Hobo Pocket Contents! [ 1930s Classic Hobo ]
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- čas přidán 25. 06. 2024
- Join us as we unpack the history of the 1930s hobo with our deep dive into the classic hobo pocket contents, revealing the tools and treasures that helped them navigate the challenges of daily life and the art of train hopping. Discover the ingenious items and personal belongings that enabled hobos to work, travel, and live during the Great Depression, offering a unique glimpse into the resourceful lifestyle of these wanderers.
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![1930s Hobo Haversack! [ Classic Gear! ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tndYSoB3mBA/mqdefault.jpg)
![1930s Hobo Haversack! [ Classic Gear! ]](/img/tr.png)
Thanks for watching! Please leave a thumbs up and a comment in the section below. Also, check out the classes we teach, the class dates, required gear list and WayPoint Survival Merch at www.waypointsurvival.com.
I have a question about the fishing kit. Are you sure it was used for hand fishing?
The reason I ask is when I was a kid My grandmother used to tell me about when they were kids they would get a piece of string and tie it on the end of a stick usually a cane pole if one was available. It makes fishing a whole lot easier it also makes 6 to 8 ft of line go a lot further. It's actually the perfect amount. All you have to do is hold your pole up over the water and lower it until your hook and bobber is in the water and you can sit there on the shore and relax until you get a bite and when you do it's as simple as lifting the stick up out of the water in the fish comes with it. Seems to me like these guys with know all about that. Especially if everyone back then was fishing like that anyway. My grandmother was born in 1908 so that's how they were fishing probably in the late teens and early 1920s.
I'm pretty sure that's how my great-grandparents fished as well considering when they died they had cane fishing poles that my grandmother kept.
It just seems like hand fishing is hard work compared to tying the string on a stick. The stick is way easier on your hand and way more convenient. Of course you have to keep it where the stick doesn't throw a shadow over where your bait is, and you don't want to move it around a lot. But that is true of modern fishing as well.
I was just wondering, I know a lot of bushcrafters are always making little hand fishing kits, I've made them too. But I'll tell you using a stick can be awful relaxing and pretty Elementary.
And Kane is pretty common around a lot of fishing areas here in the states. Have you heard anything about that?
I know you do a lot of reading and have done a lot of research, I mean I'm sure a lot of people did hand fish as well. It is easy enough, although it can be rough on your hands. It's also fair to note that like your example they used a braided line not the modern fishing line that would really cut into someone's hand.
These hobo videos are lame. Not what I subbed for.
@@Eidolon1andOnly the way our country is going, you might better pay attention to these hobo films. We might be doing that crap ourself just to feed our families before it's all over. Clearly we have not learned from the mistakes of our past
@@Eidolon1andOnly another spoiler alert is the title is in the thumbnail. If you don't like it don't watch it. There'll be other things you're interested later on if you hate hobos so much.
If you had freight train riding experience, you would have credibility. I challenge you to bring all that crap, your bindle, your cook kit and all your other "hobogear" with you and actually hop a train. What are you waiting for?
I not only appreciate learning the details of the yesteryear hobo's life, but that you treat the subject with rare dignity.
Thanks so much! They received a lot of bad publicity but as it was said back in the day 90% of them were honest men just looking for work.
The great depression brought on widespread property, hobo is just a term... But they were pretty much poor traveling workers looking for a job. A lot of them drink and that carried issues... but most people are good in general soo. Most of them weren't bad people
Yeah, weird
I heartily agree! 🤗
My Grandfather, who was a young man, during the depression, had empathy and respect for Hobos. As he told me, when i was young, there's a difference, between a Hobo and a Bum. He was visiting with a Hobo once, and gave him some money to help him out, the Hobo gave him a silver Hat pin, in return. My Grandfather wore that pin in his hat, till the day he died.
The tallow candle (AND as an emergency snack) is a new bit of knowledge for me! Always learn something new on this channel!
Thanks so much!
100% bees wax candle can be chewed like gum, cleaning the teeth, and swallowed for a quick pock-me-up.
