The M1883 to M1904 Campaign Hats

[Todd]

Not entirely sure that 'coney' is relating to rabbit, though it might in this case. Coneys are one of the names for 'guinea pigs' - and having had members of that animal species in the house for several years now, I can attest that they could also bear the name of 'living bags of hair'.

Todd

[Pat Holscher]

Originally posted by Todd
Not entirely sure that 'coney' is relating to rabbit, though it might in this case. Coneys are one of the names for 'guinea pigs' - and having had members of that animal species in the house for several years now, I can attest that they could also bear the name of 'living bags of hair'.

Todd

Yikes. I'd hate to think of the Army being issued guinea pig hats.

Pat

[rayg]

If I remember reading, Corney is what is called hats made from a small mammal in Australia. Can't recall the name of it but I believe it's larger then a gunia pig. Ray

RayG/Wisconsin

[Trooper]

"Coney may be:"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney
take your pick!
In connection with the 1872 campaign hat I don't think it means
"Caribbean fish" - most likely rabbit - but I prefer the Guinea animal reference as it is one ugly pig of a hat![:D]

Dušan

[Todd]

Oops - gotta put that pipe down... was thinking 'coney' and should have been thinking 'cavies'. However, they're still bags of hair with eyes.

Todd

[rayg]

Oops I see Corney does mean rabbits hair. However I know I read some where that they used another animal's hair in Australia. Wish I could remenber where I read it. Ray

RayG/Wisconsin

[Trooper]

Maybe kangaroo in Oz - Sam might know?

Dušan

[Pat Holscher]

Originally posted by rayg
Oops I see Corney does mean rabbits hair. However I know I read some where that they used another animal's hair in Australia. Wish I could remember where I read it. Ray

RayG/Wisconsin

Rats, just as I was about to pose a theory that Custer lost at LBH because the 7th was wearing guinea pig fur hats.

Actually, I found a source on the net that claims coney as a word for a type of rabbit fur, used for felt, in France. I'd find the French connection odd here, however, as I can't imagine that fur was imported.

Pat

[Couvi]

Weren’t the 1872 and 1885 helmets also made of coney?

Couvi

<i>"Cavalier sans Cheval"</i>

[dallas Φ]

On Page 38 of BRASS SPIKES AND HORSETAIL PLUMES, A HISTORY OF U.S. ARMY DRESS HELMETS, 1872-1904 by Gordon Chappell, the following is noted: "The contract-procured enlisted helmet shells always were made of felt, a type of cloth which is not spun or woven, but is made of matted fibers of wool or fur or hair, or a mixture of such components, combined with 'sizing' of some sort of glue or shellac or varnish, then rolled and pressed." "Into the making of felt would go materials such as 'coney,' the fur of a European rabbit or rodent, or of a similar American animal; 'nutria,' the plucked fur or pelt of a South American aquatic rodent called the coypu; 'beaver' or 'muskrat' fur from animals of the same names; and other similar materials. The particular components of the felt from which American helmets were manufactured varied from one specification to the next. For example, in contrast to those already quoted, specifications adopted February 12, 1889, were noticeably different:

"Material: To be made of felt composed of two-fifths (2/5) yellow carroted double ring I H Russia, two-fifths (2/5) yellow carroted best coney backs, and one-fifth (1/5) best colored muskrat."

I have no idea what yellow carroted I H Russia means.
Dallas

[Pat Holscher]

Are Australian slouch hats and NZ Lemon squeezers rabbit fur?

Pat

[Pat Holscher]

Is TR's hat here one of the regulation hats?




Pat

[Trooper]

Certainly appears to have some stitching on the brim, but I don't know what the darker are above the sabes insignia is. It doesn't look like a regulation ventilator. It may be a Brooks Bros version?

Dušan

[Trooper]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-General-Fun ... dZViewItem

Scroll down for hat details.

Dušan

[Trooper]

The alternative campaign hat - good pictures:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1880-Pattern-US-Arm ... dZViewItem

Dušan

[Trooper]

1902 campaign hat:
http://cgi.ebay.com/U-S-A-Spanish-Ameri ... dZViewItem

Dušan

[dallas Φ]

It will be interesting to see what that hat sells for. I sold an unissued M1902 hat several years ago for $250.
Dallas

[Pat Holscher]

Originally posted by dallas
It will be interesting to see what that hat sells for. I sold an unissued M1902 hat several years ago for $250.
Dallas

Wow. How did you ever find an unissued one?

Pat

[rayg]

That hat on ebay is one of the nicest 1902 hats I've ever seen. Well contract and depot marked and no apparent insect damage. Ray

RayG/Wisconsin

[dallas Φ]

I note that at 1600 CDT on 3/27, there are still no bids.

Pat: That unissued hat that I had, I bought back in the 1960s for next to nothing. I don't remember where it came from, but it was a nice hat.
Dallas