10 replies to this topic

[vintageproductions]

Bought a large load of stuff today, a little bit of everything.
In one of the boxes was this set of shoulder boards.
When or why did the Navy use a maroon velvet stripe in between the bullion?
Thanks in advance.

[dskjl]

Bought a large load of stuff today, a little bit of everything.
In one of the boxes was this set of shoulder boards.
When or why did the Navy use a maroon velvet stripe in between the bullion?
Thanks in advance.

I am thinking warrant officer.

[Jack's Son]

I'm thinking NOT US Navy.
I did find a site that mentioned a maroon stripe between gold stripes for California Navy.

Edited by Jack's Son, 22 April 2012 - 07:09 PM.

[vintageproductions]

All sound possible.
It does have a Navy button at the top that screws into the bottom board

[doyler]

Early Navy Nurse Corps????

[Bob Hudson]

Bought a large load of stuff today, a little bit of everything.
In one of the boxes was this set of shoulder boards.
When or why did the Navy use a maroon velvet stripe in between the bullion?
Thanks in advance.

Medical Corps, until 1918: http://www.usmilitar...d...st&p=192441

[vintageproductions]

Thanks Bob

[SEABEEBRIAN]

In the US Navy from the WW1 era and before the staff codes were designated by different colors. There were green, maroon, red, white, yellow, orange, black and voilet if memory serves. If I can find my list I will post the corresponding meanings.

[Justin B.]

^ Here you go:

Medical Corps: cobalt blue, 1869-1883; maroon, 1883-1919
Pay Corps: white, 1869-1919
Engineer Corps: red, 1869-1899
Construction Corps: violet, 1872-1919
Professors of Mathematics: olive green, 1872-1919
Civil Engineer Corps: light blue, 1881-1919
Dental Corps: orange, 1913-1919
Medical Reserve Corps: crimson, 1913-1919

These colors were used in conjunction with the gold stripes on the sleeves or shoulder marks until 1919, and IIRC could still be worn until 1922 when the double-breasted service dress blues became mandatory. In 1919, the corps devices -- previously used on collars, shoulder straps and epaulettes -- began to be used above the rank stripes as well.

The Chaplain Corps did not use colored distinction cloth till 1918 because they were wore black braid stripes instead of gold. In 1918 they were authorized gold stripes with "lustrous black" distinction cloth for a short time before the distinction colors were eliminated.



Justin B.

[vintageproductions]

Thanks again to everyone for the info

[hhbooker2]

Greetings & Salutations! During the 1960s I saw and spoke with a hippy who was wearing a frock coat with the four gold stripes of a naval captain with maroon between the stripes, cannot imagine too many medical doctors got as far in rank as a full captain? The coat showed little wear, but was authentic, maybe belonged to his great-great or great grandfather? Ensigns wore a single half-inch gold stripe centered atop a one inch coloured cloth. Lieutenant Junior Grade and higher had coloured cloth between the chevrons, not above or below like Ensign. Ensigns also wore their gold stripe a half inch to the edge of the rank mark (shoulder board) while LT.J.G. and higher wore their stripes a quarter inch from the edge of the rank mark. Based on Bunkley's book. Herbert Booker of Florida