Firstly I would like to say hello to you all and say what a wonderful site this is. My name is Neil and I live in Cornwall. I am a father of three who enjoys wild camping with the kids, whether its by tent, hammock or shelter.
A few weeks ago a friend gifted me a Good Companion Major tent which was made by Blacks of Greenock many, many years ago. The tent is in really freat condition, apart from a small patch which looks like it was done years ago.
When I first opened the tent up it smelled quite bad, more than likely due to the fact that it hasn't seen the light of day for many years. I gave the fly sheet a quick wash in the machine and plan to reproof it at a later date.
The problem I have with the tent is I don't know how to pitch it. It has a weird A frame system that has no ground supporting poles which I have never seen before. Do any of the forum members have any experience with these tents or even a guide how to pitch it.
I did contact Blacks direct but sadly they don't have any info on it.
Thanks
Neil
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If you look on Google Image Search there are pictures of your tent including one which seems to have a single *A* pole from which the whole tent is suspended presumably the tent is stabilised by it's guy ropes.
I can't help you with your tent, I'm afraid, although I would be very interested in reading your posts regarding your wild camping trips. I'm especially interested in the equipment people use as well as the trip itself.
Here's to looking forward to your future posts!!
------------- The true test of fairness is how fair you are to those who are not
This picture might help a bit. Shows how the poles go across the tent. It is a bit blurry, so hard to read the writing but I think it does give a description of them, if you can manage to read it.
There is a review of the tent on this site. Only 1 picture though, so may not help much.
I had one of these yrs ago. From memory, assemble poles & hinged top bit. Hold it up in an A shape & hang top of inner tent onto top of A. The A goes outside the inner tent. Peg out inner & it will stand up. Then put fly sheet over the whole thing with hole in flysheet through spike on top of A & peg out.
We still have one of these - bought new in 1964. We always pegged out the four corners first then hooked the tent onto the A frame and pegged out the guys to hold it upright and finished off the pegging. Ours has the extended flyheet (not shown on the leaflet above).
Brilliant tent - we took ours all over Europe.
------------- Ronni
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Ah yes! that jogged the memory, peg the bottom of inner tent out first then hook top under A frame & close sufficently so its tight & stands up on its own & then peg out guys. The'inner' tent is fully weather proof & can be used without flysheet but obviously better to use fly as well.
Thanks for the replies ladies and gents, its much appreciated. As soon as the weather dries up a bit, I will try it out on the lawn and take some pics and post them up.
Thank you all: I have just obtained (shortly to arrive?) one of these (a Standard with extended fly) and you r posts confirmed to me my thoughts on how I'd get it up!!
Looking forward to using it when going canoeing with my partner.........
(also have Polish Lavvu tent when solo...just superb)
hello I wondered if anyone could send me or post a picture of the poles involved and length and fittings ,I have the canvass and there is a pile poles for about 5 frame tents ,,I have no idea which ones go with the major or what to make up if they are not there myself ..can someone help me please
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Hi,
Its probably going to be a trial and error session of some magnitude I'm afraid....
I've managed to a acquire a couple of Standards, and both have slightly differing poles, and a third tent I've seen are different again. Needless to say, an A frame will yet again differ.
As a set up guide you could, having got the height (from this site or google...(the Standard is 5') use an extendable washing line pole (£3 or thereabouts from the sheds),as the upright and then offer up your combinations accordingly, until a combination works, then mark them up?
I've threaded elasticated shock cord through my A frames which eases set up hugely.....
As to setting up, as I ve put on another thread somewhere,
I actually put them up top down...peg out loosely NOT the groundsheet /wall bottoms....but the eaves, then hook up the A frame, stick your stuff in and finally peg out the floor......... sets very neatly.
Hi Neil, I. Know you posted this a long time ago!
Did you have any joy with the good companion tent as I have acquired one too and haven't a clue how it should look or how to assemble it.
Mine has no rods or poles!
Kind regards,
Joanne Shinnick
Quote: Originally posted by Shinnick1 on 06/6/2026
Hi Neil, I. Know you posted this a long time ago!
Did you have any joy with the good companion tent as I have acquired one too and haven't a clue how it should look or how to assemble it.
Mine has no rods or poles!
Kind regards,
Joanne Shinnick
Welcome to UKCS. He hasn’t posted since 2014, but there are probably other threads on the same topic, at least one is very recent. (You can do a search, that needs a bit of exploring the tabs.)
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Blacks Of Greenock, Good Companion Major
via mobile 06/6/2026 at 6:48pm
