1934 NRA Label Belted back suit uniform

[GoldenEraFan]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-30s-193...pt=Vintage_Men_s_Clothing&hash=item233156b402

 

[Two Types]

That is fantastic. The breeches make me think of a very stylish chauffeurs uniform.

 

[Guttersnipe]

While the manufacturer's label has a Los Angeles address, this isn't an L.A.P.D. uniform; however, I'm pretty sure this is a police uniform of some sort.

 

[Two Types]

The reasons I don't think this is a police uniform are as follows:

1) Police uniforms usually have epaulettes
2) The buttons don't look like uniform buttons
3) Police uniforms would normally be worn with a belt. It seems excessive to have a belt-back on a uniform if a gun-belt is going to cover it
4) The rear of the jacket appears to have 'norfolk straps' (or whatever the correct term is). Faux straps of that type appears to be an unecessary addition to a police uniform.

That said, I admit that I know next to nothing about US police uniforms.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

This is a sporting suit in the German tradition. Would Desmond's, a rather well known Dept. store, sell uniform pieces? I side away from chauffeur as there are trousers and breeches, and that they are named, suggesting they were tailored specifically. A servant would generally get rugged ready-mades, at a push MTM, not the full bespoke treatment, especially in the 1930s.

This smacks of a country/vacation suit for a chap who envisioned hunting and/or riding (breeches), but also wanted to use the suit indoors or walking around town (trousers). I love the idea that his wife had a more feminine version run up in the same cloth.

 

[Two Types]

I accepted it as a uniform on the basis that the word 'uniform' is on the NRA label:

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Eagle eyes! Obviously I alter my opinion.

 

[Guttersnipe]

The reasons I don't think this is a police uniform are as follows:

1) Police uniforms usually have epaulettes
2) The buttons don't look like uniform buttons
3) Police uniforms would normally be worn with a belt. It seems excessive to have a belt-back on a uniform if a gun-belt is going to cover it
4) The rear of the jacket appears to have 'norfolk straps' (or whatever the correct term is). Faux straps of that type appears to be an unecessary addition to a police uniform.

That said, I admit that I know next to nothing about US police uniforms.

Those are all good points, but there were (are) a confusing array of law enforcement agencies in the U.S. Unlike the U.K., we do not have a national police force. For example, in S.F., I can think of seven (!) separate and autonomous "species" of cops. I've also seen pictures of uniforms without epaulettes and I know that forces from smaller municipalities often didn't use metallic buttons, probably for budgetary reasons, etc.

However, BK's point about the label convinces me this is not police uniform, as every one I've seen from the '30s, if labeled, has had a label from a company specializing in making uniforms.

 

[Two Types]

Out of interest, the UK doesn't have a national police force. There are separate forces for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Also England has a set of regional forces with distinct uniforms (different style caps, helmets etc) whose chief constables answer (I believe?) to the Home Secretary.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

On a side point, the proliferation of Police forces in the United States, with very specific jurisdiction, is awe-inspiring, especially where those jurisdictions overlap.

We used to run into: Lafayette Police, West Lafayette Police, Sherriff's Dept., Highway Patrol, Purdue University Police, Tippicanoe County Police, Indiana State Police. This for a town of 220,000 people; every one of 'em hunting for drunk students to book to meet their quotas.