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joerookery

joerookery

Well-known member
Beamte.....don't see that many of these.
beamter.jpg


OYV class of 6th company 66IR in 1912. They are wearing some sort of bib and have their shoulderboards rolled up.
66OYV.jpg

66OYV_1.jpg
 
Joe: Very nice photo. The "bib" is called a Brustschoner (chest protector). These were handmade by the soldiers generally from blue cotton twill or herringbone work cloth. They were worn over the uniform coat to prevent wear to the uniform or to protect the uniform from dirt on the firing range.

Reservist1
 
Great foto Joe:
There is no doubt that this area of collecting is extremely informative and rewarding. I am going to get going on my beamte posting. R1 thank you for the clarification on the use of these "chest protectors". The pic is a testimony to the attention to detail found in a bygone era before our modern day dry cleaning technology. Were the schulterklappen rolled in order to protect them as well?? Brian
 
One thing that we do not consider is that the early breach loading weapons could have some gas leakage , and with black powder, the potential for stains and powder burns were possible.
Gus
 
Brian,

I think the shoulder straps were rolled just to get them out of the way so that the protector could be buttoned to the shoulder strap buttons.

Chip
 
Brian: the actual reason for rolling the shoulder straps was to facilitate wear of the back pack. If the pack straps were worn under the shoulder straps it would be a real pain to keep unbuttioning and buttoning the shoulder straps when putting on or taking off the pack. If the pack straps were worn over the shoulder straps the numbers or cyphers on the straps got very dirty or were damaged by the pack straps. Rolling and pinning the straps cured these problems as well as acting like a bumper to keep the pack strap from sliding off the shoulder.

Reservist1
 
Brian,

I was just referring to the reason that the straps are rolled in this specific photo. I'm sure that reservist's reason is correct in those instances that he mentioned, i.e., when the pack is being worn.

Chip
 
I thought something seemed familiar about the OYV class pic. Here is a photo I have of some soldiers at the range armed with Gew 88's. Dunkelblau uniforms, same type piping on shoulderboards. What soldiers had this type piping anyway? Rolled shoulderboards. The chap in the middle, could that be a Brustschoner on his shoulder?

riflerangeg883iw.jpg


Click on photo to enlarge. Pic is undated and unit is unidentified. I would hazard a guess that it was taken between 1889 - 1905? Can any uniform experts make out what the state and date of this picture are, I have no idea myself.
 
Hi George,
I can not do any better on the date, but it could not be any later as the Gew88s have not been converted to the later cartridge. The chap in the middle has a blanket rolled and over his shoulder, no doubt, the boys had used it to lay on to avoid having to clean their uniforms.
Gus
 
The multi colored piping on the shoulder straps identifies the wearer as a one year volunteer. The piping would be in the state colors. The sword in the photo is a Prussian I.O.D. model 1889 in the pre 1905 pattern (nickel plated scabbard with 2 suspension rings, in 1905 the lower suspension ring was eliminated and the scabbard blackened). Therefore, these guys should be Prussian and the colors of the shoulder strap piping should be black & white. The cartridge boxes shown are Model 95 that were adopted in late 1895. The photo is probably sometime between 1896 and __? Although the sword style was changed in 1905 and new cartridge boxes were adopted in 1909 it is not uncommon to see older equipment still being used into the early part of World War I.

Reservist1
 
Did not realize it at the time, but the rifle range photo would have to be late 1897 or post-'97 as all mutzen display both the State & Reich kokorden.

Geo
 
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