SS colar tabs without buckram backing

[Bob Hritz]

I don't think it was common to remove buckram. I believe that it just softens up from use, cleaning, or becomming repeatedly wet. Buckram is just glue empregnated cloth and when the glue breaks down cloth is just cloth.

Bob Hritz

[NickG]

When army tunics were used (with narrower collar) the removal of the backing material is almost a nessesity as it allows the tab to bend almost inside the collar, as shown with the tunic that started this thread!
Especially when tresse is sewn on the collar for NCO's, there is really not much space left!
So let me rephrase my statement,
"perhaps with NCO's more common to create bendable tabs"!
The other trick was to reshape the tab (narrower and even change/modify the angle of the shape to match the collar better)
or stitch the tresse on top of the tab...also seen on period tunics, in period pictures...
The latter is also easier to accomplished when the tab is unbacked!

This image (photo credit goes to as marked) shows the problem if the tabs are not modified!

[John Pic]

Imagine that stiff tab digging into your neck.

[Felix]

I don't think it was common to remove buckram. I believe that it just softens up from use, cleaning, or becomming repeatedly wet. Buckram is just glue empregnated cloth and when the glue breaks down cloth is just cloth.

Bob Hritz

I completely agree! It was not common at all to remove the buckram! Just a sad excuse! What happened was that the original collar tab with its original buckram was exposed to weather, rain and moisture. Hence it might look soft or wrinkled. Thats why we are confused, and might think the stiffener is gone. Please note that + 95 % of the original uniform removed tabs still have the buckram intact. I could easily state + 99 % and be correct.

Cheers
//Felix

[DaveJ]

I have a vet aquired piece that was tunic removed and does not have any sign of ever having buckram.

[Felix]

I have a vet aquired piece that was tunic removed and does not have any sign of ever having buckram.

Always exeptions to every "rule". of course. Hower how to tell if this flattened out piece of cloth collar tab had a buckram or not?
I would say it is not in support of the theory of this thread.

Cheers
//Felix

[John Pic]

No one knows....there are tunic examples using tabs with buckram removed however scarce and there are period photos showing altered tabs that POSSIBLY had the buckram removed...but there are also period photos of NCOs and officers in their best dress with soft tabs so weather cannot be an excuse for that...there are also period photos of SS tabs that are extra thickly padded to make them stand out from the collar...you cannot tell by a photo that backram is in place and you also cannot tell because you have collected for 30+ years and never saw this...you just may have dismissed buckramless as damaged. I had one officer tunic on which the tabs were very flexible and soft...I never removed them to check but my feeling was the buckram had been removed.

[Bob Hritz]

I have a vet aquired piece that was tunic removed and does not have any sign of ever having buckram.

This is because your collar tab was put into a washing machine and the buckram was lost and the color from the wool bled into the embroidered area. Plus, it doesn't appear worn. The threads are the folding guides for application of the buckram.

Bob Hritz

[besslein]

This is because your collar tab was put into a washing machine and the buckram was lost and the color from the wool bled into the embroidered area. Plus, it doesn't appear worn. The threads are the folding guides for application of the buckram.

Bob Hritz

i agree!

[stonemint]

How 'bout Wittman's tabs:

[DaveJ]

I agree about the dye fading into the rune, but there are some loose threads that are along the tab from being sewn on, I could be wrong, I am frequently it seems

[John Pic]

We do have people that were actually there and know these things for a fact....we should depend on their advice I think.

[espenlaub]

I have some salty uniforms in my collection, with such a soft tabs, but they are originally applied, and through some damages on the tabs I can see a buckram, even I have a couple of tunic removed tabs with a buckram which is lost the glue base and they are soft.

[NickG]

I retract my statement that these backings were often removed. Photographic evidence is misleading...I agree now that its more likely stiff backing that has lossed its rigidness
because of moisture exposure (rain or washing) causing the glue to dissolve..This process made these tabs flexible, as shown in Wittman's portrait!
That explanation makes perfect sense to me now!

[besslein]

I have some salty uniforms in my collection, with such a soft tabs, but they are originally applied, and through some damages on the tabs I can see a buckram, even I have a couple of tunic removed tabs with a buckram which is lost the glue base and they are soft.

what abaut a good photo on tabs on your tunics?