Royal Corps of Transport Band and Drums Shako.

[leigh kitchen]

Worn between 1974 - 93, made not of pressed felt but with what I think will be a moulded one piece plastic "bucket" covered with soft fabric seamed down the front and around the top.
The black mohair band is "tacked" in place and seamed along the front.
The peak and it's trim are of plastic, the chinstrap is of leather although I'm not sure if the patent finish is genuine or if it's a layer of thin, shiny black plastic glued to the leather. The chinstrap's single pronged buckle is of blackened brass.
The plate is of silver, gilt and enamel finish with the red colouring being anodised or painted metal, the cords are of gold coloured metallic braid and the buttons are gold anodised aluminium.
I don't know if the pom pom is of wool or an artificial material.
All fittings (possibly excluding the pom pom, I havn't tried removing it) have been fitted during the construction of the shako, prior to the lining and sweatband being sewn in.

It would be interesting to see how the construction of these shakos may have changed over the 20 years or so that they were in wear.