Tallow candle is one helluva emergency snack 😂😂😂😂
Eggzackly Correctamundo
Yum 🤤 🤤🤤🤤
Love your channel. I'm 74 and remember my uncle Bill Telling me about riding the rails. The hobo jungles and all the little tidbits of info that you bring up .He taught us a song from the day called HOBO BILL . Started with.,RIDIN ON AN EAST BOUND FREIGHT TRAIN SPEEDING THROUGH THE NIGHT 2:19
It's a very cool! I really appreciate the kind words and thanks for watching the videos!
Well done again,when I was young my parents befriended a musician named Jesse Fuller, I remember he would sing us kids songs,one song I remember was the monkey and the engineer, he rode the rails. Check him out,thanks again
James, you are doing an incredibly good job with the Hobo series. ALL the items carried by the Hobo were TIMELY for the days in which they lived; and they are TIMELESS with regard to usefulness & practicality! Thank you. God bless you,my friend!
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it and God bless you too!
I keep quarters in a small wax caves pouch with a leather tie , a K-Bar pocket knife , dog whistle , mini flashlight , Zippo or Bic , 12ft. of cord , lip balm , compass & map of my town and reading glasses . These things never leave my pockets . 😁😁😁
Nice kit!
2 bits is a quarter-4 bits is 50 cents.
Yes, thanks so much for the correction!
Our high-school cheerleaders used to lead the football / basketball etc. in: "2 bits, 4 bits, 6 bits, a dollar ... all for the (team name) stand up and holler"!
It's from all the way back in
the days of the use of spanish
reales as currency, and they
would oftentimes be cut to
make purchases of less than
the value of the reale coins.
( the pieces of eight from all
the pirate stuff)
2 bits was a quarter of a reale
and that carried over into the
days of American silver coins.
( quarter of a dollar = two bits)
Ya see,I do pay attention!@@WayPointSurvival
Great video, this is mostly the same stuff I carry on the daily
As far as I know my grandfather wasn't ever a hobo, but he carried everything you listed except the candle and then he also carried a white hankie.
Very interesting! Thanks so much for sharing!
My grandfather (born at the end of the 19th century, but ineligible for WW1 as an only son farmhand) carried his money in a leather drawstring bag he called his purse. He always had several hundred dollars in folded bills. If he saw a bull or a truck or a load of logs for sale, he could buy it on the spot without having to get into town and convince a banker to let him withdraw from his account. That deal might be gone by the time he could get back.
Maury Graham is smiling down upon you for educating us on what Hobo are. That is what he did. Congratulations.
Thanks so much for the great compliments!
James, I really like that hobo fishing kit. You should consider doing a hobo fishing episode on your channel. Small creek with a little moving water and some deeper pools. Make shift fishing pole and your hobo fishing kit. Even take it a step further to include a basic shore lunch featuring the catch of the day all fried up. Just a thought… thank you for continuing to share this hobo series with us.
Thanks so much for watching and for the suggestion!
I agree I think that would make a great video
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, growing up used to know this guy named Walter Bohannon. He was an old-timer from before World War II and his brother Decatur and him were some of the well-known that like to fish up in the park where nobody hardly ever went. They would take a sack of taters, find some wild ramps along the way, catch some trout. They would be clean beside the mountain stream and a flat slate Rock would be found and placed on top of two of the rocks where they would build a fire underneath and cook that fish and eat it, along with the potatoes and ramps right there beside the streams. If you've ever heard of The Heartland Series from TV, hosted by Bill Landry, they actually did a show on those guys and it was called "Gone Fishin". You can probably still find it on CZcams.
Interesting, as old as I am I've never seen a matchbox holder, nor heard of beef tallow candles. Pemmican and hard tack bread have seen though.
Always fish with the sun in your face so that your shadow is on the bank and not being cast into the water to spook the fish.
Old train conductors would carry a large (Regulated by train company) open-faced pocket watch with 17 or 19 jeweled movement (regulations). This made it easier to view quickly. They were referred to as rail-road watches.
