West Point Tunic? - Civil War?

[scotrace]

I've had this since about 1979. What is it? A West Point tunic? Civil War uniform item? Band?

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[scotrace]

No ideas?

 

[Solid Citizen]

NOT Civil War

Scotrace:

1. No, I would say 100& NOT American Civil War.

2. Looks like an "old" military academy jacket IMO???

SC

 

[Feraud]

hmmm, it looks like a marching band jacket.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Is there any writing on the inside?

But, to tell you something, it isn't West Point and it isn't Civil War.

Just going from the pictures... 1900's to early 1940's... maybe late 40's, but I doubt it.


Any chance for better (closer) pictures?

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Not West Point either.

Here's a tunic from 1859. They are virtually unchanged from this style.

 

[scotrace]

No marks or labels of any kind. Two inside pockets, one quite small. No outer pockets.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Any chance still for a better set of pictures?

I volunteer at my college's museum, it also happens to be a military college. I'm uniquely suited to figure out whatever the heck that tunic is.

Nick- Yes, West Point hasn't changed that uniform since 1814... but that's a coatee (short front, swallow tail), not a tunic (sack coat with a standing closed collar).

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Ahh,...I see.

I stand corrected,...but it's still a cool pic! lol

 

[BellyTank]

The style is most definitely 18th Century- but is the coat?

It doesn't 'quite' look military, at least not that I recognise.

Do you get the feeling that it's a modern piece? A costume piece?

Hmmm...

B
T

 

[scotrace]

I'll get better pictures.

It was used as a costume piece (makeup stains at collar), but surely not constructed for that as the wool has a very old hand. The inner button panel is olive while the remainder is navy. The inner, full lining is black and also feels like a thin wool.

The trim may have been added later. The collar has a lot of wear and is separating.

 

[Terry Lennox]

I've had a few west point uniforms and they actually say west point uniform on the tag. Or at least the ones from the 30's did, I'd assume the other ones do too.

 

[Paisley]

West Point cadets wear waist-length jackets with a mandarin collar, I believe. The style is generally called a "cadet jacket."

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

West Point cadets wear waist-length jackets with a mandarin collar, I believe. The style is generally called a "cadet jacket."

And it looks very similar to Scot's, but it has black trim and a black collar. Also black trim running up both sides of the back to just under the arm holes.
(There were a few pics on ebay, but I couldn't snag 'em.)

 

[Desk Jockey]

After doing some reading, and this might not accratuley describe the jacket itself, I'd guess it's a 1890's or 1900's pattern.

The use of buttons down the front rather than hook-and-eye (which came in about 10-20's) and the open vents on the back both point to that period. Mind you, if it was, then that bright blue mohair braid would have long since faded away.

If'n I could get a closer look at way the standing collar and the vents close, I could do a good deal more digging.

 

[scotrace]

More pictures

I'm very grateful for your guidance.
The top is hook & eye closure. The two pockets inside are very different sizes, one being about big enough for a pocket watch, the other for a wallet. The inner liner is almost a cambric fabric, but more stout. The collar itself is faced inside with a dull satin-like fabric. The arms are lined with striped cotton. The cuffs have stitched trim, but no buttons. The colors you see here are quite accurate, taken in natural evening light outdoors.

clockwise (on my monitor) from top left:
Hook & eye top closure, Sleeve cuff, Back of collar, Small pocket (picture is upside down), liner, sleeve lining, larger pocket, braid/olive inner button panel.

 

[scotrace]

*Bump*

No other thoughts? I'd like to sell this but what to call it?

 

[BellyTank]

The good Ms. Henline might offer up an accurate opinion- given the chance...

B
T

 

[Absinthe_1900]

Jimi Hendrix used to wear a similiar jacket he got out of vintage shop in England, from what a collector told me, it turned out to be an early ambulance attendants jacket.

It could be a number of different types of uniform jacket.[huh]

 

[Harp]

That jacket is definitely not West Point issue.