MANUFACTURERS PRODUCTION MODEL OF THE UNITED
STATES MARINE CORPS OFFICERS DRESS BLUE COAT – “SEALED
SAMPLE” IN EXCELLENT “LIKE NEW” CONDITION – EXTREMELY
RARE HISTORICAL UNIFORM: Extraordinarily rare,
this United States Marine Corps Field and Company Grade
Officers Dress Blue Uniform Coat is the Production
Model, or “Sealed Sample”, that was used by the S.
Abrahams & Company (SACO Uniforms) of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania to create the patterns they used to
manufacture this uniform.
This system of contract patterns dates back to the
earliest days of the United States. As the armed
services introduced new patterns of uniforms,
accoutrements, and equipment, and began to let out
contracts to the civilian manufacturers to produce the
goods, the contractors required a pattern piece to
ensure the pieces they made and delivered would be
accepted. The Ordnance and Quartermaster Departments
retained the “sealed pattern”, the specific specimen
which had been manufactured to specifications and had
been reviewed and accepted by the equipment or uniform
examining boards. In order to secure a working pattern
piece to use in their respective work shops, the
contractors were required to send an employee to the
government repository – an arsenal or depot - where the
contractor’s employee was allowed access to the “sealed
pattern” in order to make his own pattern piece. These
“pattern” or “sample” pieces were, and are, extremely
important links in the supply system and are significant
relics that document the history of clothing and
equipping the US Armed Forces. As you can imagine,
these pattern pieces are quite rare, likely survived in
very limited numbers, and are seldom offered for sale.
This USMC Officer’s Dress
Uniform Coat Production Model was approved in 1957, as
documented on the official USMC three card set of
specifications that accompany the coat. The design and
cloth specifications are detailed on the three cards and
are approved by the original signature in ink of the
issuing Marine Corps officer. The three cards are
identified further by a serial number “411”, assigned by
the Marine Corps, and each is dated stamped, “July 30,
1957”. The cards were laminated in order to protect
them while they were in use by the company’s employees.
Simon Abrahams was in established in Philadelphia in the
clothing industry as early as the American Civil War,
and is listed as a supplier of uniforms and insignia,
and I found one lodge sword that bore his company’s name
on the blade. S. ABRAHAMS & CO., INC., of Philadelphia
filed the federal trademark registration for SACO on
July 16, 1948. That registration expired in 1992 and it
appears the company is now out of business.
As expected, this coat is
in like new condition, showing no ill effects of age,
handling or poor storage. The condition of the cloth
and the brilliance of the gilt plated buttons remains as
the day it was made. All of the identifying tags are
present, as of course are the buttons.
This is simply a
spectacular piece, quite probably, and literally, one of
a kind, the like of which can not be duplicated. The
sort of piece that will quietly disappear into another
private collection, it is truly a pleasure to offer this
Production Model USMC
Officer’s Uniform Coat. (0205) $550
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