DOUBLE BORDER SMITH PATENT CAPTAIN OF INFANTRY SHOULDER STRAPS

DOUBLE BORDER SMITH PATENT CAPTAIN OF INFANTRY SHOULDER STRAPS

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$1,250.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 490-7378

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

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Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail

A very good set of Smith patent shoulder straps, showing just appropriate age and wear. The borders and rank bars show some rubbing to the gilt finish and consequent slight darkening with some stains on the high points, but strong remnants of gilt in the recesses. The dark blue centers are velvet, with the nap rubbed in the raised center portions, but the underlying fabric showing very good relatively uniform color and no moth holes. The borders show two rows of false embroidery with inner and outer false jaceron wire edges, and the rank bars are similarly each doubled. These were a step up from the single-border versions.

We see just one slight ding to the inner border of one strap near the center that is barely noticeable. The backs and bars are firmly in place. The underside of both straps shows some slight discoloration and wear at the corners of one short side indicating the straps were certainly on a coat and saw field use.

Military goods dealer James S. Smith of New York patented this form of shoulder strap on June 18, 1861, using a gilt brass frame stamped to imitate dead and bright bullion embroidered borders and using pins mounted on the back of the frames to secure a backing with the appropriate branch of service color, which could be left blank for a second lieutenant or have pinned false-embroidered rank insignia for higher grades. These straps were less expensive, more robust, and not subject to snagging of the bullion strands or jaceron wire edging used on embroidered bullion straps. Smith especially noted the borders were easy to keep clean and bright by simple polishing.

This is a nice set of original straps showing some actual use that display very well. They would look great next to a foot officer’s sword and regulation sash.  [sr][ph:L]

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