Trade/Camp Mirror

[buffcreekforge]

Yesterday, I threw together a trade mirror. I based it off an original (dated somewhere between 1820-1840) I saw in the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, Nebraska back in 1985. The frame is made of brass, with a 3" X 4 1/2" mirror. I put a 1/2 sunburst around the attachment hole and lightly aged the whole thing. As always, I appreciate the opportunity to share with the community. I remain your humble servant, Just Dave!

 

[coloradoclyde]

Interesting....What is the mirror made of?

 

[Black Hand]

Handy to have in the West to check oneself for 6- and 8-legged livestock...

 

[coloradoclyde]

Handy for first-aid too....The other day a drill chip flew in my eye, would have been difficult to remove without a mirror....could have just as easily been a thorn.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Handy for first-aid too....The other day a drill chip flew in my eye, would have been difficult to remove without a mirror....could have just as easily been a thorn.

Uh-Oh! :shocked2: Hope all is well.

 

[Artificer]

Yesterday, I threw together a trade mirror. I based it off an original (dated somewhere between 1820-1840) I saw in the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, Nebraska back in 1985. The frame is made of brass, with a 3" X 4 1/2" mirror. I put a 1/2 sunburst around the attachment hole and lightly aged the whole thing. As always, I appreciate the opportunity to share with the community. I remain your humble servant, Just Dave!

Dave,

Was the original mirror you saw made of glass and backed with an amalgum of Tin and Mercury? That was the most inexpensive way to make a mirror in the 18th/Early 19th century from what I have read other than use a polished brass or even a polished Tinned Iron Mirror.

Wiki says the invention of the silvered-glass mirror is credited to German chemist Justus von Liebig in 1835.

Or am I completely off base and that is a polished Tinned Iron or Steel mirror?

Not trying to be nitpicky. I am just very interested in what the original mirror was made of.

Gus

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

Very cool ! :thumbsup:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Handy for first-aid too....The other day a drill chip flew in my eye, would have been difficult to remove without a mirror....could have just as easily been a thorn.

Uh-Oh! :shocked2: Hope all is well.

Yep! luckily....it landed in the corner, but a blue hot chip burning there is not enjoyable...Because it was burning me, it made it difficult to tell where is was or how bad it was until I could see it. Felt like it was in the eye....Luckily the wife was home to remove it for me. I was stupid and didn't have safety glasses on....But still smart enough to know not to touch it when it hit me.

 

[necchi]

Nicely done :thumbsup:

 

[buffcreekforge]

I cut the mirror from a 12"X12" mirror - then I gave it my own aging treatment for the appearance of age! :grin:

 

[buffcreekforge]

Been a lot of years since I saw the original (1985), but what I remember it appeared to be a mirror, not polished surface. :grin:

 

[Artificer]

Been a lot of years since I saw the original (1985), but what I remember it appeared to be a mirror, not polished surface. :grin:

Thank you. Then most likely it was made from glass with a Tin/Mercury Amalgam applied to the back, though it might have been possible it was a Silver/Mercury Amalgam.

Gus

 

[Crewdawg445]

Neat! Can't go without a mirror!