filfoster

1 hour ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

The City Police have had contracts with a variety of manufacturers over the years and in some cases the finished product differed slightly. The lack of vent holes in each side of the helmet was, at one time, a hallmark of a City Police helmet. However, in recent years vent holes have been added so that the helmet could conform to British standard specifications. Christy's manufactured helmets with and without centre seams, what they supplied depended upon the specification. As I understand it, the City Police issue two types of helmet. The first is a cork helmet which is not re-enforced and has the one leather chin strap and the second is a rigid plastic shelled re-enforced version which has the "riot" straps fitted. Each officer gets one of each pattern.

 

Dave.   

So....the center seam is likely a more modern version. I have both types (not originally City of London helmets). The center seam covering is on the plastic shell; the no-seam covering is on the cork helmet. Both have only the single chin strap.

In the nearby thread on City of London Police helmet plates, I posed the question of whether any of the constable helmets had front visor seams. Every photo in that thread, and indeed, most online photos show CoLP helmets without front visor seams. Why?  Did they contract for helmets without these seams or is it random? Is it by era or type of helmet? There are a few photos of these helmets with seams, but there is no explanation. Most seam to be more modern era helmets.

Here are two illustrations: At top, no seam; Bottom photo, see the front visor seam.

...Were letters also used on collar/helmet numbers circa 1900?

....and a related question: all the photos show a front visor with no center seam, as many others have. Were there any of this kind (with center visor seam) for the City of London constables? I've read somewhere that the lack of a center seam was characteristic of helmets made by Christie's. Did they have an exclusive contract for these?

On 14/05/2022 at 20:29, ayedeeyew said:

 

On Ebay currently - listed as Met Police, but correct red/white for City:

 

VINTAGE GENUINE METROPOLITAN POLICE RED & WHITE ‘ON-DUTY’ CUFF BAND | eBay

I did buy a length of this and have made up, using a suitable brass buckle, a nice duty band. Thank you.

Dave: Thank you!  I  will post a pic of my replica display when it's done, probably in a couple of months. This has been more difficult to accomplish than I first anticipated but worth it. I've learned lots, thanks to you and the other Forum members. 

Dave: Thanks; the photo was from a CLP uniform display online. Didn't catch the helmet plate. 

So, the numbers would have been worn from the 1880's on, at least?

Does anyone know when the City of London police adopted brass collar numbers? The photo attached purports to be from 1891:

Dave: Thank you! You've come through again.

Ayedeeyew:  Thank you so much for this! I believe this will allow me to attach the duty band correctly. 

I hope someone may also answer the helmet plate question I have today begun in this forum. Thanks much.

What color were the helmet plates of the City of London police circa 1900?  I have seen examples that look painted black and some silver and some brass/gilt. Which was it?

Dave: That's got it, then. Thank you!

Nick: Thank you so much. I will be watching.

2 hours ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

The tunics are correctly tailored to accept the armlets via two loops of material which are fitted to the lower sleeve of the tunic.

 

Dave.

Dave: Thank you.  Are these wide cloth loops in the cloth of the coat or thread loops in the band color?

Are the loops placed at the opposite front and back of the sleeve?  Is there a picture of these?

Sorry for all the bother but I'm setting up a display and need to know what to sew on. Thanks!

How do these attach to the sleeve to keep from sliding off?

I am seeking a City of London uniform duty armband. Where would I find such for sale?

Danke!

...with helmet..

Yes those heavy cavalry boots from that time were very tall. The shafts varied from fairly snug to pretty roomy, from the photos. ( see, e.g. the Verlag books on the Franco Prussian War uniforms). I don't have those and really don't dress up as these characters. I usually display them 'table top', laid flat. I just happened to have the mustache when this rig arrived. (As an old retired person, I change my appearance constantly during the year, growing/shaving hair on my head and face. It's a very affordable hobby and amuses my grandchildren. My wife, less amused.)

OK, here's my re-creation of his uberrock with epaulettes as Major general (from 1866): 

Nice clear photos of the cyphers for both Edward and George. I'd suggest George's dual cyphers reflect being an adjutant to both predecessor sovereigns. Anyone confirm this?

Would the cyphers be at the shoulder end or between the wreathed batons and the crown?  I have seen other field marshals with both arrangements.....

On 08/12/2021 at 09:31, ostprussenmann_new said:

I know that I am late to this conversation, but I would also like to make the point that styles Ribbons are also regional; thinking the Bavarian style.  I would say that I have seen a lot of NCOs with the “Trap bars with detachable medals”, however, there are no definite rules.

 

at the end, I think it comes down to wearers preference.

Thank you, from the responses here, it seems to be true, that although there are examples of exceptions, the general rule was that Officers did not often choose to have their decorations mounted on the early trapezoidal-style bars so that the gongs were detachable and the bar could be worn as a ribbon bar.  Even though there are some fine examples above in this thread, the majority of officers seem to have had their medals permanently mounted on the bars, even trapezoidal-style bars. IF they were detachable, the bars sans medals, were not often worn by officers as ribbon bars with the appropriate order of uniform.

Oh come on, somebody at least guess!