Many train conductors would carry two to ensure accuracy in multiple time zones. Eastern/Central, Central/Mountain, and so forth.
They would carry it so that the face was protected against the body-side of the pocket to prevent scratching. They were accurate to within a minute per month.
The fifth pocket in a pair of jeans was called a watch pocket.
Nothing else was usually carried in the watch's pocket so at to protect the watch face.
A pocket watch was frequently used as a compass. Split the distance between 12 and hour hand with the hour and facing the sun. That will give you true south, except in Australia. There point the 12 at the sun to discover north.
Indeed. Thanks for watching!
wow, except for the fishing kit, i still carry a lot of this stuff every day in modern times, funny how some things never change, thank you
You're welcome!
Always a good day when I see a WayPoint Survival video.
Thanks for watching!
A pocket watch collector taught me the proper way to close a hunter style case like the one you have on this watch. Always press the button on the winder when closing and do not snap the front cover shut. This prevents wear on the cover rim where the latch engages. The steel of the latch is usually much harder than the case cover.
Thanks for watching and for the tip!
My grandfather went through the Depression, and talked about hobos, and how they would feed them, and let them sleep in the barn.
They also carried cards and dice, and knew a variety of games.
It was a rough time back in the Depression..
Indeed it was!
I heard stories from my grandmother about the depression and a man would never wear a watchchain if he was hoboing. It was a tipoff you had a nice Elgin, Waltham, or Hamilton watch. If you did not use and old shoestring to make it look like you had a cheaper watch, then safety pin it inside your vest or coat pocket. You can still pull it clear to read it, but the safety pin would keep it from falling out of your pocket when running, jumping, or climbing and no one else could see you had it on you. Also, I show my technical writing class students hobo codes in my opening class next to Egyptian heiroglypths, cuneiform, and ancient North American Native symbols. They usually cannot figure out what the hobo codes are. Then I show them the meanings and a few slides where modern hobos have left markings and they are happily surprised.
Very cool! I had my thin cord attached to a safety pin as well for my watch.
Interesting I was going to ask if he could show what the codes were and if any were still used today
Fascinating 🤗
Love this series also love the old scouts series alot as that could be fun for us adults to do
Yes! I'm looking forward to doing more on that series as well!
My grandpa always carried a candle stub to rub on saw blades to lubricate them to keep them from sticking. I do the same when in the woods. It works.
Absolutely! It's also great to lubricate zippers.
@@WayPointSurvival Thanks! I never even thought about that!
Once again, a superb viewing of the past times of our lives.
Thank you.
Ps: I am also 74, going on 90. I feel that way.
very well spoken, terry. i hope you have a great day
Thanks so much!
Well I hope you pass 90, OK 🙏☮️
Great series James. The original EDC.
Indeed! Thank you for watching!
You do have a great collection of older stuff. Really neat to see that matchbox!
Thanks!
I love watching your videos. People actually should keep these things on them even now. Just in case of being stranded on the side of the road or what ever happens.
Indeed!
Men use to carry the following; handkerchief, pocket knife , pocket watch, and comb. These are things that my grandpa had , plus some change. How things have changed and another great video.
Thanks so much!
I am trying to find a pair of leather mittens,my grandfather gave me,to take on my journeys,you would love 'em,and no one in my family cares about this stuff,I guess circa 1920? I will keep looking,and let you know if I find 'em. Love this SHOW! Thanks for doing it.Thom.
That would be absolutely awesome! You can find my email address on my website at www.waypointsurvival.com.
Will do,I am looking for them!@@WayPointSurvival
For working clothing, go to a proper farm supply store. When I was on the Canadian Prairies, I'd see men wearing loose single thickness mitts almost year round. Easy to slip on when handling cold metal or against the cold, but easy enough to slip off for handy work.
Love these hobo videos. I especially appreciate that you accompany with actual period gear when you are able. I loved the added detail of being able to hear the watch tick. I have a couple old school mechanical wind-up watches that are very much favored over newer models. That sound never gets old for me.
