Gentlemen, I thank you!
I was about to go buy a larger sized hat, but then Frenchie hits me with the question about the baldric for the 1840 NCO sword. Probably wouldn't be too much of a problem to
make, IF I could find a decent reference on its design, configuration, dimensions, etc. Have gone through all of my book references, and I have googled "baldric", and "1840 NCO Sword Belt", and though I get a few hits (other makers, definitions, etc.), I'm not getting what I would need.
I believe I do have a line on the brass eagle plate that goes on the baldric's front, provided it is the right size. But, again, I need more data...
BTW, if anyone has been trying to reach me by the "voice telegraph" since about 1630 PM yesterday until about noon today, Mr. Ameche has had his wires crossed! [Note: Don Ameche played Alexander Graham Bell in an old movie about the invention of the telephone. A lot of folks back then started calling the phone, "The ameche"]
Dang thing would ring once VERY briefly, and then disconnect! You could call OUT on both lines, but not IN, unless you happened to grab the thing right at the first ring! Same thing on my third line, but NOT on my 2nd line (which the wife uses), thankfully! Called it in to Qwest yesterday, and they said they'd work on it. Works fine NOW. We've had lots of rain, lately, which might have something to do with it as the wires are all underground! They said something about the ringer voltage possibly being too low coming out of the "telegraph" office.