looking to make a “Mess chest"

[Woods Dweller]

I am looking to make a “Mess chest” I have read that Gen. George Washington
Carried an elaborate mess chest with him.

[It sites in the Smithsonian Institution]
In this mess chest he carried: 2 pewter platters,6 pewter plates, 4 pots with detachable wooden handles, folding grill, 8 bottles of spirits, containers for seasoning, 2 knives, 4 forks, and 2 tinder boxes.

Have any of you seen or made one of these Mess chest? If so could you post photos or give me a link.
Thanks for your help

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Well the general's was for a "general officer" so was rather elaborate, so you could do with something simpler, but if you want the top of the line, here is an image of a copy of Washington's mess chest. It is nothing more than a well made, lockable box, with compartments to hold all of his stuff. This is not the same as a "camp kitchen" that many folks or units/clubs have at events.

I think you should decide what items you will need, including if you are to entertain guests at your table in camp (something that Washington was expected to do, and he entertained other generals and other senior officers). So for example, if your guests will bring their own eating and drinking gear, you don't need to set a full table. You might have one or two extra sets for the folks who are invited to eat at the last minute, but didn't bring gear with them. If they are well-to-do you may want pewter, but if they are "proper frontier trash" like me, a wooden bowl, a cup, and a spoon works very well. :grin:

Then build a box to suit the equipment. Keep in mind that lighter is better, so perhaps you may want to confine your stuff to copper and tin, with a few trivets and perhaps a gridiron. Much of Washington's stuff nested like his pots and even his gridiron folded up.

LD

 

[Jim Blair]

Link-

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object.cfm?key=35&objkey=41

 

[Woods Dweller]

Thanks Dave & Jim.

That is a great photo of Washington's mess chest. But I am not looking for something that elaborate.
I am looking for something more down to earth. Such as this. http://masterpiecewoodcrafters.net/Mess-Chest.html

I was hoping someone here might have made something like this and had measurements or plans. I can just look at the photo and get an idea and go with that.


"I" was like you at one time Dave, A "proper frontier trash" I had an 8X7 A-frame tent with an awning, sleep on the ground, my cooking gear was a fry pan wooden bowl,cup, spoon & fork.
I could carry everything in the back seat of my car.

Then about 4 years ago my wife got involved, Now I have to rent a trailer to carry all my stuff.

10X12 wall tent to sleep in, break apart bed, [I made]. A wash table for bowl & pitcher.

A smaller wall tent 10X10 [I made] serves as a kitchen & shower room, with a food box & work table.

My 8X7 A-frame tent now serves as an awning between the two wall tents with a Table and 2 bench [I made] under the open A-frame awning.

Now my DW wants a nice pewter table setting so we can invite people over for dinner & entertaining.

I said all that to say! Now I need a mess chest.

 

[Birdman]

rotflmbo oh I know yer pain, next will come indoor heat and then an indoor toilet of sorts. After that she may want a desk or something simaler to sit at to write letters n such. :haha: It's amazeing how much gear ends up getting hauled to n from when the good woman gets involved(most anyway)oh yea if she hasn't already she will notice a few shower set ups in larger encampments and probably ask about haveing one of those. Roughing it anymore is Holiday Inn n not Empire Suiets. :blah: Ya no more get all done setting up n its time to start breaking down to head home :stir: I wonder if all this isn't some sneaky female way of keeping an eye on us when we want to play. :surrender: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Yes that is what I suspected...,

OK so try to glean the dimensions of the stuff, or actually get the stuff, you are going to use, and build the box around it. There are lots of plans out there on the internet, but if the gear you get after you build your box doesn't fit....

The other caveate is to watch the weight of the box itself, and all the stuff that goes into it. I've seen way too many really luxurious camp kitchens that needed a four-man team to unship 'em from the trailer. Pewter or a pewter-like substitute is heavy, tin is much less. Wood may be prettier than tin, but it takes up more room, but on the other hand isn't as hot when carrying hot food as tin or pewter. Historically speaking, even a person of good economic means in the 18th century often might be found with "mismatched" table settings when dining. It's not like they could dash off to the china outlet store for a replacement when they broke a plate of Lenox pattern "046-pink", eh?

