| The Constabulary Forum » General Discussion » Viewing Topic: Victorian costume |
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  Posts: 2 Group: Member Skin: Default | I live in the San Francisco area. We have an annual Dickens Fair at this time of year, representing Victorian London in 1830-1861. I'm thinking about a constable's costume for this event (next year). I haven't found too many pictures online of period officers from the time. The Constabulary has one showing an officer in a top hat and coat and a painting of one in top hat and a cutaway coat (tails), which is consistent with what I have read about constables from the 1830s.
My wife could make the coat if I find suitable pictures to guide the tailoring. However, I will also need pictures of the other uniform elements and equipment (handcuffs, lantern, truncheon, rattle, insignia, etc.). Because I'm not located in the UK and haven't found many pictures online, what would be a good source for pictures of uniforms and equipment? Any books that I might be able to locate here? Etc.? Thank you. ----------------- |
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Post #1 - 12.02.08
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Peter Mc Posts: 77 Group: Moderator Skin: Default | Hi Brad
hopefully some other member may be able to help you more than I can, I'm no expert in UK uniforms. I'm sure I have some old photos somewhere though and if I get the time I'll dig them out and scan in. if you google 'old police uniforms' there are some useful images. And some interesting ones! Similary for the equipment and ebay pictures are also a good resource. Funnily enough my own town here in the UK also does a 'Dickensian Day' and our local copper dresses up in old uniform - I may be able to take a picture of that. ----------------- Peter Mc PICA785; always interested in anything related to the Royal Irish Constabulary See my other sites: RIC Photos and RIC Genealogy |
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Post #2 - 12.04.08
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Posts: 4 Group: Member Skin: Default | Brad,
Sent me your e-mail address I will send a photo or two re Victorian Police DRess. Shaun ... ----------------- |
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Post #3 - 02.14.09
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Posts: 2 Group: Member Skin: Default | It's later now...
I have still been thinking about this costume and it's going forward now as a late-Victorian constable's uniform. My wife has made the tunic with white embroidered numbers and the division letter on the collar and is going to make the on-duty arm band. Later I might get a pair of D handcuffs and figure out a bull's-eye lantern, but for now, I'm just trying to put together the basic uniform with white-metal buttons and belt. An item I'm having a problem with is the belt buckle. From what I have been able to find, it should be white metal, silver, nickel, chrome, etc. similar to http://www.constabulary.com/jtcol/K8.htm or a two-headed snake buckle, which is common in the period constable pictures I've seen. I've seen those for sale from Civil War sutlery shops, and those are called "Confederate snake" or "English snake" with reference to the British Army, however, they are all brass. A Victorian constable's buckle, whether tongue and slot or snake should be white metal, shouldn't it? Any idea where I might find one for sale (that is not an historic item)? ----------------- |
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Post #4 - 05.19.10
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