Wilkinson & Cummins Makers?

[1stMo Drummer]

Hello all,
Today I got the chance to examine a set of original leathers that were used locally during The War. The belt and cartridge box were unmarked, but the cap pouch had a stamp on the inner flap. A circle stamp that reads "Wilkinson & Cummins" on top, "Makers" in the middle and "Springfield Mass" on the bottom half.

Anyone have any information on this company, what units their products were sent to, from what arsenal etc.

One other thing also, the tins in the box are the type that have the top half split with a piece of tin, about two/thirds of the tin. What was the purpose of dividing the top tin?
Many thanks.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Wilkinson & Cummins Makers?

Hallo!

Warren Wilkinson and Josiah Cummings of Springfield, Massachusetts had U.S. contracts for infantry accoutrements, and then contracts separately.
Their contracts included one for 10,000 sets of .58 and .69 accoutrements on August 28, 1862, 1,500 of the same on December 22, 1862, and 3,000 sets on April 15, 1863.
They also had contracts in 1862 with the state of Massachusetts for 632 small U.S. plates plus unspecified infantry equipments, infatry waistbelts, plates, etc.

Wilkinson ran a harness store in 1860 on Main St, and wa slisted in 1865 as a maker and dealer in harness, saddles, etc. He received his own contracts after October 1864 through March of 1865 for 6,000 sets of infantry accoutrements, 10,000 sets of cavalry accoutrements, and 10,000 Blakeslees boxes, plus a contract for bridles and halters.

Cummings also had his own contracts such as for carbine slings and 2,000holsters in October 1863. From November 1864 through March of 1865 he had contracts for 5,000 sets of cavalry accoutrements, 3,000 bayonet scabbards, and horse equipments such as bridles, halters, saddles, traces, and collars.

Curt