Wear Out Date for Standing Collar Officer Uniform

[usmedalman]

I know the army adopted the rolled collar tunic in 1926, but can anyone provide information on when the wear out date for the old standing collar was. I doubt officers could afford to just run out and buy a new jacket when the M1926 appeared.

[atb]

14 hours ago, usmedalman said:

I know the army adopted the rolled collar tunic in 1926, but can anyone provide information on when the wear out date for the old standing collar was. I doubt officers could afford to just run out and buy a new jacket when the M1926 appeared.

Whether they could or could not afford to, I believe Regular Army officers were expectet to do just that. I also believe National Guard and Reserve officers were more likely to wear the old style longer before getting the new one.

[usmedalman]

In modern times, (I enlisted in 1978 and retired in 2008, but continued to work as an Army civilian until 2014) when the Army rolled out a new uniform there was a mandatory date set for when soldiers could no longer wear the old style. Generally, this was 4 years. For example, when the Army adopted the blue uniform for standard wear in 2010, the wear out date for the green uniform was set as 2015. I was just assuming this was the case for all uniform changes, but perhaps that was not the case in earlier times. 

[atb]

Always iffy to equate modern regs and practices with how things were done in bygone eras. I think the only definitive thing I've seen for em items is the phrase "until present supplies are exhausted," or similar words. For officers, I figure they were expected to get the new items as soon as possible or available.

[kiaiokalewa]

I agree with atb "until present supplies are exhausted".  This especially apply to the enlisted personnel since they were issued their uniforms.  I've seen  1926-32 roll out photos showing "green horns" issued standing collared coats.  Usually, it would be one or two soldiers that would make these photo opportunities.  Why their coats hadn't been coverted to the then prescribed lapel collar coat is any ones guess but the phaseout of these standing collar coats in the REGULAR ARMY did continue to be worn well into the early 30's.   

 

I have not seen photographic evidence of this apply to the  offices yet, probably won't, the reasoning is that officers were responsible for purchasing their uniform, insignia and any  accounterments out of pockets.  The PQMD did make officer tunics but they certainly did not issue them.

[ludwigh1980]

From my experience collecting uniforms of this period, an officers would take his earlier styled uniform and just have it retailored to the changes in specifications. If he was from a wealthy family or had wealth, he could have a new uniform made, however it seems that most just had their old uniform retailored. High collar modified to an open lapel, pockets modified to pleated pockets etc. I have a few M1879 Officers Frock coats that were modified to M1902 Uniforms. They typically have dates in the 1890's and all belonged to Federal officers (versus state militia or national guard troops). If it was a completely different uniform, from blue to olive drab, then yes, a new uniform would be purchased. 

[everforward]

Photograph of the 116th Infantry Regiment Band, Virginia National Guard…1927.

 

 

[usmedalman]

4 hours ago, everforward said:

Photograph of the 116th Infantry Regiment Band, Virginia National Guard…1927.

 

 

Cool photograph. I was not aware that the uniform came in khaki, for summer wear I presume. Did band members not wear rank insignia?

[everforward]

52 minutes ago, usmedalman said:

Cool photograph. I was not aware that the uniform came in khaki, for summer wear I presume. Did band members not wear rank insignia?

 

In the full photograph, you can see some CPL's and SGT's.....the pic was taken at NG summer camp, held that year in Va. Beach, VA......usually a hot and steamy climate in June-July, so no wool in the summertime, cotton was the uniform of the day......I thought it would make a good pic for the thread showing a NG band unit looking fairly squared-away with their open-collar uniforms in 1927.

[Allan H.]

I believe that there was an order put out that ended wear of the standing collar in September 1928, but I cannot find it at the moment. You will find both officer and enlisted blouses that have been coverted from a high collar to an open collar as well, so it wasn't always a case of running out and buying new uniforms.

 

Allan

[everforward]

21 hours ago, usmedalman said:

Cool photograph. I was not aware that the uniform came in khaki, for summer wear I presume. Did band members not wear rank insignia?

To further add info to answer your question, here’s another shot of the left side of the pic showing the band leader (a Warrant Officer) and the Drum Major…..various chevron types on the coats, and another cool feature is some of the coats show the collar disks and DUI’s both fastened to the upper lapel of the coat— something that was only done for a short period of time after the open-collar coat was adopted.

 

The WO Band Leader looks old enough to be a Spam-Am vet, maybe older……

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

(Enlisted, not Officer) Standing collar & Blues worn in Hawaii...

 

Yardlong Detail, 19th Infantry Schofield Barracks 1930

 

[ludwigh1980]

Great photograph!

 

[JohnK83882]

I found this on reddit and thought it was a very early rolled collar uniform, though enlisted in this case.