Old canvas tents

[Robmc]

I was visiting a friend in Cumbria at the weekend, and I noticed 2 large bags in his porch. One was labelled Bradford Tent and Cover Company, and the other was labelled Blacks of Greenock.

I asked what his plans were for them, and he said he was going to throw them away. I unwrapped the blacks tent, and it appeared to be a 2-3 man ridge tent in bright orange, obviously quite old with a sacking skirt round the bottom, a bit grubby and musty.

Question is, can these tents be cleaned up, I know they were well respected in their day.

There were no poles or pegs with it.

I have asked him to hold fire on chucking it until I can get some info.

 

[Robson Valley]

Of course! Set them up for an overall (inside and out) scrub with detergent and hot water. Not enough to mess with the waterproofing,
just enough to freshen them up (takes a lot of water to rinse.) I use a 24" floor brush with the tents flat. Cleaned them up for my D2/SIL & twin boys.
Pegs are a dime a dozen in camping stores.

The deal is, if the fabric itself hasn't rotted, you're good to go. If the waterproofing is shot, a tarp fixes that.
How tall are they? Could you stand up in either one?

 

[Kerne]

I found a couple of very old Vango Force 10s that were faded but had not rotted. I set them up then:

• washed them to get the dirt off (using a hose ans scrubbing brush),
• let them dry
• painted a solution of Milton inside and out
• let them dry again...
• painted them with canvas reproofer
• let them dry...

I've since used one of them in pretty foul weather and it held up well - no leaks and cosy inside.

BTW: I bought specialist canvas reproofer but when I opened it smelled like dilute PVA. If that's really what it is then you can do the job cheaply. (Of course, there could be some secret ingredient involved that justifies the exorbitant price...)

 

[oldtimer]

When I first stated camping, tents were ONLY canvas, or egyptian cotton, and I would re-proof mine every year with "Nev" or Grangers Solution. Both of these did smell a bit like PVA now I come to think of it. Before the annual proof I would wash with soap and water, rinse and dry before applying the proofing. In the attic I still have the tent my father bought me in 1949 when I was eight. I'm scared to get it out of the bag in case it falls apart.

In its day it withstood quite a bit of abuse including a long cycle trip through the maw of an English summer.

 

[Robmc]

Thanks all for the info, I will pass it on to him and maybe he will be able to make them presentable enough to sell, rather than throw away!

To answer RV's question re height, the one I saw (Blacks of Greenock) were about 4 feet tall, so not enough to stand up in. I think they were used by the Scouts a few years back.

Thanks again.

 

[Countryman]

My wife fell for an old canvas frame tent that my kids badgered me to buy from our Church fate.

Honestly it's superior in many ways to our more modern tents. Just have to get used to the brown and orange.

I'm now in the market for a Force 10!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Robmc]

I've just realised. The tent is not bright orange at all! It is in fact grubby green.

I think I must have got myself confused when I was googling 'Blacks of Greenock'.

Stupid boy!

 

[superc0ntra]

Try waxing them in order to water proof. Go old school all the way.