another peacoat dating question

[dinomartino1]

Yes, I have looked at dating thread and others my problem is that though it is mentioned that the date is embedded in the contact number nobody actually explains what part of the number that is.
The same number that might be the year is in two different places in the contract number on the photos so if you are trying to comparing it to your own label you don't know which one to use.
Mine does not have the same number anywhere twice.
If the last two numbers are the year mine is 5 something [the stitching on the label covers the second number]
But 1950s does not fit with this info
Has the double sided button holes so 1965 or earlier
1962 first year of reg tall

It has the double row of stitching on the cuff.

Maybe it is 1964? in the 10464-C-5X

 

[Michael A]

I think the Defense Agency (DA) was the buying agency from 1953 to 1961. So the date is probably the 5 and whatever the hidden number is, as in 195X.

Michael

 

[Peacoat]

The DA prefix dates it somewhere between 1953 to 1961. We know it isn't in the 60s because of the partially obscured date. We know from reading the Dating Guide that the US NAVY tag came into service about 1958, or perhaps 1956. So this peacoat was contracted in about '56 through '59. For a coat that is at least 60 years old, that's close enough.

 

[dinomartino1]

Thank guys but what about the 40R size, isn't that 60s.

 

[Peacoat]

Thank guys but what about the 40R size, isn't that 60s.

The short answer is we just don't know about the "S, R and L" sizes. With the type of tag, the DA prefix and the partial date at the end, I would say there is less than a 1% probability that this coat is from the 60s. Although don't rule out the very real possibility it could have been issued in the early 60s, or even later. Somewhere in the original thread (where this should have been posted, BTW), there is an example of someone who went it the Navy in, say 1968, but was issued a 1953 peacoat.

Caution in using only one method for dating. There are several examples of this in the dating guide. One that I just noticed is the 1962 US NAVY tag I posted as an example for that year. It has the DA prefix, which would place it no later than 1961, but the year clearly shows as 1962. On these tags, the year follows the last letter in the code.

I have long subscribed to the theory that seamstresses for these coat manufacturers intentionally put the wrong tag in coats just to throw off subsequent researchers. I am now beginning to believe the same thing about the workers who printed these tags. "Let's thrown in an anomaly here and there to confuse people like Mr. Peacoat who will be coming along 50 years from now." Farfetched? Maybe, but how else can the anomalies be explained? There were some prescient people back in the 50s and 60s.

You have a late 50s peacoat.

 

[Doctor Damage]

The short answer is we just don't know about the "S, R and L" sizes. With the type of tag, the DA prefix and the partial date at the end, I would say there is less than a 1% probability that this coat is from the 60s. Although don't rule out the very real possibility it could have been issued in the early 60s, or even later. Somewhere in the original thread (where this should have been posted, BTW), there is an example of someone who went it the Navy in, say 1968, but was issued a 1953 peacoat.r. It has the DA prefix, which would place it no later than 1961, but the year clearly shows as 1962. On these tags, the year follows the last letter in the code.

Although I've never worked in procurement, my sense is that the military purchases garments in waves, and would issue stuff for several years after the "date" of the garment. I've noticed this with nomex flight jackets, and it probably follows (to a greater or lesser degree) with USN peacoats too.

 

[dinomartino1]

Thanks again, I have to pass this on as its too big for me and has been hanging in my wardrobe for a few years.
I wanted to make sure the dating was right to be honest in the description when I sell it, I wish it was a 38 it's in great condition and its going to be hard for me to get another one in the same state.

 

[Peacoat]

Thanks again, I have to pass this on as its too big for me and has been hanging in my wardrobe for a few years.
I wanted to make sure the dating was right to be honest in the description when I sell it, I wish it was a 38 it's in great condition and its going to be hard for me to get another one in the same state.

If you are young, hang onto as you will gain weight as you age.

 

[Peacoat]

Although I've never worked in procurement, my sense is that the military purchases garments in waves, and would issue stuff for several years after the "date" of the garment. I've noticed this with nomex flight jackets, and it probably follows (to a greater or lesser degree) with USN peacoats too.

You are exactly right. Especially in times of peace, items could hang around for years.

I would be talking to someone about the age of a coat, and I would ask them if they were sure of the date their relative had gone in the Navy as the coat had a tag that was contracted five years earlier (for example). Mostly they were sure of the date. Normally, though, these peacoats were issued fairly soon after delivery to the Navy.

Aha, after posting this I think I figured out how to do multiple quotes in the same response. I had tried it this time, but didn't see the "Insert Quotes" button.

 

[dinomartino1]

If you are young, hang onto as you will gain weight as you age.

Sadly I'm 54