Title: horsehair-msg
Subject: Obtaining and using horsehair for helmet padding and other purposes.
Author: Edited by Mark S. Harris
Last saved by: Mark S. Harris
Keywords: horsehair, stuffing, padding, source, use, medieval, armor

horsehair-msg - 3/9/09

Obtaining and using horsehair for helmet padding and other purposes.

NOTE: See also the files: helm-padding-msg, horses-msg, Horse-n-t-MA-art, horses-lnks, horses-bib, horse-recipes-msg, Sadle-Blankts-art, Stirrups-Hist-art.

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    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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From: David Friedman <ddfr@daviddfriedman.nopsam.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: sources of horsehair
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:13:08 -0800

"Ewan (Carolingia, EK)" <admin.westernesse@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'd like to pad my helm with something other than closed-cell foam, and a
> quilted horsehair-padded coif is something I'd like to experiment with.
> 
> I seem to recall that Duke Cariadoc has attempted such a thing in the
> past.  Your Grace, where did you obtain your horsehair from? Would one
> need mane/tail hair exclusively, or would the lighter fibers from grooming
> work?

I still use the helm I padded with horsehair and have been happy with 
it. As best I recall, I got my original supply from an old horsehair 
sofa someone was throwing away and later got fresher horsehair from a 
friend who kept horses. I think some of what she gave me was from 
grooming, but it was quite a long time ago and I'm not sure.

My padding consists of cloth tubes stuffed with horsehair run vertically 
up the sides of the helmet; I think I also have a long tube horizontally 
at about my forehead level. But there is a pamphlet somewhere describing 
a much better version, based on an actual surviving helm padding. My 
memory is that the "tubes" in that one are elongated triangles sewed 
together along the bottom half of the long sides, and that the tips have 
holes, perhaps grommets, with a thong going through them. It works as a 
suspension helm--tighten the thong and the helm rides higher.

I don't have a source for the pamphlet; hopefully someone else can offer 
more detailed information.
-- 
http://www.daviddfriedman.com/ http://daviddfriedman.blogspot.com/
Author of _Harald_, a fantasy without magic.
Published by Baen, in bookstores now

From: littleredeft@bluefrog.com
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: sources of horsehair
Date: 5 Mar 2007 09:28:10 -0800

> I would love to have some sources where folks could buy horsehair for
> stuffing items such as helm padding or for other A&S projects.

www.rochfordsupply.com  sells 25 lbs. for 200something dollars.
Shipping, when I asked, was around 20 bucks.  Maybe a group or
household would like to go in together to try it out.  You can also
get it on e-bay from a seller in england but the price was quite a bit
higher if I'm remembering correctly (although you may be able to get
smaller quantity)

Averill

From: David Friedman <ddfr@daviddfriedman.nopsam.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: sources of horsehair
Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:09:59 -0800

littleredeft@bluefrog.com wrote:
> > I would love to have some sources where folks could buy horsehair for
> > stuffing items such as helm padding or for other A&S projects.
> 
> www.rochfordsupply.com  sells 25 lbs. for 200something dollars.
> Shipping, when I asked, was around 20 bucks.  Maybe a group or
> household would like to go in together to try it out.  You can also
> get it on e-bay from a seller in england but the price was quite a bit
> higher if I'm remembering correctly (although you may be able to get
> smaller quantity)
> 
> Hope this is helpful :)
> Averill

I believe Tandy used to sell horsehair, although I've never bought any 
from them. I think it was long straight hairs for ornamental purpose in 
leatherwork.

The best solution might be to check either Goodwill or the equivalent or 
things left out for furniture trash pickup to see if you could find a 
mattress or sofa with horsehair stuffing. I'm not sure how easily one 
could identify that--I believe the one I used was already partly split 
open.
-- 
http://www.daviddfriedman.com/ http://daviddfriedman.blogspot.com/
Author of _Harald_, a fantasy without magic.
Published by Baen, in bookstores now

<the end>

Edited by Mark S. Harris	horsehair-msg	Page  of