LD

 

[Woods Dweller]

rotflmbo oh I know yer pain, next will come indoor heat and then an indoor toilet of sorts. After that she may want a desk or something simaler to sit at to write letters n such. It's amazeing how much gear ends up getting hauled to n from when the good woman gets involved(most anyway)oh yea if she hasn't already she will notice a few shower set ups in larger encampments and probably ask about haveing one of those. Roughing it anymore is Holiday Inn n not Empire Suiets. Ya no more get all done setting up n its time to start breaking down to head home I wonder if all this isn't some sneaky female way of keeping an eye on us when we want to play.

indoor heat; already have it. And guess who is up most of the night feeding it wood?
indoor toilet; already have it. And guess who empty's the bucket?

shower set ups; already have it. Pump up garden sprayer with a shower end on it.

We only go to the Rody once a year, for 10 days.

I wonder if all this isn't some sneaky female way of keeping an eye on us when we want to play.

For many,many years my DW never wanted to go. I would always beg & plead for her to going. Lol. I got what I wanted! Don't get me wrong, we have a great time together. I just did not realize how much more work it was going to be.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Here ( I hope) is a picture of a simple "knock down" camp kitchen, The legs and base are a "slip fit".

p://[/img]

 

[Woods Dweller]

Thanks Ohio ramrod for the Photo of the “camp kitchen” or “food box”. What I am looking for is a “Mess chest”. A small box that holds just plats, cups, knife, fork, spoons, small pots & pans, serving platters. Here is a link to a photo of one. http://masterpiecewoodcrafters.net/Mess-Chest.html

 

[Woods Dweller]

I think I am going to do as Dave said: Build my “Mess Chest” around what I have. I'll use 1”thick for the bottom and top and split 1” thick to make the sides ½ thick.
Thanks Guys.

 

[gearheart]

Make sure you use dovetail joints in all the corners.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

DANG IT!

NOW all of this talk and that nice link from Woods Dweller has the woodwork bug boring into me, and now I have to build something, like a combination table that is also a mess chest, or some such item. :shocked2: I've been meaning to get a proper container for my personal camp, so I guess now I have to make something. :wink:

LD

 

[Woods Dweller]

DANG IT!

NOW all of this talk and that nice link from Woods Dweller has the woodwork bug boring into me, and now I have to build something, like a combination table that is also a mess chest, or some such item. I've been meaning to get a proper container for my personal camp, so I guess now I have to make something.

:grin: lol, I'll do the same thing here. See something and want to make it. :wink: :thumbsup:

Thanks everyone. :hatsoff:

 

[VTdeerhunter]

They really understood how to pack things back then, notice the top cover on the GW chest pictures, it reminds me of the ones my grandfather made (tool chests, camping gear chests, etc.) they all used the inside of the lid to store thigs as well, most stuff made today seem to miss this potential spot for things...just an observation, please post pics of your project when you get her done, would love to see it..

 

[Woods Dweller]

please post pics of your project when you get her done, would love to see it..

I will do. Right now I am makeing my Grand children a toy box.

 

[Poor Private]

someone has posted a link to a nice chest up in a previous thread campaign chest. That bugger looks like just the ticket.

 

[mmahlock]

I think I am going to do as Dave said: Build my “Mess Chest” around what I have. I'll use 1”thick for the bottom and top and split 1” thick to make the sides ½ thick.
Thanks Guys.

My experience with boxes and weight have lead me to 5/8" thickness for the sides with 1/4 " for the bottom. 1/4" can also work for the top depending on the box design otherwise 5/8" for the top.

The sides should be joined with either box or dovetail joints for strength.

I look forward to what you come up with. I got carried away with my first box of this type and ended up with this.

It was designed to hold all by dinnerware set for four (plate, bowl, silverware including serving pieces, 1/2 pt cups), large bowl, platter, pitcher, cooking knives, teapot, plus some dry stuffs such as tea, spices, and dehydrated peas, beans, corn, potatoes, and rice and a couple of small copper cooking kettles.