Does anyone have a USMC officer’s visor hat with a brown visor instead of black? Were these pre-WWII? I’m not referring to the WWI era bell crown visors, but something that I believe may have been worn in the 1930s. Please post a photo if possible. Thanks!

7 hours ago, AirMechanic said:

Does anyone have a USMC officer’s visor hat with a brown visor instead of black? Were these pre-WWII? I’m not referring to the WWI era bell crown visors, but something that I believe may have been worn in the 1930s. Please post a photo if possible. Thanks!

After the Bell Crowns (or as my Dad called them, Pee Pots) until 1937 I believe, with the new uniform regulations. You will also notice the narrow chin strap from that period.  Here's one:

 

Regarding the date of brown or cordovan leather to black color change, here is what I got from Google. I believe the impetus was SECDEF McNamara.  He ordered the services to standardize uniforms and equipment as much as possible for cost efficiency: 

 

"The USMC officially changed the leather and button color from brown to black in 1964. Before this update, uniform buttons and leather accessories were predominantly "cordovan brown" or bronze, but this transition to black helped standardize the uniform's appearance across the force."

 

Coincidently this is also about the time when the Marines gave up their distinct utility uniforms - as featured on the TV show Gomer Pyle - for the OG 107 sateen utilities used by the Army.

It is a difficult question you pose. Basically, there were changes made to these caps in the 1929 regulations and again in 1937. There is no clear information I can find that specifies the color of the leather on these officers caps. Between 1929 and 1937, there were a lot of variations that didn't necessarily conform to regulations, causing some concerns in the Corps. This was amplified by the fact that with the officers caps, they were purchased privately and many were being tailored around the world adding some personal flair. This was seen especially in China and the Philippines. I have a cover that is identical to the one you show. If I was a betting man, I would place it somewhere between the late 20’s and before 1937. Mine was tailored by Horstmann here in the states. I have seen black and brown visors on officers hats being worn at the same time during this period. The idea of changing the hat cover on the same frame or base was growing in popularity, and you almost always find black visors on the blue dress covers, so could that suggest a black visor was worn with an inter changeable cap frame used with a winter cover?  My tan with brown visor is not exchangeable and I have often wondered if perhaps that might be why the visor is “oak” tan in color (as described in the 1929 regs). You will see many with the thinner hat strap during this time period as well, but will also see some of the wider straps. By 1937, they are all the wider. Tulkoff covers all of this in his book Equipping the Corps pages 33-340 and has some great period photos to help illustrate. The change over to black visors was definitely pre WWII, much earlier than Dr. Google suggests. 

Well done, Warguy!!

Steve