Our
Mission Statement reads: "Research & field trials in
the manner of our forefathers, before production". The
original purpose of HR&D was to provide good documentation
with research on a given item, once completed a sample may be
made and worked with (field trialed) to see if that item was
worthy of being reproduced and made available to the public.
Then a study was made to see how marketable that item would be
(will it sell). HR&D would produce working models,
schematics (blue prints) and documentation of the item to those
that produce such things with like quality and offered to a
marketing group to wholesale that item.
Sounds
like a lot of work for making something period correct, but that
is how this sport has grown with the deciated reenacter,
historian and history buff - those that want correct equipage to
experience the choosen time frame that they have grown to love
and study. Our founder D. L. "Concho" Smith realized
this and worked for years to get to this point in furnishing
documentated articles, written studies and working models for
those with like minds.
We
have had some good folks involved in the HRD; Betty Morris of
the "Historical Society" in St. Louis, James R.
Rubinfine of "An Earlier Time" magazine (retired
editor) - New England states, John William Eaton of "The
Colonial Society" magazine [retired] of Williamburg VA,
Buck Conner formerly of Clark & Sons Merc. Colorado
(retired), "Concho" from Pennsylvaina Historical
Society and several other members from similar walks of life
involved in "Living History in North America". All
experienced in a number of different areas of living history,
museums, etc., the team would be given a subject to investage,
research, document and then report their findings to HRD, the
time didn't warrent the pay - more of a love of doing research
and just learning about our forefather's and what life was like
living then.
After
the passing of our founder in 2001 "Historical Research and
Development" was not active for a short period, then Buck
Conner and several others were asked by Mr. Smith family to
use the experiernce gained to provide a limited service in
answering questions from the living history buffs and the
reenacters that had grown to depend on this service.
The
search/research has begun again and in the process has turned
into a source for period books, camp wares, reproduction
clothing, misc. equipage and from time to time muzzle loading
items correct for the F & I Wars to the American Civil War.
As items become available they will be offered through our eBay
store, up for auction.
Thank
you for your time. HR&D
______________________________________________________________
) 
