Good Evening, General;
I thank the General for his kind offer; your assistance will be most appreciated.
As promised, here are the sources for the various and sundry braids, buttons, and ollivettes I have found:
Netted Black Buttons, 1" Round, and Ollivettes, Guards Black are available from:
Hand and Lock
86 Margaret Street
London W1W BTE
http://www.handembroidery.comHand and Lock also carry regular Mohair Braid in a variety of widths, as well as the Black "Russia" (Soutache) braid; however, you will pay a premium when buying from them. There are US dealers who can sell you the braids at much more reasonable prices -- but Hand & Lock are the only suppliers I have found who sell the Netted Buttons and Olivettes in small quantities.
When I ordered my set of Buttons and Olivettes, I procured extras. If there is any interest, I will be happy to get quotes from a few Indo-Pak sources. The quality will be just as good (the Indians and Pakistanis are very likely making them for Hand & Lock) but the prices will be much lower. I will take the precaution of finding out minimum orders, just in case there is interest.
Black Mohair Braid in a variety of widths is available from:
Roy Najecki
1203 Reynolds Road
Chepachet, RI 02814-2499
http://www.najecki.comMr. Najecki is a Revolutionary War Re-enactor and part-time Sutler, running his business out of his home. In addition to Mohair Braid, he also carries a variety of Woolen Yardage from the Abimelech-Hainsworth Woollen Mill of Yorkshirt, England. This Mill has been supplying military cloth to the British Army since the Battle of Waterloo. There is ample evidence that many US Military uniforms in the 19th Century were tailored from Hainsworth Wool.
Officer's quality cloth will be either a doeskin or a superfine. Other grades and makers of wool cloth could be substituted, of course; I merely provide this information for those who are as anal-retentive as I.
Other sources of trims and soutache:
Wooded Hamlet
http://www.woodedhamlet.comRecently taken over by Needle & Thread of Gettysburg, PA; they carry soutache as well as Hainsworth Wool. I purchased a few yards of black polished cotton for the lining of the jacket from Needle & Thread.
M&J Trimming
1008 Sixth Avenue
New York, NY
1-800-9-MJTRIM
http://www.mjtrim.comNeither Soutache nor Mohair Braid are currently listed on their website, but I did visit their store while in New York last April, and did see it in stock. Probably worth a call, as their prices are lower than the specialty sutlers.
T.L. Barnes Enterprises
15129 Domino Street
Van Nuys, CA 91411
http://www.tlbarnes.comtrimlady@tlbarnes.com
Tammy Barnes is a Los Angeles area costumer who runs a small business catering to hobbyist and professional seamsters/seamstresses. Much of her stock is not listed on her website. I have personally purchased entire spools of soutache from her, so I know she carries it.
These are the primary sources I have used to procure the various and sundry "specialty" items for this uniform.
I have the honor to remain,
Your Obedient Servant,
Bvt Colonel Malachi Thorne, USMC