army historian Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 WW1 Naval Officer's winter visor cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army historian Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 United States Army model 1938 tanker's helmet and M38 goggles (1st type). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army historian Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 (edited) United States Army model 1938 tanker's helmet with model 1943 (gray-green all rubber) (2nd type) goggles. The Model 1944 (3rd type) goggles are all black and look much like todays, except with the date 1944. Edited December 12, 2009 by army historian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Hello - George Albert. You continue to surprise us with your exceptional collection of US headgear - one of the finest I have seen for period, styles and patterns. Valuable in it's own right - but even more-so for the collector and students. I have particularly enjoyed looking at the earlier patterns of shakos - Fencibles were an early form of local defense unit in Britain - I think the derivation of the word is from the French. Bearing in mind that this was the U.S.'s most isolationist period it is amazing how overseas styles were copied. You can see this flowing into the blue cloth helmets. These were originally from Prussia and since Britain 'ruled the waves' and Germany had the top armed forces - in the 1860's our army adopted the pattern. The British Police also followed the style - allowing the Top Hats to be withdrawn. From the British Police - certain American police Forces followed the pattern - although , usually without a helmet plate (or, Badge). I don't have a complete list of the States that used this pattern - certainly New York and Boston - and I think Philadelphia. Should you have a further list it would be good to know - also, do you have any of the old US police helmets ? I think your pictures have come out well - we all have problems in the beginning because of the restrictions on downloads - however, may I suggest that you 'tease' us a little. Don't put the whole collection on in one go - a few at a time will keep the interest going. Also, this is not a critiscism - just an observation - but you are dealing with a sophisticated audience in this forum and if you have a few more details (numbers issued, styles for officers and men etc.) on individual pieces they will be understood. I shall be looking forward to seeing other treasures from your collection. I'm sure I speak for many members when I say 'Thankyou' for your hard work. We all know how long it takes to post this number of items. Mervyn One final question - do you have a pattern of hat for the 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Big Horn ? I ask because I am starting work on a tipstaff I have for Canada . This was carried as his staff of authority by The North West Mounted Police Superintendent , who allowed Chief Sitting Bull and the Sioux Nation to take refuge in Canada, away from the pursuing US Army. When I post this, it would be great to have an illustration of the army hat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army historian Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 (edited) Mervyn, I don't have any information on the police. I do know they wore the felt helmet simular to the military I think from the 1880's to the mid to late 1920's. Thanks for the suggestions. This always helps. Yes I like the white "tarbucket" and am trying to get it back from the dealer. Keep your fingers crossed. They are extemely rare and since they are militia, no one really wants to collect them. Most you see are in museums. A very limited field. As for the head gear worn at the Little Big horn it would be a mix between the model 1872 kepie (I will enclose photo, and the "slouch" or the 1872 campaign hat, simular to the 1889 variety. Hope this helps. George Albert Edited December 12, 2009 by army historian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army historian Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 Mervyn, Here is another very interesting helmet very hard to date. It is a 1st Company, Governor's Foot Guards helmet. There were raised in 1771 to protect and escort the Governor. They are still in existence today. They wear a very simular uniform, and it is a rather high honor to belong to this unit. George Albert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army historian Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 (edited) Here is the inside maker's tag for the white tarbucket. Not too bad for a 173 year old hat. Christy was in business from 1833 to 1838 at this Boston address. George Albert Edited December 13, 2009 by army historian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army historian Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 Mervyn, Here is another very interesting helmet very hard to date. It is an enlisted man 1st Company, Connecticut Governor's Foot Guards helmet. There were raised in 1771 to protect and escort the Governor. They are still in existence today. They wear a very simular uniform, and it is a rather high honor to belong to this unit. George Albert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army historian Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 (edited) Sorry for the last post, operator error. Here is a Model 1972 Light Artillery Officer's Dress Helmet that has been cut down to the M1881 style. The maker was Bent & Bush. This was sold a long time ago also. Notice the "hair" is not