One half of the drip trays has a female thread and the other a male. Same with the candle holders. When you have erected your tent or arrived at your dimly-lit inn (some landlords were very stingy with candles) you unscrewed the halves and assembled your sticks thus:
You could then write home, read a book or study a map if you were an army officer. These were also called 'Campaign Sticks'. They were very popular in the USA (or 'America' as we used to call it) too, and made from the early 18th century right up until about 1920. This one is for sale if you really want/need it.
The Army and Navy store in London is still going, but in its heyday you could buy everything you needed to go on safari, make a trans-Atlantic sailing trip on a four-master, go grouse shooting in the Highlands of Scotland or even invade a small country in South America. They made their own guns which were simple and serviceable. Everything they stocked was serviceable. Peoples lives depended on the quality of their goods.
A word of warning: Wearing a pith helmet can get you into a lot of trouble in many countries these days.
My dad was an army man. Radio. Packed his equipment on mules. We still have his green army blankets. He revered the army/navy surplus stores, and we kids used his purchases. I remember my brothers using a collapsing shovel to dig latrines when we camped out west. I still had and used the shovel until I quit travelling. I remember digging my van out of a snow drift once, after I retrieved the shovel from behind the spare tire.
ReplyDeleteWere the army blankets made of wool? I imagine them itchy to the touch.
DeleteJoanne, I'm sure Tom will explain, but The Army and Navy Store in Victoria was anything but a surplus store. It was a very chic emporium.
DeleteYes, the Army & Navy store was as Cro describes. It was also a military outfitters I think, with dress uniforms for officers including swords and boots. Officers were expected to buy their own uniforms.
DeleteYes, Bea, the blankets were scratchy wool, as were the private's field dress. They would take your skin off if you marched all day without long underpants.
Love the candlestick!
ReplyDeleteDidn't know that about pith helmets so shall add it to my store of useless information now that I no longer intend to travel far.
Pith helmets can still be bought and are amazingly inexpensive.
DeleteInteresting about the candlesticks. Sadly the wonderful Army and Navy Stores in Victoria Street London became another unbiquitous and unloved House of Fraser many years ago. Possibly soon to reach its own demise according to recent financial troubles. Hey ho as John might say.
ReplyDeleteThe House of Frazer has subsidence.
DeleteIf I owned your bun, I would be tempted to have the two sticks assembled; which rather spoils the fun of it.
ReplyDeleteIf you assemble the two halves, nobody knows what it is.
DeleteThere is a traditional pub near here, the late landlord of which had a pith helmet behind the bar. At closing time he would put it on and ring a bell. A sign on the front of the helmet read "pith off".
ReplyDeleteWhat a wag.
DeleteCould be a good ashtray as well.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteIt's made my day
ReplyDelete