Now Forming! the Campaign Hat Corps

[deanglen]

A Few New/Old Campaign Hat Photos...

Here are a few found just today, and some of us like to see those old hats in service to their country:

 

[deanglen]

Keeping the campaign hat an everyday experience for Loungers:

dean

 

[RBH]

Todays Memphis paper

this was in todays Memories section:
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/1596/lastscanbh9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>
this was the best it would scan, hope you like it, check out the hats!

 

[deanglen]

hope you like it, check out the hats!

Warms my heart!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap Thanks!

dean

 

[DOUGLAS]

I love this style of hat. Keep these pics coming. I have a question, many off the hats look likethey sit just on top of the head.how practical was it to wear it this way,or was the exagerated taper used just for parade or foto use? I don't see how they could have stayed on during battle.

 

[deanglen]

I love this style of hat. Keep these pics coming. I have a question, many off the hats look likethey sit just on top of the head.how practical was it to wear it this way,or was the exagerated taper used just for parade or foto use? I don't see how they could have stayed on during battle.

I have no idea how thay kept them on their heads, either. My repro effort sits right onto my head, very little space on top from the hat's inner surface. No one has been able to explain the taper choice to me. It's one of the great mysteries of the style. The "montana peak" took over by the early 1900s, but I love that "pyramid crimp". It's so unique!

dean

 

[DOUGLAS]

I agree, this type of hat appeals to me much more than the Montana style.

 

[clevispin]

Could you imagine our military today allowing even a little bit of personality to shine thru on the "uniform"s as personified in these old slouchy pics?

m

 

[deanglen]

Could you imagine our military today allowing even a little bit of personality to shine thru on the "uniform"s as personified in these old slouchy pics?

m

No, but they don't have the hats they used to. A Ranger/patrol cap has only so many ways to shape. I don't think there would be anything wrong with bringing back the campaign hat...and the variety. Would you agree?


dean

 

[clevispin]

I think a little personality in the armed forces as expressed in uniforms would be great. I really think there is NO way that it will happen tho. Used to be the MacArthurs and Pattons and their ilk would personify their leadership in their uniforms. I think this filtered down thru the lower ranks to some degree. By Vietnam, a lot of armchair generals were rotating thru field commands and REMF types held a lot of power at the headquarters level. These guys started immitating the field innovations and dress of the actual combat soldiers and not only pissed-off the real innovators but also institutionalized the ideas. Now everybody gets a black beret. So whats the sense in making the effort if the others guys just shoot it down on account of jealousy or inCORPORAT(tion)E it into the whole command. The real elites will always stand above and beyond because of what they DO. In the end, its just a bunch of clothes really. It is a shame tho that the beuracrats have to take the FUN out of it.

m

 

[deanglen]

Just ran across this shot. Looks like they tried to get every possible hat bash into this shot. What riches of campaign hat style of its greatest period!

dean

 

[John in Covina]

WWI Higher crown.

The early style looks like the Spanish American War style. I do like the WWI style that has a higher crown than the current style.

Love to find a good repro of the WWI style.

 

[deanglen]

More Campaign Hats!!! OH YEAH!!

This is to be expected of me. Span-Am War Era guys with great hats!

dean

 

[jimmy the lid]

This is to be expected of me. Span-Am War Era guys with great hats!

Taper? What taper???

 

[DOUGLAS]

Damn Dean, Those photos are amazing!! I love your pictorial collection.

 

[RBH]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
You have done it once again!!!
Great pictures!!

 

[deanglen]

Damn Dean, Those photos are amazing!! I love your pictorial collection.

Found them on the internet. The originals are for sale at OFAS. I check that site regularly, stuff appears occasionally.

dean

 

[deanglen]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
You have done it once again!!!
Great pictures!!

Gracias, R. The first picture is so great! 1901! Such a "lost" era of uniform hat style. The montana peak is so dominant in campaign hat style we seem to have forgotten the tight taper of the "crimp" was more standard.

dean

 

[Wconly]

You should have titled this post: When Hats where Hats! Great stuff here. Makes one wish to go back in time....just for the headgear and the uniforms aren't bad either. Super stuff...thanks for posting these great photos. W>

 

[deanglen]

MORE, MORE MORE!!

I know it's a civilian hat forum. But Span-Am War vets were all around in the first half of the 20th Century. I love these hats and the attitude of these guys, especially the officer in the one below

dean