Attn: US Army Infantrymen -- Item on eBay

[Malachi Thorne]

Good Morning, Gentlemen;

Found this item while cruising around on eBay this morning: an M1881 US Army Infantry Helmet Plume and Socket, for the M1881 Helmet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=013&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=230085529078&rd=1&rd=1

As this assembly includes a top-plate, it is almost certainly from an Infantry Bandsman's Helmet.  (Officer's plumes did not use the top-plate, but were gathered by a corded netting at the point of egress from the socket, creating a "fountain spray" effect)  Not all Infantry Bands wore helmet plumes; how a band was kitted out was left to the preference of the Colonel of the Regiment.  As the only white helmet plumes produced otherwise were for Field Grade and Infantry Adjutant Officers, even the Bandsman's Plumes are as rare as hen's teeth.

(If anyone is interested, I'm looking in to ways to convert an Enlisted Plume and Socket into an Officer's version.  I will post the results of this experiment to these forums at a later date -- as soon as I finish the USMC Fatigue Jacket project...)

[Captain Barrett]

Malachi,

It is easy to make your own Officer's plume. I believe I still have the plans to make a plume cup one can then cover and fill with horsehair to make an Officer's plume from. Mine turned out well...

[Malachi Thorne]

Good Morning, Captain Barrett;

Excellent!  Would you mind posting an explanation/instructions for the rest of us?

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[Malachi Thorne]

Good Afternoon, All;

Just found this on eBay: an Officer's Artillery Helmet Plume.  Note the netted binding at the top of the socket:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Artillery-Helmet-Horse-Hair-Plume_W0QQitemZ200074515561QQihZ010QQcategoryZ7271QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This is also a "turn and lock" variant plume socket.  I'll have to check my copy of Helmet Spikes and Horsetail Plumes when I get home tonight, but I seem to recall this was an "Henry V. Allien" variant...

[Captain Barrett]

Gents,

Attached is a to scale drawing in inches of the brass plume cup I had made. This cup is designed to sit within an Officer plume holder. For the plume itself, find some horsehair of the correct color. Use some epoxy and glue small clusters of horsehair together, then glue the built new clusters together and whittle away at the base until the hair fits inside the cup. Using extra horsehair and superglue, coat the outside of the cup with superglue, then place the extra horsehair around the cup until the cup itself cannot be seen. You will have to also make up a threaded rod to attach the cup to your securing mechanism inside the helmet itself. A bit complex, but it works well...

[Malachi Thorne]

Good Evening, Captain Barrett, et al;

A nice little work around, Captain Barrett!  The plume bases occasionally turn up on eBay, but they often cost dear.  Do you have a source for horsehair of various colors?

It would appear that I am incorrect in my statement concerning the Artillery Plume I mentioned earlier.  According to Brass Spikes and Horsetail Plumes (Gordon Chappell, ISBN-57747-01-X) the twist-and-lock variant appears to have been made by Pettibone or M. C. Lilly (page 37)

[Dr. Bob]

Col. Thorne

Crazy Crow Trading Post has horse hair in 13-15 inch lengths and 16-18 inch lengths in black, silver white, white and brown available in 1 oz and 2 oz units.  Those are the only colors listed.  You can order from their web site.  I just Googled Crazy Crow.

[Captain Barrett]

Malachi,

I think Weaver Leather sells white horsehair. I tried to have it dyed to a pure white, but human hair coloring turned it purple. For Officer plumes, I personally would get an Enlisted plume and modify it...

[Malachi Thorne]

Good Evening, All;

Good advice there, Captain Barrett.  When the Marine Officer's Fatigue Jacket is completed, I will see what I can to to convert an Enlistedman's Plume and Socket into an Officer's version.

By the by; the subject of this thread ended up selling for over $300.  That's higher then some entire Enlisted Helmets on eBay...