WWII M1953 Field Artillery Dress Blue Uniform, BRONZE STAR; BULLION 1953-1955

Description

Post WW2 M1953 Artillery Officers Winter Blue Dress Uniform;
QMC) Mil-C-14414 tailored CIRCA 1953. 100% Wool with Silk Bullion “Branch of Service” cuffs and Bullion shoulder boards.
For your consideration is this U.S. Army Model 1953 Officers Winter Dress Uniform for a Lieutenant Colonel in the Field Artillery Branch.
This is an extremely rare early 1953 U.S. Army Blue Dress Uniform that PREDATES the 1956QMC) Mil-C-14414.
DESCRIPTION
:
FULL DRESS MINI MEDALS
• BRONZE STAR
• AMERICAN DEFENSE
• AMERICAN CAMPAIGN
• ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN
• WWII VICTORY
• ARMED FORCES RESERVE (X years)
note all of these medals are before Korean War medals. This uniform was made before the QMC Standards were set for the Blue Dress Uniform August 7, 1953 with the Military Spec not being added until 1956.
These are the original silk bullion branch color cuff bands.
This coat is a Pre U.S. Army 1956 (QMC) Mil-C-14414. It was made in the first part of the 1953-1956 period, well before the US ARMY Quartermaster Corps had a Specification number for this uniform type.
These uniforms was strictly used for full dress uniforms at this point.
CONDITION:
This M1953 Winter Blue Dress Coat is truly a museum quality piece and would be a stand out in your WWII ERA or Korean War ERA collection.
This piece was manufactured by Allen Uniform Co., Providence R.I. all of the buttons are WATERBURY BUTTON CO. CONN.
The shoulder straps are made of Bullion. They are toned due to age and have an attractive look. They snap to the coat at the front and rear of the shoulder boards.
The Artillery & US collar insignia have aged very nicely with a nice patina.
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WHY IS THIS UNIFORM RARE??
The rarity is associated with the amount of M1953 Blue Dress Uniforms that were tailored during 1953-1956.
The M1953 Blue Dress Uniform was recommended as a Winter Dress Uniform on August 7, 1953.
Starting February 1, 1958, the M1953 Blue Dress Uniform was prescribed for ALL social events.
The uniform remained a Winter Dress until September 28, 1959 when it was extended to year round basis
On February 8, 1963 the M1953 Blue Dress Uniform was required for all officers and warrant officers to possess.
Having this information helps with identification of older Blue Dress Uniforms.
Officers who purchased a blue dress uniforms from 1953-1956 purchased uniforms very similar to that of the previous uniform type of the M1938 Blue Dress Uniform. These uniforms are very high quality pieces.
These early coats tailored from 1953-1956 have bullion seem-to-seem “Branch of Service” straps.
These coats were also a heavy 100% Gaberdine Wool.
The earliest of these coats don’t have a Quartermaster Spec tags. They only have a Tailor Company label. Some have name tags or the name is stamped within the sleeve.
The later of these coats tailored during the 1953 to 1956 period have a 1 of 2 QMC tags.
The 1st Quartermaster tag just states that it “meets or exceeds US Army standards”. The tag doesn’t have a QMC SPEC number.
The 2nd Quartermaster tag gives an alternate QMC SPEC number MIL-C-13990(QMC) but gives the companies certificate number.(MIL-C-13990 are for Men’s, Wool, Army Green Coat dating 1955)
These coats with the 2nd tag type are known to have both bullion & rayon “Branch of Service” cuff straps. This coat type is at the very end of the 1953-1956 coat type.
Starting in 1956 you start to see the (QMC) Mil-C-14414. These coats are 100% Gaberdine Wool but the cuffs are rayon. Since these coats are for Winter use, they are very heavy.
The quality of the 1956(QMC) Mil-C-14414 is still very high.
In 1960, the QMC changed the Specs of the 1956(QMC) Mil-C-1441. The coat was made lighter because it was recommended for year round use on September 28, 1959.
These coats are required by the US Army starting February 18, 1963. These 1960(QMC) Mil-C-14414A are much lighter and the quality drops off after 1963. These are a scarce uniform type but can be found with a little leg work. The 100% wool construction gives a nice full look that the older US ARMY uniforms have and that the new uniforms do not.
