Shell Jacket Bolsters (Pillows) question

[JimW]

Seeing that these were meant to keep the jacket/belt relationship, were these meant to have "stuffing" for lack of a better term? It doesn't seem that just the flap of them as fabric would support much, and they are open; would they have been stuffed to make them like cylinders? That would provide better support for the sword belt?

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

On most originals I've seen they were stuffed and sewn closed. Most reproductions you see on reenactors have them just folded and empty or rather a trimmed wide open loop sewn into the back seam.

I've never tried it, but made like the originals stuffed to keep its shape and position I would thing it'd provide adequate support.

 

[Mrs. V]

I've never heard of this. Can anyone supply a picture?

 

[JimW]

 

[steamboater]

I have half a dozen originals. Every pillow is thickly padded, and they would provide excellent support for a belt. Have you only looked at repros???

 

[JimW]

I've only seen reproduction ones, can anyone show some close up photos of original ones?

 

[FrankN]

Here's a photo of pillows from my original artillery shell jacket and a link to my original post.
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/enlisted-man-artillery-jacket.126547/

Regards,
Frank

 

[JimW]

So, not filled to the point of being cylinders, just pinched at the ends.