Uniform Construction

[latinmajorac]

what do you guys think of constructing uniforms? for example, i revently bought a duty uniform jacket (the blue one that isn't the high neck collar, but rather the jacket form of that uniform) it was unissued, but i put shoulder boards on it (Lieutenant- captain) what do you guys think of this practice?

i know this made very little sense, bear with me though. thanks everyone

[DougD]

I don't think is a major problem. You are not altering a WWII Generals uniform, or a marshal. Its modern, and you are "completing" it for your own use and enjoyment.

DD

[latinmajorac]

Originally Posted by DougD

I don't think is a major problem. You are not altering a WWII Generals uniform, or a marshal. Its modern, and you are "completing" it for your own use and enjoyment.

DD

well, how is making modern uniforms different? if i bought a uniform jacket and pants (no boards, no medals) and it was for a general, how would my assembling the necessary parts for it be different than assembling a more 'modern' piece?

thanks doug!

[DougD]

In general, you really don't want to alter any uniform; but taking a modern unissued dress or service uniform and "messing" with it is no great crime. My point is that when you start to get into higher uniforms then you might want to think harder about any "alterations". The actaull act of altering the uniform is the same.

[textorpmt]

This is just my opinion, but here goes.

When is it acceptable to bring peices of various uniforms together to create an impression?

If you state up front when showing it or trying to sell it that you have a collection of parts, and not an original grouping.

If you don't represent it as a original combination.

If you don't try to pass it off as a named collection.

Taking the shoulder boards off of a majors uniform and trying to create a
generals uniform should be discouraged.

If you have a basic jacket with no insignia on it, go ahead and dress it as you like as long as it is accurate and you indicate that is what you did.

It all depends on the value of the original item. If stumbled across a sealed box of ten WWII era tunics with no insignia on them, I would dress one with original and authentic insignia and other items. or reproductions if I could not find or get authentic. I would say up front that that is what it is.

As much as I would love to have Robert E. Lees uniform, it's just not going to happen. If I found a civil war junior officers uniform then that is what I have. It would be criminal to take that apart and put repro insignia on it just to have a generals uniform.

I am not talking about reproductions, if you want to be Lee go right ahead and buy the uniform. For the sake of showing off the items as they were actually used, I feel it is acceptable to used repro items to complete the impression, as long as you are not destroying the original item. As long as you dont try to pass off the collected items as an original grouping.

There are alot of people who disagree with this. But if you have a uniform jacket that has never been issued, what harm is it to dress it with the appropriate items to complete an accurate impression? How is it more historically valuable? As a jacket with no insignia, nothing to indicate the country or service it was assiciated with, or with painstakingly researched and accurate medals, insignia and rank on it?

If I found an original civil war sack coat with no stripes on it i would be hard pressed to put seargent stripes on it just to have a sgt uniform. The privates sack coat is valuable in and of itself. It is a call the individual has to make. Let us hope it is made for the sake of history and accuracy.

Well, that is my opion, lets hear from the rest of you.

Phillip T.