I have given you the information needed in order to make an informed decision. You can see that this coat has the seem-to-seem bullion “Branch of Service” cuff straps. This coat is also the heavy 100% Gaberdine Wool made to winter use. This coat also has mini medals from WWII putting this coat before the Korean War medals were issued.
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THỊS M1953 BLUE DRESS UNIFORM (1953-1956) TYPE IS AS RARE AS THE M1937 BLUE DRESS UNIFORM.
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NOTE:
I used an Associated Press Article dated Fri Aug 14, 1953 to prove that this uniform type was authorized before 1956 (QMC) Mil-C-14414.
The article states,
“The new dress uniform for army enlisted men were modeled in Washington, D.C. by Sgt. Neil Southern of Chillicothe, Ohio. It is similar to the one worn by officers. The coat is dark blue and the trousers are sky blue with stripes of gold braid. Wearing of the uniforms will be optional. This soldier must buy it at his own expense.”
This article is proof that the US Army M1953 Blue Dress Uniform existed and was being worn by Service Men before 1956.
The Blue Dress Uniform was re-introduced April 11, 1951 with the M1938 Blue Dress Uniform for officers only. The Blue Dress uniform was re-designed for a common pattern for all uniform types leading to the U.S. Model 1953 Blue Dress Uniform.
This M1953 was used as the Officer Winter Dress uniform from August 7, 1953 through September 28, 1959.
The very interesting aspect of the U.S. Model 1953 Blue Dress Uniform, the Quartermaster Corps didn’t add a Spec number until 1956.
The established Spec number is 1956 (QMC) Mil-C-14414.
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**This is the last of Blue Dress Uniform with 100% Wool uniform. This uniform is more like the M1938 Blue Dress Uniform than the M1953 Blue Dress Uniform. These uniforms change in 1960 when they go from Winter Dress uniforms to Dress Blue Uniforms.**
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What makes this uniform rare is that it is 100% wool. The Army M1953 Blue Dress uniform hasn't been 100% wool since 1965. In 1965 the MIL Spec was changed to polyester/wool mix. The look & feel of the old Army dress uniform was completely gone. This is the last of the old styls Army dress uniforms.
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This is amazing M1953 Winter Blue Dress uniform that is a 100% wool. This uniform PRE DATES QMC MIL-C-14414.This MIL Specification was authorized 25 October 1956. These are quite rare uniform from this period. The Army Blue uniform was authorized as a Winter dress uniform from 7 August 1953 thru 28 September 1959 afterwards it was the prescribed uniform for all social functions. The Army Blue Dress wasn't required by Army personnel until 1963.
The history of the Army Blue Uniform from 1951-58 is written below.
The Army Blue Uniform was descended from the traditional blue uniforms of the 19th Century, which has been elevated to the status of dress uniform when the olive drab service uniform was adopted in 1902. Unfortunately, during WW1 & WW2 Dress Blue Uniforms were prohibited from use because of wartime conditions. After WW2, Dress Blue Uniforms were authorized once again, and were designated Winter Dress commencing 11 April 1951. The uniforms remained Winter Dress until 28 September 1959 when DA extended their wear to year round basis.
After the Korean War, the appearance of the Army Blue Uniform was changed to incorporate the cut and standard features of the Army tan and white uniforms. The conversion by itself wasn't detrimental, but unfortunately it was accompanied by a switch of ornamentation that dispensed with a century of Army tradition. On 7 August 1953, the branch of service trouser stripes, which had existed for Officers since 1851, as well as the Branch trimming on all Enlisted blue uniforms were changed to gold lace, or gold colored fabric.
Commencing 1 February 1958 the Army Blue Uniform became the prescribed uniform for attending social functions. The uniform was technically optional, but DA regulation, "strongly encouraged" that it be worn for appropriate on duty occasions and for social events after retreat. The uniform was considered clearly preferable to civilian clothes at social gatherings both for day and night events.
On 18 February 1963 the DA required all Officers and Warrant Officers to possess to Army Blue Uniform. The uniform was also prescribed for issue to Enlisted Men assigned to selected organizations and recruitment services.