10 Essential Items Every 1930s Hobo Carried: A Survival Guide

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My mother often fed the hobos traveling through..mainly beans and tortillas but they were grateful for it. My dad acted angry but was secretly proud of my mom’s generosity. I miss them both.❤ Thank you for your videos !

2:15 knife 2:30 fishing kit 2:50 match case 3:30 bandana 4:00 roadstake? money 6:30 coffee 7:00 spoon 7:40 cup 8:10 chalk/crayon 9:00 sewing kit

Here in the UK our grandfather was a 'jobbing' bricklayer who traveled around in the post WW1 era after being discharged from the Army. Not only did he 'bunk' onto freight trains he also hitch hiked, got lifts from lorries (trucks), cars, on canal boats, motorbikes and steam engines. He eventually ended up stowing away on a cross channel ferry to France, where he served for 3 years during 'The war to end all wars' ending up helping to build war memorials to his comrades in arms, turns out the best employer was the C.W.G.C. (Commonwealth war grave commission) and he came back a reasonably wealthy man. Any way long story short, aside from his sturdy whacking walking stick, water bottle, waxed cotton/canvas poncho, army back pack with his basic brick laying tools, pocket knife, tobacco & matches/lighter, eating utensils, tin cup sugar and tea his most important items were. A money belt, decoy purse with a few pennies in it and the most important of all a moral boosting hip flask with a shot or two of whiskey or brandy;-) PS. There were many rumors and tales in the family about his 'adventures' and to this day we are convinced there is a branch of our clan that no one can trace in Northern France and Belgium. Makes you think how far afield these US hobos spread their seed!!!

An actual hobo here; good boots, long coat, 65l back pack, sleeping bag, knife, a few lighters, rope, tarp, headlamp, stainless steel pot. #1 is a large metal drinking container.

Hobos were not always educated but they had travelling LIGHT down to a science.

They laughed at my crayon drawing; I laughed at their chalk outline

50 of 74 years a hobo. Really did your research on this. Great job. Some hobos I knew always went 'streamlined" They really knew the rails and what was waiting in almost any town. So minimum carry. Often wore two sets of clothes. Removed the outer layer when they hopped off. You get dirty riding freight trains and you would be fairly clean heading into a town. Plus you had more pockets to hold stuff. Always a pocket knife. Matches were usually in a 35 mm film canister along with part of a match box striker. A sewing kit, couple of needles, a small spool of thread and a thimble also in a 35 mm canister. I was advise the best way to carry money ( bills ) was in a Bull Durham tobacco bag in your skivies. A Prince Albert tobacco tin was a good place to put items also. Like instant coffee, or money, or whatever. A little fishing line with a bottle cork and a fish hook. Spoon always. A bandana with a hotel size soap bar. It was mostly up to the hobo's personal taste. I would get extra condiments packets from fast food joints when I had the money for a dollar meal.

My grandpa hoboed his way around Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia in the 1930s. He recounted his travelling kit to me once, decades ago... Here's what I remember: a suitcase with a few clothes, sewing kit, playing cards, cash, knife, gas lighter and a spoon. Interestingly, he said the naphtha in his lighter was excellent for polishing leather, so it was dual purpose. He wore heavy leather boots and a jacket back then. He was a skilled craftsman and gambler and made a good living.

Great video. My grandfather was born in 1910. Based on your definition of a hobo I just now realized that grandpa was a hobo for a time. He had been on his own since he was 9 years old and he told me some of the stories of what he went through. Grandpa told me that a man should always carry with him a few of the things on your list although he never tied it into the hobo lifestyle. I recall a time when I was a kid when we camped at a ranch in west Texas. While my cousins and I we were all getting our fishing gear together he wandered down to the river on his own. Before we could get there he had landed a large bass. Apparently he already had the hook, cork, and line and just used a stick he found along the way. Thanks for reminding me of so many great memories. He passed away in his 90's but I think about him just about every day.

My father-in-law grew up on a farm that had a railroad running through it. They had a picnic table out by the tracks, and his mom would make lunch for the hobos that rode the cars.

Another great video. Nobody else covers the hobo that ive seen to you and them we are grateful.

I was told that my grandma's backyard was a well known hobo stop in the 1930s. She made bread and soup in a large pot once a week to feed anyone that came up the alleyway in Chicago Heights, IL. Most hobos were peaceable folk that were very appreciative toward alms. It's a completely different world today

Love the way how James not only shows us these items, but sets the scene of a hobo's life by adding lots of relevant context. Thanks buddy!

Aw, love hobos. My dad rode the rails in the 20th century depression era.

Hobos is a much appreciated series. It contains, not only historical information, but a good bit of philosophy and innovative idea .. 😀😀

My dad was a hobo in the 30's . He carried a small pistol. Told me it saved his life in a boxcar one night.He went on to be a M/SGT in the Army Airforce WW2

Please keep doing hobo/ 1920s, 30s,40s videos.

You are so good at keeping this subject interesting. Thanks for another great video.

I would love to see a ‘streamline’ hobo video. Thank you