Thank you very much! I do indeed enjoy the vintage stuff!
I had so much fun at the expo and can’t believe I met you🎉
Thanks so much! It was indeed a good time!
I’ve really been enjoying your series about hobos and other time periods for survival. History has always interested me. I’m in my fifties but had parents who were children in the Great Depression so some of your context matches up with things they remembered. Antiques are another interest so I enjoy seeing all the items from the early 1900s that you show.
Thanks so much for watching!
I always thought Hobos were bums, or homeless. Your content has educated me of an era I didn’t understand. You obviously have done your homework and research to bring us these great videos! Thank you.
You're welcome!
Some men were veterans who'd fallen on harm times or couldn't return to civilian life, even a decade after the war. There were none of the veterans programs or pensions we know today. Same issues of readjustment, similar circumstances.
I'm glad this has fixed the societal programming the rich have given you to see the impoverished as lesser. Spare a quarter now and then, will you? It can go a long way.
Excellent EDC,vintage.
Thanks!
thanks for the work you do James. the most interesting part of this video to me is the metal sleeve for the match box. i have never saw that before,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good assortment of pocket items. I reckon many carried some sort of tobaco items in those days as well. Interestingly Groucho Marx supposedly got his nickname from keeping his money in a pouch around his neck to protect it from thieves. Back when I was young old timers taught me to carry my main money in my shoe or the leg part of my sock. Another was to put a small amount of cash in my right pocket with the rest split between my left pocket and a back pocket. If you were held up you pulled your cash out of your right front pocket and most would think that is all you had. Maybe not so surprising is in some small towns the local railroad bulls would rob rail riders. They went armed and the local law was on their side so no one could complain and get away with it. Of course word would be passed to get out before town but it wasn't always easy and a few riders ended up dead sadly. Of course true hobos were sharp and had their whits about them and suffered less.
Thanks so much for all the great information! It was definitely a rough way to live, but as you said, the smart ones got along better.
It's 645 am and what an incredible way to start my day before work! Thank you James for sharing this content with us all. I absolutely enjoy the hobo series that you're doing along with your overall content in general!! God bless you and yours and have a wonderful day my friend!!
Thank you so very much, my friend! May God bless you all today as well!
@WayPointSurvival you're very welcome buddy!!
I have one of those dollars, mine is from 1922.
I used to carry a lot of the same stuff when I was homeless a few years ago, wore an old M65 army coat that got dubbed my hobo coat because of all the pockets it had.
And something my father drilled into my head from when I was a kid... never leave the house without your wallet, a pen, a pocket knife, and a handkerchief/bandana.
Excellent!
Man, I gotta say you keep me interested in these hobos of yesterday and I have tired the other channels but they don't keep it interesting like you. 💯😎✌️
I appreciate that!
This Chanel is so interesting!
Thank you so much for all you do ! As a kid in the 70s living close to the tracks, I indeed did contemplate on how the people riding the rails survived and lived.
Thanks, glad you like it!
Oops, I forgot my grandfather also carried a small magnifying 🔎 glass in a leather case.
Excellent!
Would also be another way to start a fire if the sun is out. Free. Save the matches for emergencies. 👍
Used to be lots of that kind
of stuff at the 5 and 10 cent
stores that used to be everywhere
M.E. Moses, Ben Franklin, etc.
And the dry goods stores
My grandpa was born in 1915. Taught me to always carry a hankey, pocket knife and chapstick. Im 51 and have carried those since i cant remember.
Excellent!
Even in the Army ,always carried a small fishing line very similar to yours with very small hooks as most places you could always catch " yabbies" ( sisss
Very cool! Thanks so much for your service!
Always look forward to your videos!!
Thanks so much!
This is going to come in handy for the Great Depression of 2029!
Hopefully that doesn't happen!
James, your next video is where you assemble your gear, chase a train down and jump off near a farm. Get a day job there and earn a wage. Camp in the woods over night only using your gear. You know, walk a mile in the hobo shoes. I know that isn't realistic but it would be an awesome short series. Thanks for all the great content.
