|
US ARMY SIBLEY TENT CENTER POLE TRIPOD – ONLY ONE
OTHER KNOWN TO EXIST – VERY RARE ITEM OF EARLY US ARMY
FIELD EQUIPMENT: This US Army Sibley Tent
center pole support tripod assembly is an extremely rare
piece of early field equipment. Designed in the
mid-1850’s by Major Henry H. Sibley of the 2nd
Dragoons, this famous tent and its furnishings continued
in service well through the Indian War era. The rarity
of this tripod cannot be overstated, as only one other
specimen is known to exist in a very advanced private
collection. Due to the utilitarian nature of this
tripod and the endless uses that could be found for
these on the frontier long after the tents were no
longer in service, these tripods disappeared into farms,
ranches and a variety of other uses on the army posts
and they simply did not survive the passage of time.
This specimen was found years ago in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, likely a remnant of the Federal occupation of
that city during the Civil War. As shown on pages 203,
214, and 215, in William Brown’s THE ARMY CALLED IT
HOME, this tripod was designed to support the tent’s
center pole with the integral socket at the top of the
assembly and allow for the Sibley Stove to be placed in
the area accommodated by the legs of the tripod.
The hook depending from the bottom of center socket of
the tripod provided an point to hang a cook or coffee
pot against the hot surface of the stove. This specimen
has a heavy patina, is complete with all the components
and the legs move freely. This tripod would be an
outstanding addition to an early US Frontier Army
display setting over a Sibley Stove, recreating the
Spartan existence of the troops in the field.
SOLD
|