horse hair like the enlist plumes, the officer's were made of buffalo or yak. Edited December 13, 2009 by army historian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 (edited) The Connecticut Governor's Foot Guard must be incredibly rare - and valuable. I take it that the covering is bear skin ? And the hand painted badge/insignia takes us straight back to an early colonial period. Wonderful. The Light Artillery Officer's Dress Helmet is in superb condition - and with your mentioning buffalo or, Yak, you can see that it is a dense hair. With the cap for the 7th. Cavalry - do you have the correct badge in your collection ? Once again, thankyou for sight of these rare pieces - I'm sure they will excite comment. Mervyn Edited December 14, 2009 by Mervyn Mitton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter monahan Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Mervyn wrote: I have particularly enjoyed looking at the earlier patterns of shakos - Fencibles were an early form of local defense unit in Britain - I think the derivation of the word is from the French. Correst! The full form of the word was "defencible", with fairly obvious linguistic ties to both the French ('defencable', I believe) and English "defensible". These troops were raised during the Napoleonic Wars - 1780-1815 - to defend England or its colonies and couldn't be sent on foreighn service. It was a way to get enlistment among the militias and war weary civillians, as Fencibles were paid and organized as regular troops but without the danger of being sent to Europe, the 'Fever Islands' or some other tropical hellhole. Peter Monahan, Sergeant, Royal Newfoundland Fencible Infantry (War of 1812 reenactment unit) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army historian Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 (edited) The Connecticut Governor's Foot Guard must be incredibly rare - and valuable. I take it that the covering is bear skin ? And the hand painted badge/insignia takes us back straight back to an early colonial period. Wonderful. The Light Artillery Officer's Dress Helmet is in superb condition - and with your mentioning buffalo or, Yak, you can see that it is a dense hair. With the cap for the 7th. Cavalry - do you have the correct badge in your collection ? Once again, thankyou for sight of these rare pieces - I'm sure they will excite comment. Mervyn Thanks Mervyn, I traded the Connecticut Governor's Foot Guard helmet for a documented (with photo) Awarded documents and medal group to a German Rear-Admiral. He survived the Battles of Coronel and the Falklands in WW1, via a complete US WW2 Army Pacific combat unifom. "Triangle trade". I more than got the value out of the Guards helmet. As for the 7th Cavalry, I don't have any of the keipies any longer from my second collection (150 pieces of head gear, and 50+ uniforms). I scaled down to basically photo documented medals and or medal/uniform groups. I still have some of the model 1881 dress helmets and a few older pieces. You should try goggling for the 7th cavalry and the Little Big Horn. Good luck George Albert Edited December 13, 2009 by army historian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army historian Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 Mervyn wrote: I have particularly enjoyed looking at the earlier patterns of shakos - Fencibles were an early form of local defense unit in Britain - I think the derivation of the word is from the French. Correst! The full form of the word was "defencible", with fairly obvious linguistic ties to both the French ('defencable', I believe) and English "defensible". These troops were raised during the Napoleonic Wars - 1780-1815 - to defend England or its colonies and couldn't be sent on foreighn service. It was a way to get enlistment among the militias and war weary civillians, as Fencibles were paid and organized as regular troops but without the danger of being sent to Europe, the 'Fever Islands' or some other tropical hellhole. Peter Monahan, Sergeant, Royal Newfoundland Fencible Infantry (War of 1812 reenactment unit) Thanks Peter, Yes the old militia shakos are very interesting. I applaud you for being in a re-enactors group that takes a lot of time, money, and dedication. Thanks for the information. I only things I have done are to field 4-5 National guard soldiers in period uniforms for recuiting. I also was part of an Honor Guard (below). Captain George Albert California state Military Reserve (State Defense Force) same as the old Fencible Infantry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army historian Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 Peter, Here is one of the uniforms I fielded for recuiting. It is an 1886 style light artillary Sergeant Dress uniform. George Albert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Peter - terrific that your unit still uses the old title... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army historian Posted December 14, 2009 Author Share Posted December 14, 2009 Peter - terrific that your unit still uses the old title... Peter, I am sorry, but I should not have used that old title. I meant to infer what we are or do. We are the "California State Military Reserve". Captain George Albert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nesredep Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Hello! Amazing Collection you sharing with us,thanks. :jumping: All the best Nesredep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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