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Midwest => Minnesota Renaissance Festival => Topic started by: groomporter on March 04, 2009, 07:58:42 AM

Title: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: groomporter on March 04, 2009, 07:58:42 AM
Anyone up for a day trip for shopping (and maybe see us)? We're giving a different event a try March 14 & 15 in New Ulm. It's Fur Trade era, but should be plenty of potentially piraty bits not to mention other bits that might have crossover usage. Sounds like the hall may even have a cash bar.

http://newulmtradefair.com/
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: Noble Dreg on March 04, 2009, 08:23:56 AM
Never been to an event of any type revolving around this era, this in spite of a love for all things with a historic/prehistoric nature.  Could be just the ticket to blow off the winter cobwebs!
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: CelticOne on March 08, 2009, 10:50:28 PM
Anyone else besides me considering going?

Hey Groom is it a grab encouraged event?
Quote from: groomporter on March 04, 2009, 07:58:42 AM
Anyone up for a day trip for shopping (and maybe see us)? We're giving a different event a try March 14 & 15 in New Ulm. It's Fur Trade era, but should be plenty of potentially piraty bits not to mention other bits that might have crossover usage. Sounds like the hall may even have a cash bar.

http://newulmtradefair.com/

Ohh piratey type stuff could be had. I am gonna need some cash that weekend. ;D
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: groomporter on March 09, 2009, 07:58:38 AM
I'ld call it garb optional, the vendors and demonstrators will all be in pre-1840's clothing, and some of the reenactor customers may show up in garb, but not having been to this one before, I couldn't say how many. Should be a good place for finding things like tricorns or inexpensive hat blanks that can be turned into tricorns. Plenty of leather and fur. There are a few pictures and a couple newspaper articles in the "2008 in review" section of the website
http://newulmtradefair.com/page/1ks5p/2008_in_Review.html

Here's a few of the vendors who are supposed to be there for which I could find websites.
http://threadbarestitchery.com/
http://www.cousindavesilversmith.com/
http://www.brookings.com/dsp/ (Stoneware)
http://www.donelsoncustommuzzleloaders.com/
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: groomporter on March 09, 2009, 08:13:02 AM
By the way, "Fur Trade Era" for reenacting purposes is usually considered late 1700's up to about 1840.

Of course that overlaps with the War of 1812 (aka "the war of the funny hats" as our friends sometimes call it) which is coming up on it's 200th anniversary, so that will be big in the next few years.
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: SleepyArcher on March 10, 2009, 09:54:59 AM
Well I might just find me a flintlock pistol that Ive wanted. Will have to check the calender and the wallet.
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: Lord Figaro on March 10, 2009, 01:23:54 PM
DANG DANG DANG, I saw a flintlock at the AZRF that I was drooling over. I hope it's still there when we go back. You guys have fun.
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: groomporter on March 12, 2009, 07:53:25 AM
Speaking of piraty stuff, in time for this weekend we -might- have more of our "vice pouches" (seen here: http://historicgames.com/parts.html ) in black with a skull and crossed bones. (Sorry can't find the picture of the original one we had)
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: groomporter on March 12, 2009, 08:30:43 PM
Poo...
Our friend who makes the vice pouches for us didn't come by :-\
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: majikboxman on March 14, 2009, 12:28:57 PM
Boy it was pretty tight quarters in the upstairs. Was good to chat with GP for a bit. For those looking for trinkets or & flintlock stuff... be sure to look before spending your wad as there is allot of great stuff there. Even beyond those 2 items, tons of stuff that could easily make the jump over for Fest garb items.  In the second room on the first floor they have some really nice shirts @ $20 each.  Noticed a few nice old looking claymores & other swords.  Lot's of Native American stuff.  Few vendors had some great fabrics.

Got a great deal on some nice hat blanks '2 for 15 bucks'.  Going to try to make a tri-corn out of one.  Also picked up a neat looking 'M' wax stamper so I can now stamp my mark ;).
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: CelticOne on March 14, 2009, 10:25:56 PM
Yeah it was tight quarters. I had both of the kids, I shoulda broght the stroller made I could have moved then. LOL.

Sorry GP for not making it back down to visit, Gwen got tired and cranky.

I agree I will have to look into it next year, heck I may have found a vendor to make my flintlock.*big grin*
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: groomporter on March 15, 2009, 09:25:44 PM
Had a good time. Things downstairs were a better fit for us with the other demonstrators and more space in general although Mike the organizer had us placed for upstairs originally (we got there early in case we had space issues and they were willing to move us) . There did seem to be a high percentage of muzzle loader sellers/makers/suppliers.

We were right next to an incredible blacksmith who was making keys for period locks he builds himself. I saw some pictures of his other stuff and it puts most blacksmiths to shame. I overheard one of the gun makers talking to him about making some "key guns"  -A large door key with a small gun built into the shaft of the key (something I have seen a picture of recently). The gun maker was going to supply him with some gun barrels to work with.

See also the Smartflix thread in the crafts area here for something I heard about.
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: escherblacksmith on March 18, 2009, 05:04:42 PM
Was the smith Tom Latane' from Lake Pepin, by any chance?

Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: groomporter on March 18, 2009, 08:16:19 PM
I'm pretty sure that's him. Was he part of the local guild?
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: escherblacksmith on March 19, 2009, 09:15:07 AM
yup, also was featured on American Masters some years ago.  He usually brings something to our conference every year . . . like this:

(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_sr-u6lnCu9Y/RvmUZ-hil3I/AAAAAAAAAjA/wDQ_Dzopwd0/s288/IMG_1801.JPG)

Arguably one of the best smiths in the world.
Title: Re: New Ulm Trade Fair
Post by: renren on March 19, 2009, 06:00:52 PM
Quote from: majikboxman on March 14, 2009, 12:28:57 PM
Boy it was pretty tight quarters in the upstairs. Was good to chat with GP for a bit. For those looking for trinkets or & flintlock stuff... be sure to look before spending your wad as there is allot of great stuff there. Even beyond those 2 items, tons of stuff that could easily make the jump over for Fest garb items.  In the second room on the first floor they have some really nice shirts @ $20 each.  Noticed a few nice old looking claymores & other swords.  Lot's of Native American stuff.  Few vendors had some great fabrics.

Got a great deal on some nice hat blanks '2 for 15 bucks'.  Going to try to make a tri-corn out of one.  Also picked up a neat looking 'M' wax stamper so I can now stamp my mark ;).


Oh, that's a good price? Where'd you purchase them from?