US Victory Museum Posted June 6, 2019 Share #1 Posted June 6, 2019 Albeit late war, this is a Great War (WWI) era cold weather mackinaw.These were issued to soldiers engaged in specialized activities forwhich olive drab overcoats were not suitable, and required a greaterprotection against the environment than afforded by a wool lined jerkin.In late 1917, the army made a regulatory change permitting theissuance of the mackinaw as a coat suitable for the drivers of militarytrucks, cars, ambulances, and motorcycles.This is the second type of two military issued mackinaws. The first wasderived from an article of clothing defined by specification 863 issuedin May, 1907, and used through 1918. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted June 6, 2019 In the summer of 1918, the second was defined by specification 1343 andcontracts were issued as it seemed the war would continue through thewinter and into the following year.Because the military issued mackinaws were relatively uncommon even in1918, the surviving specimens do not appear in the collections of thecasual collectors; most no longer exist due to their consumptive use inthe years following the Great War. Mackinaws were issued articles of clothing (not the personal property ofthe soldier) so those specimens that survived the Great War continuedto be used in the military until rendered unserviceable. Think ofthem like WWII navy life jackets, but with twenty-five additional yearsof attrition; they're not common among collector's possessions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted June 6, 2019 While sharing the images of my winter coat, I am going to contrast itwith photos I saved from an Ebay auction of a similar mackinaw of thesame specification (1343) from Sept. 2015. There are differences betweenthe two although the contracts under which they were produced differedby less than 30 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted June 6, 2019 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #5 Posted June 6, 2019 The outer shell of the mackinaw produced by Henry Sonneborn & Co., Inc.appears almost faded white; however, the under side of the pocket seenabove the label shows the original color. The right side is nevercompletely displayed; therefore, I cannot say whether there are alsobutton holes which may be used in addition to the loops sewn on the left.Its flap closure is buttoned towards the back of the neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #6 Posted June 6, 2019 My mackinaw was produced by Wasserman & Rosenberg. There are button holeson the left side, and loops on the right. The flap closure for the throatisn't hanging there; it secured to the coat in that position by the smallbutton seen. The coat still retains its original belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #7 Posted June 6, 2019 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #8 Posted June 6, 2019 A 79th infantry division can be observed upon the left shoulder area.I was initially excited that in addition to being partially named, thatthere was a complete service number that could be used to research someelement of its history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #9 Posted June 6, 2019 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #10 Posted June 6, 2019 I wish to give a shout to forum member aznation who was kind enough tolook up the soldier's complete name and history. Unfortunately, andsomewhat surprisingly the name and number were from a WWII enlistment.C.F. Wright 18017257 would be Carl F. Wright, born 1912 making him tooyoung to have served in WWI, who enlisted August 1940 for the PhilippineDept, where I suspect there wasn't much use for a heavy coat like this.I have since found a second number, but I cannot tell if it is 10604 or110604 or whether either is a Great War era service number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted June 6, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted June 6, 2019 I welcome other collectors' contributions and images to this discussion;however, please limit it to those articles produced under military contract,and issued by the armed services for the purpose of this discussion. i.e. Only Spec 863, or Spec 1343 Mackinaws. END POST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrenchRat Posted June 6, 2019 Share #12 Posted June 6, 2019 I'm jealous....(sigh)... Great find tho... (PM sent)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Victory Museum Posted August 20, 2019 Author Share #13 Posted August 20, 2019 Звезды правы Fortune smiled upon me; I was perusing the photos on AGM and came across this one of a 3rd Army soldier (occupational force) wearing this exact article of clothing, so naturally I bought it. AGM, by the way, also had this pattern of mackinaw for sale a week or two ago. I hope the purchaser is also a member of the USMF because I'd love to see additional photos of that coat. Msn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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