2 Home Cast Bands Help ID (1 Viewer)

[captainsimos]

I promise this is the last two bands I will post. I think one is early US Marines and the other is Royal Artillery but the white pants don't seem correct. One set is recast Britains, but the other set has an added base to make them stand up and I haven't seen that leg arrangement before. I have almost finished going through the collection and this forum has been a tremendous help. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Mike Niederman]

Re leg arrangement: Britains introduced this pose for their figures standing at Present Arms (aka Salute) in 1937. Previously, they'd been the same leg position as At Attention. Change in the drill manual? Examples in sets 204, 205, 2078, and in some ceremonial display sets.

 

[theBaron]

Taking another look at these two, I can't say whether the first is supposed to be a US Marine band, but it's definitely American, circa 1890-1900. The painter has tried to depict the eagle helmet plate. I'm not as up on USMC uniforms as on other areas, so whether it's USMC or USA, I can't say. Maybe Dave Namiot will know more.

The second band also looks like it could be a Marine band, more specifically, Royal Marine. This is a guess, but it's because the helmet plates look like anchors, and that suggests marine infantry. Again, the subject is outside my areas of focus, so that's an educated guess, but again, maybe Dave or someone else will be able to say more.

Hope that helps, prosit!
Brad

 

[churchmouse1]

I believe for awhile during the 1880's and 1890's, the US Army used white as the branch of service color for the infantry. Group #1 is probably from a US Army Infantry band from the late 19th Century.

Yours,
Dave

 

[DMNamiot]

I am sure the band in the first pic is USArmy and I think it’s infantry as well. They are correct for 1880-1890s.

The second band is really interesting and while it’s undoubtedly navy I am not certain which county. I looked at some photos of British Marines in foreign service helmets and have not found a helmet plate shaped like this. I am still looking at things but I wonder if it could be another country like Italy or Germany. Will keep digging thru my references and see if I can sort it out.

Dave

 

[theBaron]

The Germans did have a tropical helmet, but I haven't found an example in my references, in white. It was a sort of tan or khaki color and worn for service. The marines (Marineninfanterie) wore shakos as their service headgear, with a helmet plate consisting of the imperial eagle over ("impaled") a vertical fouled anchor.

Italy's a good guess. Maybe French, too? I did a search on "french marines 1900" and I saw illustrations of a tropical helmet with a helmet plate consisting of a single vertical fouled anchor. This makes me think that for parade, they could have worn a white helmet with that plate. French colonial troops had an anchor plate, too.

A good puzzle!

Prost!
Brad

 

[DMNamiot]

I think you are right Brad I hadn’t gotten to checking the French units yet. Been to crazy at work!

Will need to try and find time to really search

Dave

 

[captainsimos]

Merry Christmas to everyone, hope this finds everyone healthy and with family. This might be a stretch, but on the second band the flutes are painted silver, which to me indicates they are made of metal. The French invented the metal flute around 1847. They were the first to incorporate this metal instrument into their bands and orchestras over the following years. Since there has been no definite ID on this band, I would suggest the metal flute would indicate the band could be French. Enjoy the day and look forward to a better New Year.