Bell-Topped Shako 1829-1844 Photograph

[mooke07]

Hi all,

Here is a photograph that dates from the 1920s of two Bell-Topped Shakos. These I believe to be pre-1835 as they are pre-ball tuft of 1835. One is with a high plume which according to K&K Chapter 3 was only in use until 1831. Figure 50 K&K shows the non-plumed version. I am unsure if these are Officers or ORs versions but the shako plates look ORs. The Shako plates are to the 64th and 66th Foot (K&K 66). The description of the 64th plate does not match the one depicted here but matches that for the one worn on the Albert shako (K&K 101). I may of course have mis-identified the headress as being earlier.

Cheers Dean.

[Neibelungen]

Both are officer's. O/R plates had a slightly domed central circle with the regiments number in the centre of the star. All stamped as one piece.

Officer's plate devices can be quite changeable as they are often inherited from off the earlier 1822 shako plate and then become inherited onto the 1846 'Albert' plates. Sometimes the regiment altered the pattern along the way.

From a manufacturing perspective, the officer's stitching is often too fine for the felt body to cope with and the top separates from the felt like a postage stamp perforation, hence the tendency to find them often in such a torn condition.

[mooke07]

Many thanks for the guidance, cheers Dean