At reenacting events, I usually set up my field switchboard exchange outdoors to draw in visitors. Since the events are usually held during hot, sunny days, I need protection from the blazing sun. So, I made a canvas canopy.
The canvas measures approximately 6 foot, 8 inches by 4 foot, 10 inches. I chose to use Italian Cammo pattern fabric for my canvas. It came in narrow sheets which were sewn together on a sewing machine. The edges of the fabric were also hemmed to give a neat appearance and to keep the fabric from unraveling. Brass eyelets were peened into the corners for strain relief when attaching the four poles. The areas around the eyelets were reinforced with stitching.
The poles are 1.25 inch diameter pine closet poles. On the ends that go into the ground, I drilled and inserted 0.375 inch diameter steel rods. This makes the poles easy to push into the ground during erection of the canopy. The rods stick out of the poles approximately 8 inches. I glued a steel washer at the bottom of each pole for moisture protection.
The canvas ends of the rods are drilled and inserted with a shorter length of 0.375 inch steel rod. The rods are used to attach the four corners of the canvas sheet. After the canvas is in place, the canopy is tensioned with four ropes attached to the tops of each pole and stakes driven into the ground.
Check out my new book on WW2 German field telephone equipment…https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/rotwang-manteuffel/world-war-2-german-field-telephone-equipment-a-basic-guide-for-reenactors-and-historians/paperback/product-976w9q.html?page=1&pageSize=4
WW2 German Field Telephone Equipment 