Modified Fed Trousers - Milwaukee Museum

[LibertyHallVols]

Looking for information and/or photos on a pair of modified Fed trousers, I think from the Wisconsin Vets Museum. Trousers had pockets modified from a side-seam entry pocket to a top-entry pocket, similar to WW&Co's Rose contract trousers.

Any help appreciated, including citation of an article reviewing them. I know I have a write-up of them somewhere, but I think it got lost when I moved last year.

Thanks!

[CompanyWag]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

John,

I believe you're referring to a pair of trousers in the Milwaukee Public Museum. I think I have some photos back at my studio that I can post, but I am out of town presently. I know I published one of the photos in the article about altered clothing I wrote for the "Wag" years ago.

Paul McKee

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

I would be interested to learn more about these altered trousers as well! The "slash pocket" trousers I've studied have all been unaltered.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

Paul,
Thanks! I look forward to your information!

Brian,
From memory: a "slash" type pocket was installed on the front of the trouser and the side-seam entry was sewn shut. It appeared that the pocketbag was used "as is" in the trousers. It looked to me like a piece of fabric was set on top, then your typical "sew a box--> cut a slash-->turn to back/press/topstitch" type opening was fashioned to access the existing pocket bag.

If you've ever lost anything out of a side seam pocket at an event, you know the value of such an alteration! I H-A-T-E side-seam pockets! ;-)

[ScottCross]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

John, I will also check my archives (at home) and see if I still have any copies of the 'Wag' issue with the article on altered uniforms. If not, I can photocopy or scan those pages for you. Shoot me a message or I will forget.

[CompanyWag]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

John,

This is the article on altered clothing. The published photo won't tell a lot about the construction inside though. I'll try to find the additional photos tonight.

http://home.centurytel.net/thechinamarines/wag/Field%20Alterations%20of%20Government-Issue%20Clothing.pdf

Paul McKee

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

I am interested in figuring out if the existing pocket back was used and how the pocket is constructed on the inside. If you simply cut through the front of the trouser and front of the pocket bag, you will render the watch pocket useless. Curious if "the old fellows" would have tried to maintain its functionality, or if the sacrifice of the watch pocket was "worth it" in order to have the modified main pocket.

Thank you, gents!

[CompanyWag]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

The Milwaukee Museum example had blue and white striped material for the pocket bags, so presumably the bags were replaced...unless some contract trousers sported pockets made from this material! Good question on the watch pocket's functionality once the modification was made. The photo in the article shows the openings well below the waist band. Do you think perhaps low enough so as not to interfere with the watch pocket? Hopefully the interior shots will reveal more.

Paul McKee

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

The Milwaukee Museum example had blue and white striped material for the pocket bags, so presumably the bags were replaced...unless some contract trousers sported pockets made from this material!

Heck, there are conteens with socks for covers... why note striped pocket linings!? ;-)

[CompanyWag]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

True enough. Point taken!

Paul McKee

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

Here's how a watch pocket bag was installed on the original pair of Conant & Bolles trousers from the Troiani collection. The inside of the pocket bag is slashed above the exterior pocket opening and the watch pocket bag simply pokes out. The original pair of Alvin Rose trousers that I reproduce has a somewhat shorter watch pocket bag that is hidden behind the pocket bag and above the facing top-stitching.

As for the striped "ticking" material, the CRRC 2nd Edition cites an original pair of Anspach & Stanton trousers with ticking fly facings and pockets. The dark green "sealed pattern" U.S. Sharpshooter trousers in the Smithsonian utilize ticking inside however these were never issued or worn and can't really be considered an example; I certainly have never seen another pair of SA produced trousers that used ticking or any other pair in person for that matter.

[CompanyWag]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

Brian,

Can you show the exterior view of that pocket? How much machine sewing is present on these trousers?

Paul McKee

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

Paul, the C&B trousers are 100% hand-sewn inside and out. You can see that the outer edge of the left side pocket had been ripped or distended enough to warrant a field repair of X-shaped stitches. Beyond the pockets other interesting details are the poorly attached sergeant's stripes (they're pieced too), fly buttons attached with parallel lines of stitching, and the waistband lining is sewn to the waistband and turned to the inside (unlike the majority of originals which were over-cast at the top).

[CompanyWag]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

Ok, I've arrived home and was able to retrieve the photos of the trousers in the Milwaukee County Museum without too much effort. The photos are courtesy of Ken Smith and predate digital photography. I would describe the pocket bags as being made from striped hickory cloth. The one photo does confirm the watch pocket is fully functional. The back vent has been closed shut (note the mis-matched yoke pieces) as well as the cuff vents sewn shut. Unfortunately, Ken did not include photos of the trouser side seam just below the waistband to confirm whether the original openings have been sewn shut. The photos may raise more questions than answering them.

Paul McKee

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Modified Fed Trousers - Wis Vets Museum?

Paul,

Wow! Yeah, I definitely have more questions now!

I could be viewing this wrong, but it certainly does look like those pockets are not original to the trousers. In the next-to-last pic, it looks as though you can see that the pocket is not attached to the side seam at all, which makes me believe that whoever modified the trousers probably opened the side seam and completely removed the pocket, then closed it back up and added the new pockets.

I have no idea how that watch pocket is still functioning. It is more that 3" deep, yet the pocket is set less than 3" from the waist band. Unless the watch pocket cannot fully extend down, I really can't tell what's going on with it.

Very cool! Thank you for sharing!!