Tunic w/ RBNr

[Stepdale]

Hello,
Anyone have any idea what this is? I've never seen anything like it, but it does have what appears to be an RBNr and German style size markings (not easy to see in the photo, but its definitely there.) Everything appears original, though I'm pretty sure the buttons were added later. Some kind of work tunic? I would appreciate any info.
Thank you,
Dale

[Stepdale]

Buttonhole and reverse of collar.

[Stepdale]

Reverse & interior.

[Stepdale]

Interior marking. Last photo.

[Stepdale]

Anybody have a clue?

[Johnny R]

There are a lot of odd utility type clothing pieces that no one really knows much about. The Navy seems to have won out in this area with all kinds of odd things. If it is issue and is unaltered it may be something like this or it could be something made from something else. I have never seen one like it before. Is the back belt the same material as the jacket or a little different?

[NickG]

Looks French based on the collar size and pockets (obviously not German)
Do the stamp measurements match the garment? (an indicator its original to the tunic and not restamped)
Could be French made for fatigue duty in the OT perhaps?

[Stepdale]

Nick and Johnny,
Had my wife looked it over very quickly (she gets a bit touchy at me interrupting her with requests to look over my odd uniform stuff, but she knows her cloth) and it shows no signs of alterations, to include the lower hem, pockets and the belt on the reverse. The belt is definitely original to the tunic, it is sewn into the seam, which was done when the tunic was constructed, not later. Turns out even the buttons appear to be originally sewn; three are marked D&C? 36 and one EH 38, but all have the same thread. No signs of ever having any insignia.

The markings are difficult to read, but appears to be RBN/ then 8 or 9 digits, with sizes below of 48 and 94 on the top row, 102 (I think) in the center, and 87 and 86 on the bottom row. The stamp appears entirely original to the tunic and not added later.

I guess it could be a work rig for OT, or just another mysterious piece of TR cloth to add to the pile of several similar type things I have found.
Dale

[Johnny R]

I agree with Nick the base cloth is probably French tropical material. You see light weight probably tailor-made tunics made of this too. Utility clothing etc. is a big unknown area, there is a lot of variability with coveralls and stuff like this.

[Stepdale]

Hello All,
I will be bringing up this post as well as several other old posts to ask for some advice. I have such an excess of items like this that I can't set my collection room up due to lack of space. I have finally come to the realization that I just don't have the time or energy to try to post each of these items on the estand to sell (unless it's worth some decent money) nor haul them to shows looking for that one special buyer that just can't live without them. So I'd like to see what others say, should I:

- Just throw a link on the estand along with a decent price and work my way down until it sells as another collector might have a use for it.
- Take it to a local flea market and sell it dirt cheap.
- Donate it to Goodwill, throw it in the trash, burn it, etc.
- something else?

I appreciate your advice on this and other items I bring back up and apologize to the moderators if I violate any rules. I promise that I will only bring up a handful of posts at a time so I don't overwhelm the forum.
Thank you,
Dale

[Stepdale]

The silence for this piece is deafening, so I guess the interest is extremely low. Will probably take this one to the SoS to try to part with it as I'm positive the stamp is original and denotes an RBNr and sizes, so imagine someone may be interested in it there.
Dale