Posted: 10/27/2010 4:17:59 PM EDT
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Anyone know what military uniform this might be? I was thinking Navy but not 100% sure.  |
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The Jumper is definitely pre-WW2 I don't know, the piping on the cuff in the OP wasn't used on the Dress Blue jumper dating back to WW1. I don't recall seeing piping like that. I'm curious now and will do some digging.
This is a jumper from WW2, note the piping on the cuffs: 
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Quoted: The Jumper is definitely pre-WW2 This is a jumper from WW2, note the piping on the cuffs: http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/Seabee_Mech/military/Dress_Blue.jpg My current blues have piping on the cuffs just like the one you posted. |
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Quoted: Quoted: The Jumper is definitely pre-WW2 This is a jumper from WW2, note the piping on the cuffs: http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/Seabee_Mech/military/Dress_Blue.jpg My current blues have piping on the cuffs just like the one you posted. At some point, didnt the junior enlisted ranks have sleeve piping according whether there were a Seaman, Seaman First Class, or the like? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: The Jumper is definitely pre-WW2 This is a jumper from WW2, note the piping on the cuffs: http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/Seabee_Mech/military/Dress_Blue.jpg My current blues have piping on the cuffs just like the one you posted. At some point, didnt the junior enlisted ranks have sleeve piping according whether there were a Seaman, Seaman First Class, or the like? Sounds familiar, but I really don't know. You know why there's a big square flap on the front of the pants, right? |
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The Jumper is definitely pre-WW2 This is a jumper from WW2, note the piping on the cuffs: http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/Seabee_Mech/military/Dress_Blue.jpg My current blues have piping on the cuffs just like the one you posted. At some point, didnt the junior enlisted ranks have sleeve piping according whether there were a Seaman, Seaman First Class, or the like? Yes, after a little digging: "The difficulties of adding piping by hand to collars by sailors onboard ships was realized, and in 1876 the white tape on the collar was standardized to three rows for all enlisted wearing the jumper, with rank to be determined by the petty officer insignia and cuff stripes." http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/uniform_history.htm#en5 |
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He is the info I have. The photo is of my Great Grandfather. He was born in 1890 in Germany, but I am not sure when he immigrated. And as far as I know never served, that is until I found this picture. He lived in Ohio all his life, but then again now that could be just an assumption. |
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He is the info I have. The photo is of my Great Grandfather. He was born in 1890 in Germany, but I am not sure when he immigrated. And as far as I know never served, that is until I found this picture. He lived in Ohio all his life, but then again now that could be just an assumption. Ohio has a Naval Militia (since 1896), and they actually did go to war in the Spanish American war. ETA: I have no idea what their uniforms looked like. |
| Never really thought about it, but was there any reason (practical use) for the popeye hat, drape on the backside of the shirt, and bell bottoms? I heard that the sailors were taught to tie the bottoms of their dungerees to make them a floatation device in an emergency but I don't know if that was why they were designed that way. |
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Never really thought about it, but was there any reason (practical use) for the popeye hat, drape on the backside of the shirt, and bell bottoms? I heard that the sailors were taught to tie the bottoms of their dungerees to make them a floatation device in an emergency but I don't know if that was why they were designed that way. Yes, bell bottoms were to make it easier to get them off in the water –– supposedly. The floatation thing is correct –– we were taught to do that in boot camp. I never felt it was very effective. The drape in the back of the blouse was to protect the uniform from the grease worn in the hair. I have no idea what the Dixie Cup was for, if it had any practical purpose. |
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Never really thought about it, but was there any reason (practical use) for the popeye hat, drape on the backside of the shirt, and bell bottoms? I heard that the sailors were taught to tie the bottoms of their dungerees to make them a floatation device in an emergency but I don't know if that was why they were designed that way. They teach us that in the Army too, but bell bottoms would make it more dificult. You take your pants off and tie the legs together. You then hold the waist just under the surface and scoop air under the water and into the opening to inflate. ACU/BDU tops will hold air too. Just cinch the cuffs tight, pull the collar up over your mouth and hold with one hand, with your other hold the bottom hem down, then breathe in through your nose and out your mouth to inflate. If you found yourself in deep water away from shore and have nothing else it will work. Takes some work to keep afloat but it's better than nothing. |
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my understanding was the bell bottoms were so they could remove their pants for said flotation purpose, wihtout having to remove and risk losing their shoes.
