Paddy Pallin tent

[journeyman]

Hi there,

Many years ago my Dad handed over to me his tent thinking that I would get more use out of it than he - and I've been thankful ever since as I've had enormous use out of this tent which he bought way back in 1966. Its a very simple tent and incredibly versatile. A couple of years ago I took three months off and paddled down the Darling River and I used it each night. It kept some pretty heavy rain off which is pretty impressive considering that it is over forty years old. The problem is of course that it is getting to the end of its use by date and to be honest I would much rather a like-for-like replacement rather than some new fangled tent thingy.

The material it is made out of is a joy to pitch and listen to. I think that it is silk japarra and if I could possibly find any of this material I would make my own tent. Can anybody help? Does anybody know where you can source this material?

[Franco]

Hi Journeyman
Thank you for posting that.
I have never seen the shelter but I was aware of it because it was discussed at Paddy many years ago.
Every so often we discussed how simple workable Paddy inspired gear became heavier and more complex due to ...well not everyone being Paddy like.
The person that knew about it has long gone but I vaguely remember that the fabric was sourced from England .
I imagine that silk refers only to the weight as it was (likely) waked cotton .
Franco

[corvus]

G'day Journeyman,
The picture of that tent brings back memories A- frame no sewn in floor and it would have been Waxed Egyptian Cotton,cut you own poles and pegs
Don't think I would like to have my campfire as close to my SiNylon shelter come to think of it I don't think I ever had a fire that close to any shelter
c

[Tony]

Every so often we discussed how simple workable Paddy inspired gear became heavier and more complex due to ...well not everyone being Paddy like.

Thanks for posting your Dads tent journeyman, I would like to see a more few photos from your Darling journey.

I still have my single skin Paddy's A frame tent that I purchased in 1975, it is made from nylon and weighs in at 1kg (who said that lightweight gear is new), I used it of and on for three months in New Zealand. My 1975 Paddys Japara jacket is to fragile to use these days.

I have been thinking of making a copy of my PP tent out of CF.

Tony

[journeyman]

Glad to give you a blast from the past Franco, Corvus. Thanks for the suggestions about the material.

I really am keen to see if I can make a tent in the image created by Paddy Pallin as I actually believe it is one of the best tent designs around. New tents have their place, but so too does the old classics.

Tony,

the photo above was actually taken in the Weddins during Spring last year. I'm guessing the old tent gets used about ten to twenty days a year at the moment - I've just come back from a week kayaking in the Whitsundays (which was pretty wet) and the tent held me in good stead there.
I have of course many photo's of the Darling journey some of which may be found here or on my blog

[journeyman]

I have been thinking of making a copy of my PP tent out of CF.

Tony

What is CF?

[Tony]

I have been thinking of making a copy of my PP tent out of CF.

Tony

What is CF?

Hi journeman,

Sorry, CF is Cuben Fibre, some manufacturers are making tents out of it these days, check this thread out viewtopic.php?f=35&t=3935

Thanks for the photos and the link to your blog

Tony

[Franco]

A not too distant relative of that design is the MSR Missing Link (now discontinued...)
Franco

[HitchHiking]

What a beautiful tent Journeyman! It reminds me of a Whelen Tent (designed by Col Whelen in the 1920s) which I have studied the design for since i found it in a book from the 60's. Nothing like sleeping right up beside a fire with it eh. I bet it would look great matched up with a wool blanket.

Ive seen 300gsm 6 ounce canvas used in these type of tents now as its seems a bit harder to find the right Japara also dosent need as much water proofing treatments.

[corvus]

Evan you could make one of these easily and it could be marketed as a "retro" light weight tent/tarp ,tarp /tent
c

[HitchHiking]

Haha Yeah Retro or Vintage.

There is still a place no doubt for the Canvas, Leather and Metal.

http://www.oregonphotos.com/Backpacking ... tion1.html has amazing information on the old american inovators.

[journeyman]

There is still a place no doubt for the Canvas, Leather and Metal.

Never a truer word said. The sound of canvas in the wind versus the sound of a plastic-like substance leaves me in no doubt which I would rather lay under.

[Cocksy_86]

Looks like an Australian tent if that makes sense. Closet thing to a practical swag I rekon.

Last edited by Cocksy_86 on Tue 12 Oct, 2010 3:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Franco]

Journeyman
I would be very interested to find out the weight of that shelter
Franco

[tas-man]

Started bushwalking sleeping in the 1960/70's spending many nights under these Paddy Pallin tents. Here's a photo of a campsite on Tassie's central plateau in 1961, that shows the Paddy Palling gear of the time - tent and backpack etc. Photo by Iris Buck from Devonport, Tas.

[HitchHiking]

its just beautiful gear....

[Moondog55]

You can still buy balloon silk / lightweight japara at Spotlight stores.

Nothing special to the design and if making your own you could adapt the length and width, I still have my "Paddy-made" Era tent, the one with the sewed in floor, my car camping tent, be warned tough that if using the japara from Spotlight you will need to rot-proof it.

Do the center seam as a 100mm overlap and use a reinforcing tape as well , the strain on the center can be huge.
If you decide to make one PM me I can help you out with some polyester tape for the center seam that takes all the strain

[crockle]

Here's a photo of a campsite on Tassie's central plateau in 1961..

PaddyPallinGear1961.jpg

Great photo tas-man.

[tas-man]

I scanned my 1969-1970 vintage Paddy Pallin catalogue's tents pages to place in this thread, but decided to put the eight page catalogue in its own topic here - viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5040