 'fedora-suit-tie'. I do have a photo of myself how I look in my site (photos section). It's pretty much what I would have worn then aboard the Cape Horn ships and many of my 'everyday' clothes do double duty as 'U-Boat gear' (sweaters, shirts, scarves, navy blue knit cap...things like that).

Re MsMir: That's neat I don't go as far back as Victorian in a sense, I like Edwardian more so, despite having lived in 19th C. Finland, but Finnish 'customs' were far different from Victorian - especially where it concerned women. It was more empowering to women as I read in an online book which I hope to buy entitled "Through Finland in Carts" : www.archive.org/details/throughfinlandi00ethgoog

[Laurasia]

Oh yes Prien, I know that there are reproductions of the SS honor ring available - they tend to be rather pricey though.

[kapitanprien]

Well maybe I can help you out with finding a more reasonably priced ring - feel free to PM me the price range you're looking for and I can see what I can do.

[Laurasia]

Being the Christmas season & all I'm not looking to buy much for myself at the moment, but $50 or less would be nice. LOL!

Sincerely,
Laurasia

[kapitanprien]

Oh ok - That shouldn't be too hard. Is there a specific type/style? I know the U-Boat rings, when I was looking they had several styles.

Here is one for $55:

www.landser.com/SS_Honor_Ring.aspx

[Laurasia]

Oh wow. That would be it Prien...but I'd never fit a size 11 on my hand now. LOL! Thank you for the link though.

Sincerely,
Laurasia

[kapitanprien]

You're welcome

I had to have mine fitted - so some of the wording got cut out. But if you ever decide to change your mind someday - at least you have the link.