1st Lt Infantry Shoulder Boards

[skipproo1]

Greetings,

 

I have a pair of 1st Lieutenant's shoulder boards. Not sure if time period or post civil war.

The backing has the same criss cross stitching as seen on some open shoulder boards of the TP, but some were closed also. The black backing is of a silky material and not wool. They have an internal stiffener to keep them curved. These are slightly wider than that of TP. But then again Officer's had boards made that were larger or smaller than with regulation, particularly to the end of the war they became smaller. The ranking and boarders are of gold with the boarders slightly domed not flat and the typical light blue for infantry. I know that the infantry colour changed from blue to white in 1885, but don't know if this was ever reversed. Could these be modified shoulder boards? I have placed a pic together with an Indian War Captains shoulder board (silver rank) gold boarders which is slightly smaller, particularly the width between the colour of branch and boarder. It has a black backing in wool. I gave measurements to help ( measured with a caliper ) and are only approx. I have searched for a while and I receive different TP measurements and styles, which I'm sure some are post and are trying to be sold as TP. Overall I find it difficult to determine to date most of the shoulder boards. I have not found a clear rule to determine how to date them. So many were sold private and fall out of regulation, particularly the higher the rank or where the money was. Some are clear such as the smith pattern or double even triple boarders which were not allowed after the war or the Indian style with silver rank Lt. - Capt. (blue infantry) gold boarder. Some say for example if the colonel eagle touches the width of the boarders it's TP if not then post, others state the same thing exactly the other way around. I don't count on open or closed backings as it has been shown that both were in used particularly with the smith pattern. Stiffeners were also used on some boards.

 

Regards

Skip

 

 

[Lee Ragan]

Good looking set of shoulder straps.

[skipproo1]

I'm trying to add more pics. This site seems to be limited on how many and big the pics can be

 

[skipproo1]

last pic of Capt. and Lt. revers side

[skipproo1]

 

thank you Lee Ragan

[Steve Rogers]

I would place them as postwar. The thickness of the strap, the width of the border, the lack of dead and bright bullion, and the slightly rounded corners pretty much tell the story.

[Proud Kraut]

Hi Skip,

 

I don't know if you are aware of Dr. Howard G. Lanham's book "STRAPS - The Evolution of United States Army Shoulder Straps"? According to his book the U.S. Infantry wore the following branch colors on their straps:

 

light blue: 1851 - 1886

white: 1886 - 1902

light blue: 1902 - current.

 

Referring to this book again it would be helpfull to know the exact dimensions of your boards. There' s a time table in the book with the different sizes of these straps and their periods of wear.

 

Lars

[Leatherneck72]

Those look Span-Am era to me.

[skipproo1]

Thank you Steve and Lars. I feel ill and was out for a couple of days. Sorry for my late reply. No Lars I was not aware of “Dr. Howard G. Lanham's book = Straps”. But I most certainly will. I find this topic difficult as there are to many of sizes shapes. time period. regulation and non regulation straps. Lars I do have a pic with all demetions included with the other pics. If I take Lars time table then my straps would date after 1902. If they were Span-Am era (ca. 1898) as Leatherneck thinks, then they would be in white in stead of light blue and maybe with silver Lt. Bars and not gold. Could they fit from their design to around the WWI era?

 

I wish to thank every one for their comments and corrections. I just wish to say that every one on this site is so helpfull and professional to individual subjects. I would like to add that I wished I had more knowledge to return the favour to help others too. I guess that day will come. Once again thank you all.

 

Skip