Tropical Shoulder Boards - Late war??

[harrison987]

Hey guys,

I "believe" these are Transport. The material at the reverse is a bit odd...like corduroy...

Late war?

[GAMS1]

Corduroy is a piece of early tropical breeches cloth .
Not late war but classical early straps .
Nick

[harrison987]

ahhhhhhhhh!!

Thanks Nick!!!

Mike

[Tim O'Keefe]

Look good to me though the buttons do not enhance the straps imo.
Gotta love the corduroy

The corduroy may be captured French stock for breeches as Nick mentions.

[pauke]

I would agree with Tim‘s comments and add that this is the first time I have seen the top of the sun-bleached or artificially-bleached straps appear to be joined with the tongue portion after the „bleaching“. It just looks unusual as there is typically a little transitional fading where the two parts meet or at least where the top exposed part folds under. Yes, the silver buttons don‘t look correct with these straps.

[OSS]

I would agree with Tim‘s comments and add that this is the first time I have seen the top of the sun-bleached or artificially-bleached straps appear to be joined with the tongue portion after the „bleaching“. It just looks unusual as there is typically a little transitional fading where the two parts meet or at least where the top exposed part folds under. Yes, the silver buttons don‘t look correct with these straps.

I didn't like everything about these straps either. I have the impression that they had possibly been reconstructed from original parts (what the visor cap collectors call "Frankensteins"). I am not sure what circumstance would cause someone to do such a thing but the piping doesn't wow me. I hope I am wrong.

[NZMark]

The upper panels are made from tan twill scraps, not bleached out olive.
Regards,
Mark
NZ

[Tim O'Keefe]

I would agree with Tim‘s comments and add that this is the first time I have seen the top of the sun-bleached or artificially-bleached straps appear to be joined with the tongue portion after the „bleaching“. It just looks unusual as there is typically a little transitional fading where the two parts meet or at least where the top exposed part folds under. Yes, the silver buttons don‘t look correct with these straps.

Good points. It's hard to tell if there is any transitional fading from these photos. Need to see the straps fully extended to be sure. Agree it appears that there isn't any. Looks like natural fading not chemical near the buttonholes. However if they were chemically bleached the tongue would also have signs of being bleached unless the top and bottom have been joined afterwords as OSS mentions ?

There was and old time tropical strap collector that acquired parts of straps including tops and bottoms and had them reassembled, ala frankenstein.
His collection has sense been sold off years ago

Is this one of those sets ?

[90th Light]

The upper panels are made from tan twill scraps, not bleached out olive.
Regards,
Mark
NZ

I agree with you Mark,

the straps look to be made by this maker (see attached images). They are known for making straps from "tan twill scraps" which was used to make early tropical tunics circa early 1941.

I am using Virtual Grenadier's images of the strap because I purchased it from them, plus I have a bit of history about where it came from during WW2.

Note the slight olive hue to the top piece which is very close to the strap that started this thread. There is a bit of un-faded twill showing on one of the button holes by the silver button on the threader starter straps. This type/ shade of twill faded quickly in the Afrika sun.

But the tan twill used to make the tongue on my strap, is an absolute sand-tan delight. The tongue on my strap is not faded, it is a factory sand colour hue. I wonder if the uniform made from the tongue bolt of cloth was WH or LW ?

However, the top is a classic desirable but rarer early tropical WH twill,

Chris

[90th Light]

Here is another pair of tropical straps made from this "slight olive hue" tan twill. This pair has seen more exposure to the sun than my strap but you can clearly see the original colour hue around the button. IMO a very desirable shade of WH tropical twill that faded quickly. Note the faded bases of the straps, where it folds round when compared to the button holes

This image was posted by another member and they are his straps,

Chris