Grail item hunt! Model 1936 army air corps blue dress shoulder boards

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Can you help complete a grail?!

 

Here is the missing puzzle piece to a model 1936 blue dress army air corps officer uniform. The first new blue dress of the design incorporated squared shoulder boards with corps piping. This proved controversial and and unpopular and was subsequently discontinued in the model 1938 blue dress. The M1938 had the shoulder passants with rank that are more familiar. Please let me know if you have a pair to sell or know where to find a pair. Thank you. Tod Rathbone www.rathbonemuseum.com

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Since this proved to be an almost unobtainable item, I decided I would have to make a pair to complete my model 1936 air corps tunic. I started by reaching out to @Jamecharles to confirm size, shape and proportion of original model 1936 boards since he has more than anyone I know! He shared his engineering set which has white as the edge color layered with a red top. Note that this set has merrowed stitch that unites the two pieces of colored wool felt. The back is a pretty standard hard board with a stitched strap. Note that the board is covered in black wool felt. The colored pieces are then stitched to it. The grommet is punched through the whole assembly and attached with a small cap-sized button and screw post with a circular base to secure to the tunic.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

The first thing I had to do was source the correct color felt which was harder than expected. I had to order a dozen different samples before I landed on the correct shades. Fortunately these are not expensive and does not require much material for the project. The first picture is of a piece of original pant leg striping. This was my test piece. I was fortunate to find the orange color fairly quickly and proved and exact match. The blue was tougher but eventually I found one that worked. 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Next I needed boards. I chose flat type US Navy boards as they had the correct dimension and hardware. I removed all of the material until I had simply the hard board with the attached strap. I then measured and cut the orange base to fit with overlapping elements to the backside. I both glued the fabric to the board as well as cross stitched the fabric to itself on the back (like laces) to keep it tight. I then glued the cut blue piece to the top. Unfortunately I realize too late that I should have had these pieces stitched together before attaching to the board. Once attached to the board, no one (dry cleaners, shoe makers) had a sewing machine that could stitch through the underlying board. Ah well. Next set. I then purchased a pair of period bullion major rank insignia and glued them on. To be honest, they look alright and make the tunic look complete. 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

I also managed to find a pair of period officer shoulder knots with existing bullion rank as these were also worn on the model 1936 when in formal mode (worn with black tie). 

[Justin B.]

This is tremendous! I really admire the attention and effort put into a uniform that was so short-lived.

It is interesting that there seem to be two kinds of these boards out there, one with parallel sides like navy boards, and another with tapering sides, more like the shoulder loops of the service coat.

One thing about insignia: The orders on these uniforms were pretty clear that metal, not embroidered, insignia would be used, for grade on the shoulder boards and knots as well as the collar and branch insignia and the cap badge. I think that was a Depression selling point, that the same insignia from the service uniform could also be used on the dress uniform.

[Jamecharles]

Lovable work Tod, !!!!
GS