Mecklenburg Grenadier 89 straps

J.LeBrasseur

J.LeBrasseur

Administrator
Staff member
Posting these for Steve M.

Here are 2 different styles of
a one year volunteer form the same regiment
Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment 89
Left is an issued strap
Right is a private purchase strap

Steve

 
you can clearly see that the right one was private becose it looks a 100 times nicer in its details than the other one
might even be an expensive one at the time
funny to see so much difference when it cost more

jonas
 
Yes the cheap one is printed on the fabric while the better quality strap is embroidered on. I know that no records exist, but it would be very interesting to know how much money was made by the German private purchase equipment manufacturers each year. Obviously, the equipment suppliers were an important part of the whole "military complex".
 
Yes, they are both private purchase but one is better quality and therefore, shows that in the area of private purchase, there were various options available depending on how much money could be spent. We see this constantly in the private purchase items of both sides in WW1, the more money you had to spend, the better quality you could afford...just as it is today! I read...that the father of "The American Sniper" bought his son better quality body armour for his second tour. What parent would not do this to try and protect their son? I know, I would to help protect mine.
 
Yes , Aicusv is correct
As I understand it , to be allowed to serve as a one year volunteer
you had to purchase your own uniforms and other things .
So both straps are private purchase . I should have used the term
" Private Purchase Issue Quality " the cypher is stenciled on

I have in my collection another example of issue vs. private purchase
from Husaren Regt 8
I will try and get a photo of these two.

Steve
 
James is correct. The left strap is an issue printed strap unique to Mecklenburg. No way is that printed strap purchase. Perhaps the man rented his Waffenrock from the Regiment and had the company tailor sew the Einjährig-Freiwilliger piping on. Or, maybe he bought a Waffenrock new or second-hand and obtained shoulder straps from the company Quarter Master. Who knows. But the left strap is issue.
 
Posting another set of examples for Steve

2 Husaren Regt 8

Issue on left and Private purchase on right.

 
Tony ;
Good points and good post .
IF I had said "issue quality " that would have been a better way to
say it .
The H R 8 is maybe a better example ?
I am trying to get some interest going on this shoulder strap section .
You did a lot by posting your collection .
Thanks
Steve
 
aicusv ;
I am glad that you like them .
I would like to see more photos and
postings in the shoulder strap section .
There are so many different ones .
Tony has the great enlisted collection .
My strong area is in the officers straps .
Right now I am working with Mike Kelso
on his book ( photos of my straps being used )
Mike's officers straps as well as my officers
straps will be shown .
Enlisted straps will be in the book also
Tony helped in this area .
I don't want to post too many officers straps
before Mike's book hits the market
but will after the book is out for sale .

Steve McFarland
 
Looking forward to the book. Straps how long been one of my points of interest, although I like the enlisted ones. Will the book have any information on buttons? I know that most regiments used the numerical company denoting buttons for the straps, but I understand some companies had monogramed buttons.
 
aicusv ;
I am no expert , just a collector .
Mike Kelso is doing all the text .
I will have to ask him about the buttons .
Briefly what I think that I know .
Pre-war the button color followed the helmet trim .
1 Garde Regt zu Fuss silver buttons
2 G R zu Fuss brass buttons
some had a Leib Company ; this carried an " L "
The Infantry then had company numbers for 4 Batls
1 thru 12
Cavalry had squadron buttons
From what I have seen a lot of the time it is the
issue tunics that have the numbered buttons
I think maybe the private purchase tunic does always
have the numbered buttons
I will see what Mike can add
and maybe Chip Minx could get us all up to speed
on that question
Steve
 
Briefly here is what Mike Kelso replied to me
ref ; buttons on straps .

Steve, there will be info on buttons. Besides the buttons with company numbers the 1st Company of some Leib Garde regiments wore the letter "L".



Mike
 
aicusv ;

I have not yet learned to post photos
so James was kind to post the strap buttons for me .
I hope this answers your question in part .
This shows some brass and nickel silver
as well as a few of the steel buttons
which I think are for the feldgrau uniform .
I am missing 3 and 10 buttons
as well as the letter " L "
for Leib Co.
I do have the " L " buttons on a uniform
for the 1 Garde Regt zu Fuss / Leib Co.
After the S O S I plan to learn to post photos
and well have some of the buttons attached
to the uniforms .
Some uniforms have buttons with no numbers .
I feel they are private purchase
Steve
 
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I am planning to take some photos of some of my buttons that I have questions about and post them, but I'll start another thread for that.
 
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