Blacks Of Greenock Vintage Tent

[Chubbs]

A while back forum member Scott gifted me a vintage Blacks Of Greenock Good Companion Major tent. For the first time this evening I took it out of the bag to have a look. Wow, what a tent. These tents were made from the early thirties to the seventies out of Egyptian cotton and the flysheet was bought seperately. I gave it a quick look over and it looks to be in great condition apart from a small patch which looks like it was added years ago.

As it had been packed for many years the fusty smell was that overpowering I decided to start by giving the fly sheet a wash. The tents main sleeping section is 7 and a half foot by nearly 6 feet wide and the sewn in groundsheet is like an industrial scale tarp. This will have to be washed in the bath as its much too big for the machine, but again its in great condition.

I plan to reproof it once sorted and the most obvious one to use would be something like Fabsil or a wash in waterproofing agent. I don't know how true it is but a while back I read somewhere that Thompsons Water Seal was exactly the same stuff as Fabsil, but in a different tin and a lot cheaper.

What would you guys use to proof it and has any members ever had one of these tents.

Here is a pic of the tent.

http://i746.photobucket.com/albums/xx103/aneray/major_zps397375f7.jpg (http://s746.photobucket.com/user/aneray/media/major_zps397375f7.jpg.html)

[rossbird]

E' bye gum, tha durn't get many o' them t' pound!!!
That's a throwback to the days when tents were tents.
Looks like you got yourself a real bargain Chubbs:)
I believe Nikwax do a tent proofer, thought I'd throw this in as I like their products.

Tony

[jus_young]

http://www.blacksofgreenock.co.uk/acatalog/FAQs.html

Give them a call and see what they recommend. If it is canvas, does it need to be proofed? Limited knowledge on my part of these tents.

[Scott]

Im glad you like it. Its a bit of a weird one to set up but it is huge. Oh and sorry about the bag the original one fell apart and it was the only bag I could find that was big enough.

[David_JAFO]

hello,
Nice one BTW quote,"the fusty smell was that overpowering.." that's part of the character of these tents. I had up till a few years ago a 2 man Army tent from the 1950's national Service issue. I found it in storage & yes the canvas fusty/mothball smell engrained like most stored kit. I used that tent minus re-proofing for a while until one of the lads during a downpour decided to test see if the tent 'was' waterproof, before I could say 'Don't..' he run his digits down the side & the water came pouring in.. tsk tsk :rolleyes: Enjoy!
Regards
David

[shepherd]

stunning tent! i love it! .... love the old tents apposed to newer, more practical, ones!

[Thumbcrusher]

That is a class bit of kit! T^

[Chubbs]

http://www.blacksofgreenock.co.uk/acatalog/FAQs.html

Give them a call and see what they recommend. If it is canvas, does it need to be proofed? Limited knowledge on my part of these tents.

Thanks Jus

I sent them an email earlier so should hear back in the next few days.

Its a cracking tent. I did say that I would never ground dwell again after using my hammock but I used a camp bed last week for one of the two nights and thoroughly enjoyed it. It would be even better for Winter if I had a small burner installed :wink:.

[Chiseller]

That's a bobby dazzled :thumbup:

I've a Blacks vintage rucksac . Built to last

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/07/ty2ysaqy.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/07/epa2a2a9.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/07/azetyqej.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/07/bydere8u.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/07/9umyhuja.jpg


http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/01/u7ysaqyz.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/01/uvy6uzuh.jpg

[rik_uk3]

They are a great tent, one I have fond memories of having had one forty years ago; I had one in storage for years but sadly it 'died' on me. Its good quality cotton so any proprietary brand proofer will do the job for you chiseller. I'm not really buying anymore kit but I'd be tempted to go for a GC tent if I saw one.

[happybonzo]

a while back I read somewhere that Thompsons Water Seal was exactly the same stuff as Fabsil, but in a different tin and a lot cheaper

Thompsons used to be OK but the formulation has been changed and is longer suitable

One of the best chemicals on cotton/canvas was Mesowax but it's not made any more :(

So Nixwax or Fabsil is the only remaining choice

[ammo]

That is one fantastic tent. I got the trapper pack of Chiss, I'd love a tent to match. If you ever think of getting rid, please bear me in mind. Nice find.

[Rasputin]

Here is nessmuks recipe......To 10 quarts of water add 10 ounces of lime, and 4 ounces of alum; let it stand until clear; fold the cloth snugly and put it in another vessel, pour the solution on it, let it soak for 12 hours; then rinse in luke-warm rain water, stretch and dry in the sun,