Actually, we are working on something like that.
@@WayPointSurvival That's AWESOME. I can't wait.
@2:03 aw man i LOVE how you mentioned the grooming. Keeping yourself well kempt is still just as important today, you don't want to go before the judge or go into an interview or meeting lookin shabby! It's not WHAT you know, it's WHO you know; and that guy better be a sharp dresser!
Absolutely! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing. Interesting items they needed. Everyone stay safe, warm, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia
Thanks!
@@WayPointSurvival Hobo's have actually been misunderstood and mis-charaterized. Many were hard workers trying to support families.
Awesome post. Thank you for bringing this to us. Can't wait for the next one
Best wishes
Glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely love these videos! Thank you! 🎉
You're welcome!
As always learning something new from your great videos. Thanks for sharing. 🙏
You're very welcome!
I always enjoy & appreciate these videos, particularly these historical ones.
Thanks!
One thing about that pocket watch, to make sure you don't wear out the latch for the lid you should hold the button while you close it. My father taught me that when I was young and I make sure to do that every time I handle a pocket watch.
Good tip!
An old timer that ended up here wrote a book “Once a Hobo”, about his life riding the rails during the depression. The guy became a metal scraper and actually became a millionaire. He always dressed pretty much like he was still a hobo. Kept a pot of beans on the stove in his “office” and he always would offer you a bowl. Kept a jar full of butterscotch candies for visitors too. Eventually he brought an old steam locomotive and a few other cars too. The locomotive was originally from Alaska and after he died, the locomotive was returned to Alaska and restored to running condition. An amazing old dude who was great to visit with and listen to his stories. The amount of cool, old stuff he collected over the years was eventually put in a museum on the scrap yard property and I spent many hours in there and he could tell us about each item, where it came from and how it was used. Hellofa guy. Your hobo series has been another well researched effort and much appreciated. 👏👏👍
Wow, sounds like a really wonderful person! Thanks for watching and for sharing the personal vignette.
Thanks again for sharing
You're welcome!
I really enjoy the history you're digging up. It's fun to watch. Keep up the good work. Thanks.
Thanks, will do!
Many Thanks James !!!!
You're very welcome!
This is an absolutely amazing video and series. Thank you very much
You're very welcome!
This series is awesome James! Thanks for your time
You're welcome!
Most men my age 66 , carry a lot of those items daily n in the field. Handy when needed. Thanks for the info .
You're welcome!
Once again a great video on this series. Thank you very much for your time and educational efforts.
Thanks!
Love the details behind each item. Fascinating. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Extremely valuable. Thank you
You're very welcome!
Amazing video, and thanks for sharing, James. God Bless
Thanks so much and God bless you too!
My grand paw was a hobo. And he was a CC and a house painter.glad your showing the history of the Hobo . thanks James
You're welcome!
A good tip, always wrap the sharpeningstone in something or it WILL wear a hole in the pocket very quickly, one Grandfather used a rag to hold a "puck" type axe stone (natural sandstone), the other a felt lined (keeping rattling down) wooden box (just slightly larger than your metal matchbox) holding a tiny double sided stone,
Absolutely. Most whetstones back in the day were carried in a small leather pouch.
This is truly one of the most FASCINATING CZcams channels! The beef tallow candle was something I did not know! The patina on that hawk bill is so beautiful!
A hobo pocket check is truly something I never thought would entertain me, but here we are! And I’m thoroughly entertained.
Love your videos! Thanks so much for the amazing videos!
Wow, thank you!
Very interesting. Thanks James.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I find it interesting that after so many decades some things haven’t changed.
Indeed.
That was awesome, thanks bro
Glad you liked it!
Love these videos. Thank you.
Glad you like them!
Great video, thank you so much!
You're welcome!
They ate the candles!
Yepper!
These videos have become very useful information for me thank you very much for the help 😄
You're welcome!
