Schuylkill Arsenal Linings

[NYCivilWar]

Hello All,

There is currently a thread (http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...ad.php?t=26889) on fabric sources for Schuylkill Arsenal jackets, but something came up in the discussion that is in a different direction so instead of hyjacking that thread I thought I'd start a new one.

Curt Schmidt wrote: "Schyulkill Arsenal, was not very strict either, and during period of fabric shortages ...were known for "outrageous" lining materials."

I've seen several reproductions that have wild lining materials either in the body or the sleeves, but I guess my questions are:

-of the surviving examples of SA Infantry Jackets, how many exhibit this wild fabric usage?

-was the use of crazy fabric only used in periods of "normal" body/sleeve lining fabric shortages?

Anything on body/sleeve linings would be helpful, but I am especially interested in the SA Infantry Jacket

[Dan Wambaugh]

Re: Schuylkill Arsenal Linings

Kyle,

Here are some shots of three existing SA produced jackets, the first being an infantry jacket, the second an artillery jacket, and the third an artillery musician's jacket.

As you will note all have patterned/colored linings.

It is asserted by County Cloth that the infantry jacket in the Gettysburg collection is lined with domet flannel, but I have never had the chance to examine this up close to either confirm or deny this.

It is my experience that colored/patterned linings in SA produced garments were the rule rather than the exception, as off the top of my head I cannot recall ever having seen an SA produced jacket with a plain woolen lining, (though there is an SA blouse in the Smithsonian with a relatively plain jean cloth lining.)

The theory with which I operate when it comes to SA linings is that the arsenal was simply purchasing any woolen material it could get cheaply on the local Philadelphia market, which often meant some pretty wild stuff.

Hope this helps.

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Schuylkill Arsenal Linings

I have only handled one S.A. infantry jacket, the Sgt. George Snell (121st NY) jacket owned by artist/historian Don Troiani. This garment has a relatively subdued plaid/bold stripe pattern wool/cotton lining in the body but I did not have time to check the sleeves. While discussing the wild linings in Don's original S.A. garments, he mentioned that some feel that S.A. may have purchased the unique linings on purpose.

I understand that you are looking for information on S.A. infantry jacket linings but you should definitely look at other S.A. produced garments as well. The variation in colors is stunning but the cloth itself is almost always a wool/cotton akin to domet flannel. Attached are several interior shots of original S.A. garments. Like the original S.A. infantry jacket housed at Gettysburg, the V.R.C. jacket here is lined with domet flannel. The faintly striped sleeve lining in the artillery jacket appears to be linen.

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Schuylkill Arsenal Linings

Dan,

Thanks for the picture of the Snell jacket interior. The second photograph is the inside of a zouave jacket; remember that a lot of them seem to have had that cadet gray broadcloth facing in the front of the coat itself or false vest.

There was also one S.A. cavalry jacket for sale at the Ohio Civil War show in 2008 that was lined from at least three different runs of domet flannel varying in color from yellow-tan to bright white, and varying in quality and coarseness.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Schuylkill Arsenal Linings

Hallo!

An unrelated aside...

My wife's g-g-uncle was Theodore Blakeley, Captain of Company "B," of the 58th PA Infantry (killed at Fort Harrison after picking up the colors from the third color bearer to go down).
He owned a textile mill in Philadelphia a few blocks from SA (the standing ruins of which still stand in an "unsafe neighborhood'). Aside from weaving fabric, he also operated a "scrap cloth" business.
The family believes that his company supplied some of the "outrageous" material to Schyulkill Arsenal.

Curt

[PanzerJager]

Re: Schuylkill Arsenal Linings

It is asserted by County Cloth that the infantry jacket in the Gettysburg collection is lined with domet flannel, but I have never had the chance to examine this up close to either confirm or deny this.
Hope this helps.

The Gettysburg jacket does indeed have a lining of domet flannel with a one piece back similar to the VRC jacket posted in this thread. Bill Lomas of EJT also has a SA artillery jacket in his collection lined with domet flannel and a one piece back as well.

Regards,

[NYCivilWar]

Re: Schuylkill Arsenal Linings

Dan, Brian, Curt, and Seth,

Thanks for the great info and photos, that's exactly what I was looking for. The reason I was specifically wondering about the SA Infantry jacket is that I would like to make one, but agree that looking at a range of SA-produced garments will be helpful.

Thanks again!

[charding4496]

Re: Schuylkill Arsenal Linings

Attached is a photo of the lining on a SA produced Artillery Shell in the Gettysburg collection. The numbers in the lining are not original to the jacket but part of some previous catalog system. The 40 is the size.

[PanzerJager]

Re: Schuylkill Arsenal Linings

Attached are two photos I snapped of the lining in Bill's SA artillery coat as well as the stamp.

Regards,

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: Schuylkill Arsenal Linings

As I recall, the Daniel Byam jacket in GNMP is, as others have stated, lined with domet flannel but appears to have a plain-weave cotton lining the breast pocket and sleeves. Also, worth noting, it is devoid of any arsenal markings though it does have sizing dots.

Also attached is a photo of the sleeve lining of my personally owned SA artillery jacket. Similar configuration to Mr. Lomas', lined in domet but with a plain-weave cotton in the sleeves. The image enlarges the texture of the fabric; it's a lot thinner and softer than it reads.

[PanzerJager]

Re: Schuylkill Arsenal Linings

Also attached is a photo of the sleeve lining of my personally owned SA artillery jacket. Similar configuration to Mr. Lomas', lined in domet but with a plain-weave cotton in the sleeves. The image enlarges the texture of the fabric; it's a lot thinner and softer than it reads.

Just wondering is the back lining piece on your jacket one or two pieces? Bill's jacket sleeves and pocket are also very thin plain weave cotton, very similar to the modern muslin you can get at Joann's.

Regards,