United States Army Headgear 1855-1902 - Libreria Militare Ares

86SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGYIn 1896 a distinct improvement was made in thecomposition of the cap ornaments. Where theyhad been die struck from sheet brass and fastenedto the cap by means of wires soldered to the reverse,they were now to be struck from solid brass andattached by means of a brass screw with washer andnut.'''' This being the first really comprehensivedescription of a group of headgear insignia, thespecifications are included below.WAR DEPARTMENT,QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE.Specifications for Cap Ornaments.Material.—The devices to be made of solid bronze, struckin one piece, by sharp keen dies, free from all imperfections.The numbers and letters are also to be struck from solidbronze and attached to the device by means of hard solder,the number above and the letter below, except where otherwisedesignated, supported on the back by an extra pieceof bronze also hard soldered to the device. At the back ofeach device there shall be an attachment, to connect thedevice with the body of the cap, consisting of a brassthreadedpost, about one-half (/a) inch long, over whichis passed a brass washer about five-sixteenth (%G) inch indiameter, and the whole attachment made secure to thecap by a thumbscrew about one-half (Y2) inch in diameter,concave, and a hollow threaded post about one-quarter (54)inch deep, in the center, to fit over the threaded post abovedescribed.All ornaments to be shaped so as to fit the oval surfaceof the cap, and to have soldered to the backs thereof two(2) sharp needle points about three-sixteenth (%G) inchlong, for the purpose of holding the ornaments securely inposition on the cap.Infantry Device.—To consist of two (2) rifles crossingeach other at a point equidistant from the butts and muzzles,the muzzles pointing upward and the hammers upward.Length of rifle about two and five-eighths (2^) inches;distance • between the extreme points of the muzzles abouttwo and one-quarter {2Yi) inches, and between the buttsabout two (2) inches. All to be thoroughly gold plated andburnished, and to admit of an assay of not less than 4.84grains of gold to each dozen ornaments.Artillery.—To consist of two (2) cannons crossing eachother at the trunnions, muzzles upward; length of cannonsabout two and one-eighth (2^/8) inches; distance betweenthe muzzles about one and seven-sixteenths (1%6) inches,and between the cascabels about one and seven-eighths{IYB) inches. All to be thoroughly gold plated and burnished,and to admit of an assay of not less than 5.06 grainsof gold to each dozen ornaments.Cavalry.—To consist of two (2) sabers crossing eachother at the center, representing two cavalry sabers inscabbards, with hilts and edges upward. The extreme distancebetween the guards to be about two and three-eighths(2%) inches, and between the points of the scabbardsabout two and three-eighths {2Ys) inches. Each ornamentto be thoroughly gold plated and burnished, and to admitof an assay of not less than 3.52 grains of gold to eachdozen ornaments.Engineers.—To consist of a castle, representing an ancientcastle with three towers. The height of the center tower tobe about seven-eighths {Ya) inch; side towers about oneand one-eighth {lYs) inches; battlements between towersabout five-eighths {Ys) inch; width at base about one andsix-eighths (1%) inches: at top of side towers about one andthree-quarters (1%) inches. The letter to be attached tothe top of the center tower. The whole to be thoroughlygold plated, satin finished, and burnished, as shown in thestandard sample, and to admit of an assay of not less than10.03 grains of gold to each dozen ornaments.Post Quartermaster Sergeant.—To consist of a wreathrepresendng two (2) olive branches, held together at thebase by a loop and knot, turning upward and bending in anoval shape approaching each other at the top. The distancebetween the two points of the wreath to be about one (1)inch; the extreme outside measurement across the wreathabout two and five-eighths (2^4) inches; extreme heightabout one and one-half (1 /a) inches. To have in the centerof the wreath a silver-plated key and quill pen, crossingeach other and supported by a silver-plated bar extendingfrom side to side of the wreath; the key, quill pen, and barto be silver plated on white metal, and hard soldered to thewreath. The wreath to be thoroughly gold plated, satinfinished, and burnished, as shown in the standard sample,and to admit of an assay of not less than 9.24 grains ofgold to each dozen ornaments.Signal Corps.—To consist of a wreath, representing two(2) olive branches, held at the base by a loop or knot,turning upward and bending in an oval shape approachingeach other at the top. The distance between the two pointsof the wreath to be about one (1) inch; the extreme outsidemeasurement across about two and five-eighths {2Ys)inches; and the extreme height to be about one and one-half(I/2) inches. To have in the center of the wreath two (2)crossed signal flags, with a torch in the center standingperpendicularly, all soldered to and resting on a crossbarextending from side to side of the wreath and hard solderedto same. The signal flags, torch, and bar to be silver platedon white metal. The wreath to be thoroughly gold plated,satin finished, and burnished, as shown in the standardsample, and to admit of an assay of not less than 9.24grains of gold to each dozen ornaments.Commissary Sergeant.—To consist of a wreath, representingtwo (2) olive branches, held at the base by a loop andknot, turning upward and bending in an oval shape approachingeach other at the top. The distance between thetwo points of the wreath to be about one (1) inch; the extremeoutside measurement across about two and five-eighths{2Ys) inches, and the extreme height to be about one andone-half (1/2) inches. To have in the center of thewreath a silver-plated crescent, cusps pointing upward,supported by a silver-plated bar extending from side to sideof the wreath, and firmly hard soldered to same; the crescentand bar to be silver plated on white metal. The wreathto be thoroughly gold plated, satin finished, and burnished,as shown in the standard sample, and to admit of an assay