I definitely enjoyed that match box is awesome never seen one very cool above and beyond again
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great info.
Thank you!
Great information especially since we may be seeing times like that again soon!
Glad you liked it!
Really interesting that was, great video, we had a hobo stay in our shed a few times, around 40 years ago now, my dad found him in the morning and offered him in for a mug of hot tea, my mum ask him to stay for dinner as it was Sunday, John his name was, he'd come by now an then after that, he had some very interesting stories to tell, as a kid I'd ask him to tell us one every time he came by, he'd sharpen my mum knives for her, in exchange for the dinner as my mum wouldn't take money off him, great bloke, i don't really see too many people like that anymore, shame, I talk to people in the park while I'm feeding the squirrels sometimes, still some characters around, I think it's important to listen to people's stories.
Thanks so very much! I'm sure many of those stories were indeed fascinating!
Love the vintage coins!!
Thanks!
Love this Video thank you so much 🥰
You are so welcome!
Would love to see a video on hobo markings!
We are working on that.
Dignity yes. Thank you. I remember Hobos as a kid.
Indeed. Thanks for watching!
50 years a hobo. Going by just what you got in your pockets vs a bindle or back pack was called streamlining. You should make a full length " movie " on the daily life of a 1930s hobo. Documentary. Maybe start by showing a freight train going by slowly, then to a shot on a siding with a hobo getting off a boxcar. Walks down the tracks to a " jungle " showing the set ups of another hobo. Then perhaps a chat with the other hobo about the town and work. Can do a lot of showing off with the skills you learned. Sort of a " Day in The Life " story of a old time hobo.
We are hoping to film something like that if I can locate steam engine and cars that will let me go there and film.
Nothing like learning history from an expert. Cheers mate from Australia.
Thanks so much!
The candles were amazing, free beef tallow that people are gonna throw away, yes please. I used to make mini fishing kits all the time, I learnt to fish with just throwing a line in the water and pulling it in when I felt a bite so just some line and a few hooks and I can feed myself. You grandfathers pocket watch is beautiful. I expected that lil kit you had in the glass tube, id carry that, doesn't take up much space. Thanks for the video
You very welcome and thanks so much for watching!
I remember reading that Fred Bear carried a small candle stub when bowhunting.
Interesting!
Great video as always
Thanks so much!
Awesome video thank you 💯
My pleasure!!
It's rather interesting that some of the pocket items are included in the 10 essentials for hiking/backpacking.
The late writer Louis La'amour also rode the rails as a hobo around the 1930's and used some of his own experiences in his books.
If you haven't already done so...I recommend that you read his book " Education of a wandering man" it's his autobiography from that time.
Yes, it's a great read!
I love this hobo series! It's great!
Thanks!
Great video brother thank you for taking us on your adventures through time and GOD-BLESS
Glad you enjoyed it, my friend!
Great job, it’s the little stuff that really helps with an impression
Thanks!
@@WayPointSurvival it’s like portraying a ww2 instructor, two big things Americans did in the 1940s was jingle their change and younger folks chewed gum all the time.
Well... you've done it again. Well researched, well done.
Thanks so much!
Love these videos James! Great look into history.
Thanks!
this series is so good! S much better than all these modern anarchist jerks who advocate theft. Thanks for keeping it real!
Thanks for watching!
Right on James, very interesting stuff man!
Thanks!
Great video, as usual. Loving the Hobo series!
Cheers
Thanks so much!
Very interesting, James. I always learn something I never knew before! God bless!
Glad you enjoyed it and God bless you too!
Hi James! I have enjoyed each of the videos in this series. Thanks!
You're welcome!
Love this
Thanks so much!
Very cool.
Thanks!
LOVED THE HOBO SERIES JAMES! WELL DONE!
Thanks so much!
This has been a brilliant series really make one think about what is really needed and how are ancestors made do without all the modern convenience
Thanks!
That’s a lot of good advice to have.
Thanks!
Hey brother James thank you for everything you do sharing your videos I love history😊❤
You are so welcome!