Newfangled camping bed

[ValeTudoGuy]

I recently told my Grandma that I was getting back into the outdoors, when I went to visit her today she told me that she had found a camping bed that I could have.

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Turns out that it was her fathers, my great grandad.



This is her using it in 1941. It made me smile so I thought that I would share.

 

[Hunkyfunkster]

That's an awesome piece of kit, with a great story.

 

[Robson Valley]

What a dusty memory from western Canada = I've slept on one of those! Thank you.

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

It's [relatively] light too. I wouldnt mind a modern reproduction to actually try it out.



I really wish she still had the family tent. Lol

 

[Tengu]

Yes, they are the mutts nuts.

And I imagine a wooden one would creak a lot less than my ali.

Have you the end bars?

 

[Robson Valley]

There were 4 of those bed things, a picnic table and 2 smallish folding camp stools. I would never be able to camp far from the car.
Everything weighted a huge amount, unlike yours. Any thoughts on the kind of wood?
Ours were likely birch. I still have one of the little folding stools. I'd like that tent.

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

Yes, they are the mutts nuts.

And I imagine a wooden one would creak a lot less than my ali.

Have you the end bars?

She cant find them. Though she has a pretty big and full multi room cellar... I will investigate when I get the chance.

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

I havent a clue on the wood, its really not within my sphere of knowledge and I wouldnt even know how to identify it.

 

[Mesquite]

I havent a clue on the wood, its really not within my sphere of knowledge and I wouldnt even know how to identify it.

Most likely beech if the others I've seen are anything to go on

 

[petrochemicals]

Yes, they are the mutts nuts.

And I imagine a wooden one would creak a lot less than my ali.

Have you the end bars?

Good eye !


Be careful as that material and stitching is almost certainly suspect, its likely to give way maybe at about 3am in a howling subzero icestorm !

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

I dont think I will be using this one. Though I might find another one or try to make [more likely commision] a copy to actually use.

A bamboo or carbon fibre one could be strong and very light... Though carbon could be overkill

 

[Mesquite]

I dont think I will be using this one. Though I might find another one or try to make [more likely commision] a copy to actually use.

Plenty of modern versions for sale as well as wooden ones on ebay.

If you go for a modern ali one get the M.III version

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

Thanks, I will have a look and probably get one. Still I might have a crack at making one just for fun. A quick look on a wood database makes me think that Sitka Spruce or White Cedar could make a stong and light bed.

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

Well, I can't yet find the end slats... But I found his cooking pans:



And his version of the Bahco Laplander 😂

 

[petrochemicals]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-A...409861?hash=item41c05106c5:g:OaMAAOSwOyJX3qCF

You could get one of these and try it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Army-Camp...001348?hash=item4b115f3cc4:g:eCEAAOSwo4pYlyuR

 

[Paul_B]

Love the saw! My grandfather's family came from north parts of Michigan, logging was the family business. Back then those saws and bigger were the tools of the trade. Tough work i reckon.

Unfortunately my family only got into camping with my parent's generation so the oldest kit owned was a leather and canvas frame rucksack from the 60s. Long since binned.

Have fun making a replica. At least you have the template to work from. As for the tent, i bet if you had enough photographs you could find someone to make a replica. It'll be a fairly standard design I reckon.

 

[Laurence Milton]

Aaa...lovely

Used to sleep on one like that in my Grans attic as a child when back in this country.................

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

It's an older version of the US Army bed used on the TV comedy series M.A.S.H.
It's quite interesing to see that in hospitals the beds were identical, but had add on poles and gadgets for things like medical details mozi net, and I.V. fluids.

I have a US army Manual that describes the Army issue bed as:


Canvas cot and insect bar frame (it has four uprights going from the corner feet through the canvas and meeting a cross bar each end making a "goalpost" each end)
funny thing is...The cot insect net which is box shaped is also designed to fit exactly into the US Army Shelter half "pup tent" as an insect net, which was an elongated square sided Diamond shape, as shown below, don't know how it worked but that was the design!

Heres some more info on the stock numbers and associated kit amazing what Web searches come up with

 

[ValeTudoGuy]

How interesting!

One of the end slats has now been found... But my Gran thinks that the other was broken years ago and thats why it was put out of comisison.

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

If you're stick for Beech wood you could try Ash, or hickory, it's often used for tool handles so it's strong and flexible.