Found these two items at the local flea market this morning, from different dealers.

First is a uniform closely resembling the Army 1895 Officer's, missing buttons on the front, but has 2 Army eagle buttons on the shoulder straps. Not really sure what this is...Academy? Old Pre-WWI Army Whites? Any ideas welcome.

As a note, I am planning to sell or trade this one off.

 

 

Came with 2 sets of pants, one straight cuffed at the ankles, the other has a cinch type thing at the cuffs. Maybe to blouse them to wear in leggings?

And this hat / helmet deal here is pretty cool. Made by MSA, and I'm guessing it was a civilian worker employed by the navy or something along those lines?

 

Came with 2 sets of pants, one straight cuffed at the ankles, the other has a cinch type thing at the cuffs. Maybe to blouse them to wear in leggings?

 

That stamped label sure looks like it says DSA 100 which would make it 1960's vintage.

I think the white uniform is an M1895 Officer's Undress Blouse.

 

That stamped label sure looks like it says DSA 100 which would make it 1960's vintage.

I would agree with you, but up close, it really doesn't look like it says DSA. The other set of pants have a bit clearer marking (still illegible to me anyhow) but if it looked like DSA I wouldn't have asked if it were older.

 

Anyhow, though, not entirely sure what it is and no frame of reference here, but it's not Navy as it's got full shoulder straps and not loops for shoulder boards, right? Any West Point guys out there who can confirm or deny that this may be a USMA uniform?

And this hat / helmet deal here is pretty cool. Made by MSA, and I'm guessing it was a civilian worker employed by the navy or something along those lines?

 

These helmets (We called them "Hard Hats" were worn in the shipyards. Officers wore white, and most had the officer crest decal applied Below that would have been a decal with the name, rank and position/job of the wearer.

 

Steve Hesson

Your uniform is a M-1895 jacket modified to 1901 specs. In 1901 shoulder straps with a button were added to the M1895 and pinned back rank came into use. I will try to post a scan of a soldier wearing it. There is a photo of a uniform identical to yours on page 49 of the book Fix Bayonets, which covers infantry uniforms from the Civil War through WWII. Its part of the GI series of books. The caption states the following:

 

In 1901, Loops were added to the 1895 pattern white officers jacke, upon which insignia of rank and a gilt metal arms of the united States could be placed for all officers below the rank of Colonel except for second LT. This arrangment followed the regulations prescribed for the 1898-pattern kahki officers blouse.

 

Your Helmet is actually a US Navy issue helmet that would have been worn by an officer of the Civil Engineers section of the Navy. I saw one last year that had the rank and last name under the officers hat emblem. I was part of a group to a Civil Engineers Lt CDR from WWII through Korea.

 

Robert

Despite what is shown in the photo of the two coats side-by-side, the shoulder straps like those worn on the blue coatwere NOT authorized on the white coat. Initially it was adopted about 1888 for off-duty wear, and NO insignia was to be worn! The sword was not to be worn with it until later, so the left side was not slit for the sword hanger as later. In/after 1898, shoulder loops were added and bright insignia was authorized.

 

Did some states adopt it also, with insignia (straps, etc)? Could be -- I am quoting federal regs.

 

BTW -- these were worn into the 1920's in hot weather. One of Shelby Stanton's uniform books shows Patton wearing one then -- Eisenhower too, I think.

 

G

Thinking the drawstring trousers may not go with the blouse. Looks like the drawstrings have nylon in them, but it may just be my computer...

Robert and Steve -- thank you very much for your help ID'ing the helmet for me! I can see where there must have been a name / rank / rating below the eagle and has been scratched off. Still a pretty neat looking lid. Even thought it ain't USMC, it might have to stick around here for a little while!

 

Gil, Robert, and FS, thank you all very much for helping me on the officer's coat. Not entirely sure if the pants match or not, but will do some more research now that I know what it is and see if they belong here or not.

 

In the meantime, if anyone is in the market for a nice 1901 Modified 1895 Army Officer's white uniform coat, it is on the trading block for USMC and/or Navy Corpsman items!

Robert and Steve -- thank you very much for your help ID'ing the helmet for me! I can see where there must have been a name / rank / rating below the eagle and has been scratched off. Still a pretty neat looking lid. Even thought it ain't USMC, it might have to stick around here for a little while!

 

Gil, Robert, and FS, thank you all very much for helping me on the officer's coat. Not entirely sure if the pants match or not, but will do some more research now that I know what it is and see if they belong here or not.

 

In the meantime, if anyone is in the market for a nice 1901 Modified 1895 Army Officer's white uniform coat, it is on the trading block for USMC and/or Navy Corpsman items!