Caligae sources

[Flavius Promotus]

The pattern certainly is not bad, but the way the heel is done is just awful IMHO...

Not only in yours... hock:

Martin, are you going to visit the AFA (Augsburger Frühjahrsausstellung) in April ? I'm probably there.

[DECIMvS MERCATIvS VARIANvS]

I have never walked in snow with caligae, but with 3rd century closed boots - my feet became soaking wet from melting snow in no time, so it probably does not matter that much whether footwear was 'closed' or 'open'.

[size=150:zv4r82t6]F[/size]lavius, do you grease your boots? I am talking about with fat or something like that? I know I have read some stuff by Fur Trade period reenactors who heavily grease their footwear, some even wearing two pairs -- one inside the other :-0 Just a thought.

[Flavius Promotus]

Hi Decimus,
I regularly treat the upper leather AND the sole with neatsfoot oil - this is especially necessary in winter (the road salt is a real killer). A little oil on the nails keeps rust away between individual 'missions'. This is certainly not authentic as Roman shoes were worn every day, not now and then.

For the laces I use 'boot butter'. You get it by heating beeswax and neatsfoot oil fifty-fifty. After greasing the laces and eyelets with this stuff I use a small wooden stick (usually from a paintbrush or a wooden spoon) to massage 'the butter' into the leather by quickly rubbing the wood over the leather. This is quite time-consuming, but I haven't experienced a snapped lace, yet.

[Martin Moser]

I use neatsfoot oil as well and have had no problems with dry, cracking leather so far either ...

cheers,

Martin

(Flavius, I sent you a PM re AFA, btw)

[DECIMvS MERCATIvS VARIANvS]

Hi Decimus,
I regularly treat the upper leather AND the sole with neatsfoot oil - this is especially necessary in winter (the road salt is a real killer). A little oil on the nails keeps rust away between individual 'missions'. This is certainly not authentic as Roman shoes were worn every day, not now and then.

[size=150:387vtp6h]I[/size]'d go further and use something like Sno-Seal or better yet, Pecard's Leather Dressing... or, you can even use regular shoe wax like Kiwi ([size=75:387vtp6h]though not as good[/size]) -- I get it hot ([size=75:387vtp6h]i.e. light it on fire, then drop the lid on it to extinguish the flame[/size]) and use a shoe brush and "mooosh" it into all the cracks and seams, covering the shoe w/ it... at least that's what I do on later-period boots. It works!!

Again, if you're interested, the frontier period "trekkers" use 2 pairs of boots (moccasin-type), one inside the other... seems ot work for them.

[D. Gabinivs Sepia]

For the fur trade the mix I have been using is a 50/50 mixture of rendered tallow and bees wax witch when rubbed in to the leather of the moccasin makes it water proof for about 8 hrs of use. You dry that set at night by the fire and re apply the mix in the morning. Put two layers of wool between you and the moccasin and your feet are nice and toasty.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I got a perfecty good pair of caligae from Sarah Juniper!
Not cheap, but well made to measure!

[Martin Moser]

I got a perfecty good pair of caligae from Sarah Juniper!
Not cheap, but well made to measure!

Vey interesting, do you have some good pics of those that show more than the one on her website?

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I may have......... :lol:

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315 ... CF0018.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315 ... CF0019.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315 ... CF0020.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315 ... CF0021.jpg

Maybe not the best pics, but they show most of the details.

Hope to get some proper hobnails when these wear out, as the are the flat tipped ones by la previa or whoever! fairly comfortable, and you can get them with a more open toed construction as well! I just thought I would go for this as it seemed to afford better protection to the toes against foes stomping/crushing with scutum edge, etc!

regards and waiting............ :wink:

[Martin Moser]

I may have.........

Well, it would be nice to see them ;-) )

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I take it they have left you speechless? :lol:

[Martin Moser]

Ah, thanks! Couldn't see the links when I first saw your post - strange ...

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

:oops: sorry, My apologies! I added them after, but thought it would notify you via e-mail! :?

regards

[Mark Headlee]

Gentlemen,

I guess this would be a good place to do a "plug" for one of the best researched and most helpful makers of Roman footwear I have had the pleasure to meet (though be it in cyberspace). His prices are comparable to many of the makers of Roman footwear, and in my opinion are well worth every penny...

I have a pair based on finds at Vindolanda "on order", made to measure. They are going to be dyed with iron-vinegar dye, and will no doubt last me for many, many years and will no doubt be the source of many "oohs and aah's" for many events to come....

Give him a email. Just talking to him about his research is well worth your time... :wink:

Oh, I almost forgot his name....Martin Moser

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Yes. I agree.

We all know Martin Moser, because it's a very active member of our commnunity. We know too his work, and probably even your calligae, because he always share with us his work.