WWII (1920s) West Point USMA SHAKO, Insignia Plate with 4 Soldered LOOPS. RARE
RARE SHAKO PLATE with the 4 soldered LOOPS! RARE 1920s West Point U. As worn by all classes of the Corps of Cadets, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. + For advanced headgear collectors, this stamped brass SHAKO INSIGNIA PLATE retains the RARE EARLY four (4) Soldered WIRE-LOOPS on the back that are secured with steel COTTER PINS!! This method of attachment replaces the earlier pre-WWI model which had three (3) single WIRES soldered to the back that were pushed through the pressed fiber crown. + It is in superb condition. It alone is worth the price of the SHAKO. Each WIRE-LOOP is securely soldered and unbent! At some point in the early 1930s, two threaded SCREW POSTS with brass NUTS were substituted for the soldered WIRE-LOOPS as a means of attaching the SHAKO INSIGNIA PLATE. This the rarest of the several versions of the “Pallas Athena’s Helmet with Gladius” Academy CREST SHAKO PLATES! + This example is in absolutely STRUCTURALLY SOLID condition with the handsome “authenticating patina” of century-old’crazing’ on the Patent Leather VISOR and CROWN TOP! + This SHAKO has the early Patent Leather-top Crown; Decorative Brass-Link Chinstrap; Lacquered Leather secondary Chinstrap; supple Lambskin Liner with Shoestring Adjustable Lace; and the Shorn- Wool Pompom worn by all non-cadet officers. + This is a post-WWI West Point U. SHAKO (issued in early 1920s immediately following the revision of the Corps’ crest in 1923) for wear with the Full Parade Dress Uniform. This is a uniform piece whose design has remained unchanged since the Spanish-American War, 1898. It was only is the late 1960s that J. Bayly and Son, Inc. The sole supplier of Shakos to the Corps for well over a century, began substituting vinyl and plastic components for brass, patent leather, lambskin, and pressed fiber. No plastic, no polyester, no vinyl whatsoever!! This SHAKO (“Tar Bucket”) is made of WOOL – COVERED Pressed Fiber , PATENT LEATHER, and BRASS. The Adjustable TAB on the CHIN STRAP is STITCHED, not stapled. + The WEST POINT SHAKO is an often overlooked piece of headgear by WWII collectors! This design was worn by Pershing, MacArthur, Eisenhower, Patton, Ridgeway, Bradley, Westmoreland, Dawkins, Schwarzkopf, and Pompeo. An earlier version of the dress SHAKO was worn by Robert E. Lee (class of 1829), William T. Sherman (class of 1840) James Longstreet (class of 1842) and Ulysses S. +The Decorative CHAIN-LINK CHIN STRAP is stamped brass and not plastic! + RARE in this condition! Well cared for and stored for the past century! Unlike many SHAKOS , the large-plate U. Crest INSIGNIA (the “Fried Egg”) the BRASS VISOR TRIM , and the CHINSTRAP BUTTONS are GLEAMING! The Brass Insignia shows years of very, very careful polishing with’ Brasso’ — the Eagle surmounting the shield with Athena’s Helmet, has been polished during the cadet’s Plebe year to increase reflectivity. There are ZERO scratches, dents, or corrosion to Athena’s Helmet. This INSIGNIA with the four (4) STEEL WIRE LOOPS and accompanying COTTER PINS is in absolutely PERFECT condition! Particulars of construction and condition. +The antiquity of this particular Shako is evident in two features : (1) The Lacquered CHINSTRAP shows only the typical surface’crazing;’ (2) The patent leather VISOR also shows uniform’crazing’ adding the’patina’ of authentic age, as does the (3) the patent leather CROWN TOP. + The CALFSKIN Top (not Vinyl) is in perfect condition! + ZERO corrosion of bent links to the decorative BRASS CHAIN LINK Chin Strap! The original “hooked connectors” that fasten to the ” CADET/ USMA” CHINSTRAP BUTTONS are present! These Chinstrap Buttons do not unscrew, but are fixed. + ZERO stains or flaws to the interior of the crown’s fine black cotton LINING. + ZERO breaks, tears, or cracks to the supple black LAMBSKIN LINER. It is in an amazing state of preservation! The LINER is intact- with ZERO b rittleness,’crazing,’ or tears to any of the’fingers. + The original 23 black cotton L iner – Adjustment SHOELACE with black METAL TIPS is also present. + The Solid Brass VISOR TRIM (not stitched plastic edging) is still solidly attached, unbent, free of breaks, and shines like a MIRROR! + The Patent Leather CHINSTRAP is INTACT and flexible. It has been photographed in the’rear fixed’ position in the small metal HOOK at the rear-center edge. + The tall black WOOL CROWN retains its PERFECT shape – – ZERO moth damage! ONLY damage, per se, is a spot of residue on the right side from what may be’scotch tape,’ but which does not detract from the piece’s appearance! + No black paper. Is present but my estimate of its size is somewhere between a 6 7/8 and a 7 and reads. + Marked inside on the calfskin liner is the gold-gilt “lozenge-shaped” logos academy’s The Cadet Store. + The contractor did NOT mark the liner on this year’s contract, but in different years marked their products. BAYLY AND SON, INC. OF FINE UNIFORM HEADWEAR. + In their 20-page photo-illustrated trade catalog of 1900 the company described themselves as BAYLY HAT MANUFACTURERS OF FINE SILK AND FUR HATS. + ZERO moth bites or significant damage to the Black Wool exterior! + Both Blackened Copper VENTILATORS are present. + The single ADJUSTMENT TABS/KEEPER for the Chinstrap appears fragile, but is intact. One has broken off. + Black POMPOM (made of SHORN WOOL, and NOT shorn Polyester as are the current Pom Poms), canted forward, is in PERFECT condition and has the highly polished, ornately stamped Brass FERRULE. The copper wire LOOP is unbent. This is a complete West Point U. SHAKO Full Dress Parade Cap!! This is the SHAKO design adopted in 1898 (along with the Insigne with the Academy’s Coat of Arms). The one significant change to the Shako over the past century and a half was to the brass Insigne Plate: The direction Athena’s helmet faced was reversed. In deference to the dictates of Heraldry, her helmet was made to face to the wearer’s RIGHT (facing DEXTER) in 1922, not to the wearer’s LEFT (facing SINISTER)! Affectionately referred to as the ” Tar Bucket, ” this SHAKO shouts Tradition! And displays B EAUTIFULLY! In the mid to late-1920s. The Corps still consisted of two Regiments. The cadets still had to take riding “Horsemanship” in the Riding Hall, long since converted to an academic building now known as Thayer Hall. The last riding class was taught in 1944. The cadets were still issued Stetson “campaign” Hats, 1903 Springfields, and Krag bayonets. The cadets were still assigned to a company for the 4 wears based strictly upon his height. This Corps still had mandatory Chapel attendance. This classes were still was graduated in General Order or Merit.
