question about Loculus O-Ring

[Lucius Duccius Rufinus]

Hey guys, havent posted here in a while,

just about finished my loculus (my 3rd attempt at this i think i've got it pretty accurate this time!)

but my question is the o-ring used on most Loculus's i've seen how do you get the (excuse the lack of terminology) sticky up bit that keeps the flap down?? or is there anything wrong with just having a hole punched through and using some leather thonging to keep it tied to the o-ring?

All responses welcome, and pictures of my bag to follow

[jvrjenivs]

As far as I know none of these bags has been found, so all we do is base the design on graphical evidence, like Trajans column. That said, it is hard to tell how there bags were closed, so leather thonging would be fine as well, in my opinion.

[Lucius Duccius Rufinus]

ahh thanks for the help jvrjenivs! prompt reply as always!!

how have you done yours? i vaguely remember seeing pictures years ago of your one.

Cheers

[jvrjenivs]

Mine is made with a O-ring with button from Raymond Quiet press (item RB-17)

A rather bad picture of it:


Although it is hard to see, a better picture of me using it:

[Lucius Duccius Rufinus]

Ahh looks excellent!! what have you used for your straps? they look unusual! I Was thinking just a handle as opposed to straps, but doing another one with straps, as apparently its debatable wether there were shoulder straps or not? this was according to Gaius Julius Caesar (the board member not the actual caesar!) i havent actually looked too much into the column depictions, i have seen one or two where the loculus are being carried on the T bar, but none with shoulder straps, however most than willing to be proved wrong!

[jvrjenivs]

As you can see on the first picture, originally my bag only had some thongs on the rings to put it onto my furca. But, I wanted to take that bag (or rather the stuff that is inside it) with me, even when I'm not carrying my furca. So I decided to add a shoulder strap. As I didn't had any leather belts available at that moment, I used 3 pieces of leather thong and twined them. So, thats what is on there ever since. I think a leather belt would be better, but I'm just too lazy to replace it.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

this was according to Gaius Julius Caesar (the board member not the actual caesar!)

Are you positive about that??? :lol:

[M. Demetrius]

You have arrived, GJC. They're attributing quotes to you. Fame is fleeting: enjoy it while you have it.... :wink: Sell autographs. :!:

BTW, I made my ring from a gutter nail, bending the head over at 90 degrees, then forming the rest of the shaft into a circle, and welding the ring shut where the tip returned to the bend. Innovative maybe, farby perhaps, but at that time, I couldn't justify 18USD plus shipping for a 4cm toggle ring.

[Tim Edwards]

These rings are normally associated with belts where found in context.

Use on bags is pure conjecture, unfortunately because we all copy each other they have become widely accepted as fact!

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Well, they work, . As was pointed out, I don't think anyone has found one intact....

[Crispvs]

My loculus is normally attached to a T-shaped carrying pole with leather thonging but I have a strap for it as well which I can attach if I want to use if as a more convenient shoulder bag. My strap is a simple leather strap with a loop at one end and lace holes in the other. I pass the strap through the carrying loop on the bag, pass it through the loop in its own end and pull it tight. I then pass the other end through the other carrying loop and turn it back on itself, before lacing it together through the lace holes. It is just as easy to detach again. There is not evidence for this but I find it conveniently simple. As I tend to think of the loculus as the soldier's tool bag (as opposed to his clothing bag or food bag), he might need to be able to detach it from his marching kit from time to time. We might remember here that the Herculaneum soldier was found with the remains of a tool bag.

My own loculus has a brass ring with a button for securing the flap, bought many years ago from Nodge Nolan. It works well but if I was making it now I would certainly consider securing the flap with thonging, as this is how the flaps of some pouches and bags which have been found have been secured.

Crispvs

[Quintius Clavus]

My loculus was made by Matt Amt a few years back, of goat skin leather. He graciously sacrificed 3 large flat bronze rings (he was getting seriously started on his bronze age impressions at the time), one of which is used for tying the flap down. The other two are at the top corners and the carrying strap passes through them. I use it to carry my eating stuff: 2 wood spoons, 1 horn spoon, a fish-fork, a wood bowl, an eating knife (which itself is an antique-though not Roman), my samian ware cup in a linen bag, a small silver cup, a couple linen cloths; also a few other items: iron shears, a wood needle case(with needles), a ball of linen thread and a few lengths of leather lacing. It manages to hold quite a lot.

[Marcus Julius]

I think what you're referring to by the "sticky up" part, is the post that extends off the ring to hook the closure flap on?

It was always my understanding that the ring, with this closure post, were cast as one piece. It's listed under "belt fittings", but take a look at RB-17, about a quarter of the way down this page:
[url:2r94fgtw]https://www.quietpress.com/Roman_Brooches_and_Belt_Fi.html[/url]