West Point Tunic? - Civil War?

[scotrace]

Maybe?

This has turned up on Ebay identified as an 1880's RR conductor's jacket. Similar?

 

[Mid-fogey]

Between...

...the Civil War and WWI, the U.S. Army adopted a series of uniforms with standing collars. This reflected style changes in European armies, and somewhat reflected civilian wear of high "wing" collars.

West Point's various uniforms including the full dress, and other uniforms have the same thing in common: they mimicked current Army uniforms when adopted. While they seem wildly uncomfortable to modern people, the dress uniforms were adopted to provide cadets with something cheaper, more practical, and more comfortable than the full dress jacket.

With the U.S.Army, and later the U.S. Navy wearing these fitted, standing collar jackets, they became the uniform of military schools (e.g. West Point, VMI, and The Citadel), and eventually became widespread throughout the U.S.

My initial impression in seeing the jacket was that it was a band uniform. I've seem similar ones in all colors with similar vents in the rear. It could also have been for any number of other uses, such as doorman, drivers, attendants, etc.

Given how numerous the variations in these jackets, it would probably be luck to positively identify it.

 

[Retro Rob]

My guess is Marching Band, probably some Volunteer Fire Dept. Band or Drum Corps. Not Civil War or any War (guy wearing that would be a great target) not West Point or VMI.