Uniforms Would jackets display better with or without belt?

[Jack7171]

Just mounted my artillery shell jacket, and was curious if jackets display better with, or without a belt? I used a solid foam female full torso, gave it a mastectomy, tummy tuck, narrowed the hips, added a wee bit of padding, cut 5 inches of the bottom off, used an orbital sander to smooth everything out and recontour it, then recovered it. The jacket is a size 37, so no male mannequin would fit. Now I'm just wondering to belt or not belt.

 

[captaindrew]

Nice jacket, tough call but I think it looks darn good as is.

 

[bobinwmass]

I've found that size 14 boy's mannequins and dress forms work pretty well with the old uniforms, no surgery involved. I like to add belts, but if using an original you need to be sure it is strong enough to stand up to the use.

Otherwise I use an original belt plate on a reproduction belt.

 

[Jack7171]

I've found that size 14 boy's mannequins and dress forms work pretty well with the old uniforms, no surgery involved. I like to add belts, but if using an original you need to be sure it is strong enough to stand up to the use.
View attachment 466672
Otherwise I use an original belt plate on a reproduction belt.

Beautiful!

 

[Jack7171]

Nice jacket, tough call but I think it looks darn good as is.

Thank you!

 

[scooter748driver]

I think all the displays shown are fantastic!

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Personally think the artillery shell jacket (down to hip level) looks better in its entirety, which includes showing the red trimming on the edges. The inclusion of any belt would be a distraction, and detraction, from the display (merely my view).

 

[Salterr]

Just mounted my artillery shell jacket, and was curious if jackets display better with, or without a belt? I used a solid foam female full torso, gave it a mastectomy, tummy tuck, narrowed the hips, added a wee bit of padding, cut 5 inches of the bottom off, used an orbital sander to smooth everything out and recontour it, then recovered it. The jacket is a size 37, so no male mannequin would fit. Now I'm just wondering to belt or not belt.
View attachment 466669

My vote goes for adding the belt to get the feel of actually being worn the way the soldier would have worn it.

 

[FrankN]

You both have great jacket displays! I have a similar original artillery shell jacket. Since my jacket is for an enlisted man I display it simple but a little more interesting by adding an original ACW canteen, a reproduction haversack, a reproduction forage cap with an original crossed cannon artillery badge.
In the period photographs of artillery troopers that I've seen they seem to be wearing little or no field gear, etc. I posted a question awhile back about what field gear would have been issued to artillery troops. There were a lot of informative answers. I'll include that link in case you're interested. I hope you'll post an update photo when you decide on your display. https://civilwartalk.com/threads/accoutrements-issued-to-artillerymen.195587/

Regards,
Frank

 

[RedRover]

Most light artillerymen were not provided with accoutrement belts... beyond the tube pouch belt for the gunners, etc.

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

Would they really be lighting that thing off with those horses so close?
I don't know if I would want my foot so close to the wheel, either.

 

[RedRover]

Here's a photo of a few guns...

 

[JimW]

Mine is a repro, but set it up with the leather and thought that looked pretty good.

 

[Salterr]

Mine is a repro, but set it up with the leather and thought that looked pretty good.

View attachment 475839

Real or repro that's a fine display!

 

[JimW]

Real or repro that's a fine display!

Thanks!

It's evolved a bit, but the concept is the same. the idea came when I wanted to display the real M1860 saber.

The dummy was a craigslist find, from a local "habitat for Humanity" place, at $40 it was inexpensive enough. I wish I had bought 2, but alas...

When I added a M1840; I changed to display both on the live edge plank. Currently I need to find a decent repro M1860 for the dummy.
Since we don't have guests often, the ones that have stayed in the room don't seem to find it too creepy.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

Just be careful of sunlight fading your garments unevenly, leaving a witness mark where the belt sits

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

I've been collecting since the 1960's and I don't display my uniforms on mannequins.

If you are going to display your uniforms on mannequins then you should understand the pros and cons of doing so. The preservation of original uniforms is important.

Conservation / Preservation | HWW Museum Mannequins

How to display delicate clothing on a mannequin? External influences When exhibiting clothing, external influences may affect the materials. These include light, moisture, insects. Sometimes, prolonged contact with the material on which the clothing is exhibited can also cause damage to textiles...

museummannequins.com

 

[JackADriscoll]

looks great but id probably add a fanny pack and a bolo tie. It would really church the things up