Service Academy and Military College uniform accessories

[maddog1129]

I got a buckle for the US Merchant Marine Academy a few months ago, and it was missing the buckle catch. I thought maybe borrowing a spare from a US Navy sword belt would do, but it was totally the wrong size. Ultimately I contacted the caster at Hanover Brass, and they made a reproduction catch for me, plus a reproduction of the entire buckle. I have some "before" pix with comparison to the US Navy buckle, and then the completed original buckle, plus the repro cast buckle

[maddog1129]

Here's the "after" of the original buckle, which the caster cleaned up for me.

the complete buckle, the separate catch

the back

[maddog1129]

close up of the back of the buckle, showing the part he used to create the catch, plus close up of the front, plus close up of the catch itself

[maddog1129]

Reproduction buckle, both parts are reproduced

[THAT GUY]

Great stuff Jo my friend! :thumbsup:

[maddog1129]

Next up: A USMA uniform button. This style of button has the crest that was designed and implemented in 1899. It was used for the shako plate, dress cap plate, and buttons from 1899 to 1923. It was changed in 1923 when it was pointed out that heraldically, the crest was backwards. In heraldry, a crest or shield device normally faces its own right (dexter) rather than its own left (sinister). Orienting on the left (sinister) has "sinister" symbolic implications, such as cowardice (or illegitimacy -- that's why the "bar sinister," which is more properly called a bend sinister, is the shield mark, supposedly, of a bastard, born on the wrong side of the blanket) so they changed the crest to be heraldically correct. This button is of a size that it might have been used as a coat button on the gray long overcoat, or the front row buttons of the India White uniform.

[maddog1129]

I picked up a set of 8 more of the USMA 1898-1923 coat-size buttons, with toggles. I've put in a close-up of the font and back of one of the buttons, but I'm afraid my phogography is not that good.

[maddog1129]

More USMA buttons: overview of several types and sizes. Large coat buttons in the post-1923 pattern, small coat buttons in the current pattern also. In addition, a few extra "bullet" buttons. These bullet buttons have been traditional for the USMA full dress coatee for nearly 200 years.

[maddog1129]

USMA cap side buttons, one set with screw tubes, and one without

[maddog1129]

More USMA button stuff: Some button backs, for both the flat "cadet' buttons and the round "bullet" buttons.

[SARGE]

I can help add to your thread with a Model 1902 Army Officer Saber variation from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

 

 

The particular sword is a standard M1902 with the exception of the blade etching. This particular sword is named to the owner.

 

 

Various military schools had their own distinctive swords and most had their names etched on the blade.

 

I hope this is helpful.

[maddog1129]

Excellent addition, Sarge! Do you have overall pictures of the sword as well?

[senhoragua]

From 1939 through 1943 members of the US Merchant Marine Cadet Corps used a distinct hat badge apart from that worn by midshipmen at Annapolis. After official granting of Merchant Marine Navy Reserve status and the title of cadet-midshipman, cadets were authorized to wear the classic midshipman metal hat badge like their counterparts at Annapolis.

 

Hat badges from 1939 onward were bullion, bullion and yellow thread, and finally metal. More often than not, metal badges were worn on hats with white covers (albeit, I only see evidence of this from 1942 on) and on hats of those who have not USMMR status (e.g. during indoctrination period). Below are three variations of the woven badge and the metal badge.

 

Please note that much of my research on the USMMCC is gleaned from period photographs, ephemeral Academy publications and yearbooks due to a lack of readily available regulations. That being said, I have a write up on the pre-1942 badges here:

http://hawsepipe.blogspot.com/2010/03/us-m...s-pre-1942.html

 

bullion:

 

bullion variation:

 

yellow thread (silk) & bullion:

 

yellow thread (silk) & bullion:

 

stamped metal:

 

stamped metal obverse:

 

Postwar hat badges are modified versions of the Annapolis midshipman device; this is continued to worn to this day and is sometimes mistakenly referred to as "Martime Service CPO badge". Note at the US Maritime Service shield encircled by the cable - perhaps that would account for the incorrect attribution.

 

postwar:

 

postwar detail

 

postwar detail reverse:

 

Note the Vanguard Hallmark: V-4.

[maddog1129]

senhoragua,

 

Very nice items showing the progression.

 

I am jealous of your modern USMMCC cap device. Is that the same as or different from the USMMA cap device?

 

Jo

[maddog1129]

VMI cadet uniform button, front and back. these are VERY hard to come by!

Also, VPI cadet button, front and back.

[maddog1129]

recently acquired USMA sword belt buckle, front, back, apart

[maddog1129]

USAFA large (1.5 in or 1.25 in) beret crest clutchback pins.

[maddog1129]

I was lucky enough to get another USAFA parade uniform sword belt breast plate, on its card from NS meyer

[DutchInfid3l]

USAFA Parade Dress waist belt w/buckle.

 

 

[DutchInfid3l]

USAFA Cadet sabre.

 

 

 

 

[COOKIEMAN]

USAF ACADEMY - HONOR SQUADRON BADGE

[COOKIEMAN]

BELT BUCKLE - ST. JOHN's MILITARY SCHOOL - SALINA, KANSAS

[COOKIEMAN]

DATED CABINET PHOTO 0f CADETS c.1893 - ST. JOHN'S MILITARY SCHOOL, SALINA, KANSAS

[senhoragua]

US Naval Reserve, Merchant Marine Reserve Insignia

 

I decided to do a write up of the soon to be defunct USNR insignia. I figured this would be as good a place as any to include some images, as until the 80s, it was primarily seen on US Merchant Marine Academy and state maritime academy uniforms. My write up starts with the brouhaha in October 1942 when New York State Maritime Academy administrators started wondering why their cadets couldn't wear the device.

 

The memos were fun to dig up.

 

http://hawsepipe.blogspot.com/2012/09/us-n...e-insignia.html

 

1938-1941

 

1939-1940

 

1942

 

1943

 

1944

 

1945

 

1946

 

1946

 

1946

 

2010

[senhoragua]

senhoragua,

 

Very nice items showing the progression.

 

I am jealous of your modern USMMCC cap device. Is that the same as or different from the USMMA cap device?

 

Jo

US Merchant Marine Academy called the body of students the Corps of Cadets. In early publications, you'll see them as being US Maritime Commission Corps of Cadets, Corps of Cadets of the Maritime Commission, US Merchant Marine Corps of Cadets or Corps of Cadets of the US Merchant Marine Academy. So, they're all one in the same. Today they've shortened things a bit an call themselves "The Regiment".

 

During the 2nd half of WWII, the USMMACC wore US Navy midshipman hat badges, then around the time that the school was jockeying for "permanence" the current device (with the US Merchant Marine Mariner insignia in the cable loop) started to be used. You'll see a lot of the post-war badges being offered or touted as wartime badges. From 1939-1942/1943 you see the long anchor device. But, as I find more dated photos, my years slide around...