They were still teaching the pants-flotation trick in boot camp in the late 80s. I've just never noticed those tight knit-looking cuffs on a sailor suit. eta - I see I was triple-late with that. Marines were also teaching a technique of tying the pants-cuffs together in a knot, flicking the pants behind you, then holding the waistband open with both hands you whip them over your head, mostly filling them with air in one go. Then you'd hold the waistline below water with one hand, while splashing them to keep them wet to keep the air in longer. |
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my understanding was the bell bottoms were so they could remove their pants for said flotation purpose, wihtout having to remove and risk losing their shoes. They were still teaching the pants-flotation trick in boot camp in the late 80s. I've just never noticed those tight knit-looking cuffs on a sailor suit. They still taught it in 95. |
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Never really thought about it, but was there any reason (practical use) for the popeye hat, drape on the backside of the shirt, and bell bottoms? I heard that the sailors were taught to tie the bottoms of their dungerees to make them a floatation device in an emergency but I don't know if that was why they were designed that way. They teach us that in the Army too, but bell bottoms would make it more dificult. You take your pants off and tie the legs together. You then hold the waist just under the surface and scoop air under the water and into the opening to inflate. ACU/BDU tops will hold air too. Just cinch the cuffs tight, pull the collar up over your mouth and hold with one hand, with your other hold the bottom hem down, then breathe in through your nose and out your mouth to inflate. If you found yourself in deep water away from shore and have nothing else it will work. Takes some work to keep afloat but it's better than nothing. They're not technically bell-bottoms. They are wide-leg trousers which gives them the appearance of being bell-bottoms. The wide legs were meant to make work easier as well as rolling up the trousers besides also being easier to remove in the water without taking off your shoes (many sailors learned the hard way that one should not dispose of their shoes if they have to abandon ship). I know the hat served a purpose and in practice it was originally worn with the brim down to protect against the sun when that warranted. The flap was from the days of long hair to keep greasy har from staining the uniforms. The jumper is designed to make work easier, especially the open cuff types (there was a blue and white jumper for work and likewise for dress; the cuffs and types of flaps were among the differences). Dungarees came about because a more practical uniform was desired for work that also did not have to be cleaned often for inspection (work uniforms originally were ot subject to stringent inspections or standards for cleanliness which is where the naval practice of not allowing utlities and the like to be worn in public comes from). |
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The picture looks turn of the century, are we sure that is a US uniform? Could he have served on an ocean liner that used military style uniforms for the crew?
Of course there is the possibility that the man pictured had his uniform tailored and customized slightly. That practice was common though the Viet Nam era for off duty wear, and was common through WWII for duty wear. At the turn of the century a tailored and customized uniform would not have been out of place for a sailor on shore leave. He likely would not have been permitted to wear it on duty, at least aboard ship. |
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Never really thought about it, but was there any reason (practical use) for the popeye hat, drape on the backside of the shirt, and bell bottoms? I heard that the sailors were taught to tie the bottoms of their dungerees to make them a floatation device in an emergency but I don't know if that was why they were designed that way. Lots of good reading here: http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/uniform_history.htm ...The white “sailor hat” appeared during this time (1880's) as a low rolled brim, high domed item made of canvas to replace the white sennet straw hat. The canvas hat was easier to wear, could be washed and thus presented a neater appearance. By being built of wedges it was easy and cheap to construct, and its distinctive shape differentiated the American sailor from that period on. 1812-1841: ...At this time bell bottoms began to appear. There is no substantive factual reason for their adoption, i.e. easier to roll up or kickoff in the water, but rather appear to be a tailored version of the pantaloon, designed for a bit of flair which set the sailor apart from his civilian counterpart. Civil War: The jumper collar had changed from a roll collar to a flap and was standardized and extended to 6 ½ inches. This was probably to differentiate between the rolled collar of master and senior petty officer coats. The British had developed a similar collar and as the main maritime power their uniforms were often emulated. The kerchief appears to have been used as a closure device, |
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What I could never figure out was how the heck you were supposed to keep the white popeye suit clean.....sit down on any park bench and you're done. Never seemed practical to me. Maybe not really a problem, but I can't keep anything clean for long (could be a personal problem, I know). |
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What I could never figure out was how the heck you were supposed to keep the white popeye suit clean.....sit down on any park bench and you're done. Never seemed practical to me. Maybe not really a problem, but I can't keep anything clean for long (could be a personal problem, I know). We figured it out. No sitting in the white uniforms. Terribly impractical uniforms. |
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He is the info I have. The photo is of my Great Grandfather. He was born in 1890 in Germany, but I am not sure when he immigrated. And as far as I know never served, that is until I found this picture. He lived in Ohio all his life, but then again now that could be just an assumption. Merchant Seaman maybe? Alot of them wore uniforms. |
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Until WW2, a wide variation in Naval Uniforms was accepted. My grandfather was an Reservist, who joined the Naval Reserve in 1917 or so as a tailor. When activated, he went to the Brooklyn Naval Yard and sewed uniforms (and kept a pet monkey, how cool is that?) for the duration of hostilities. Pictures of him show all sorts of variations. |