Project Blog - Historic Sporrans / Brass Cantle Project

[artificer]

I would be most surprised if the original cantles were sand-cast. They look to me to be constructed (jeweler's term for saw and solder work as opposed to casting). So I think you are making yourself a bigger hurdle than you need to here.

Just a thought: I've wondered if modern attachment schemes might be brought to bear on the leather work, so that one could swap a hair sporran for a leather one on the same cantle? Velcro?

The original construction varied. Many that we've seen pictured here and elsewhere were in fact built-up, but we've definitely seen some that were sand casted.

My same metal worker pal can do the cut&solder method, but sand casting allows for quicker, less intensive production after the initial masters are made.

We're still exploring both options, but leaning toward sand casting. This is especially true for a very ornate Victorian design which would otherwise have to be produced using repousse' and chasing.

As to the 'quick change' bag idea, it's intriguing, even tempting. I think that I'd rather stay true to the originals rather than risk compromising the design and construction.

[artificer]

Quick update,
I found a good supplier of turned brass knobs and finials.



Most are available in several suitable sizes, so I'll be spoiled for choice.
I'm particularly excited about the 1/2 dome. As this will allow for
some very cool options like the 'trick lock' figheadair has shown HERE.

ith:

[hylander]

Quick update,
I found a good supplier of turned brass knobs and finials.

ith:

Care to share your find?

[MacBean]

Care to share your find?

I'm curious about this too. I did search for "brass turnings balls caps knobs and finials" and came up with some similar, but not this one. What about this? http://www.libertybrass.com/

I do agree that the slide mechanism may be nicer than a pull or push (and that one doesn't want much of a knob for this or else it may catch and release accidentally).

[artificer]

I'm curious about this too. I did search for "brass turnings balls caps knobs and finials" and came up with some similar, but not this one. What about this? http://www.libertybrass.com/

I do agree that the slide mechanism may be nicer than a pull or push (and that one doesn't want much of a knob for this or else it may catch and release accidentally).

That's the right one, they're all there. I just collaged the images from various offerings into one image for ease of viewing, to eliminate the extraneous things, and to compress the scale a bit. It also aids me in sketching to have them all in one place.

[artificer]

Here's a set of horse hair tassels I've just sent out.

These were commissioned.

The little ring riding right at the top of the bell is to prevent the chain sliding out of position during shipping, and is removed once the tassels are installed in the sporran.

In the near future I hope to start making the bells from brass, nickel, and cast pewter (ornate Victorian style).

I'm still experimenting with various sizes of bells, as well as patterns for the bottom edges of the bells and pinked leather trims that rest between the metal and horse hair.

This project gets more and more intricate every time I do something..