u.s. lifesaving service life saving

u.s. lifesaving service station history

ARTICLE VII

UNIFORM

Sec. 264.

Keepers and surfmen will provide themselves with the uniform prescribed below and wear it as herein after directed.

Sec. 265.

All crews are required to present a neat and proper appearance. Keepers will enforce discipline in this respect. Keepers and surfmen will wear their uniforms at all times when on duty.

Sec. 266.

Keepers will direct at the breakfast table what uniform is to be worn that day, and no deviation will be permitted without his authority. Any dereliction must be promptly reported to the assistant inspector, or if there be none, to the district superintendent.

Sec. 267.

When on leave the uniform may be worn or not, but in no case shall portions of the uniform be worn with citizens’ clothes. The working suits will be worn at boat and apparatus drill, except on unusual occasions when the keeper or inspecting officer may direct differently. Sec. 268.

Trousers rolled up or tucked into boots other than hip rubber boots is positively forbidden.

Sec. 269.

A blank order for clothing to which is attached a form for measurement will be furnished by the keeper. When an order for uniform or any part of it is to be given, this blank should be carefully filled up and forwarded without delay to the assistant inspector of the district who will examine it, return it for correction, if necessary, and when complete forward it, together with others from the same station, to the manufacturers, with instructions fir shipment. Keepers will see that the members of their crews comply with the above instructions.

Sec. 270.

When the manufacturers have completed the clothing they will ship it as directed by the assistant inspector and send a bill therefore to the superintendent of the district. The superintendent in paying the men for the quarter in which the clothing is received, will see that each man pays for the articles ordered by him, in accordance with the terms of the order. To effect this there may be drawn to the order of each employee two checks, one for the amount to be paid for the clothing ordered by him, the other for the remainder of the sum due him. The superintendent will see that the first check is properly indorsed by the employee in favor of the manufacturers. When all payments at a station are made, the superintendent will send these checks with the bill to the manufacturers, thus settling the account.

Sec. 271.

With the approval of the assistant inspector, or in his absence, of the district superintendent, as to the quality and pattern of any of the articles herein permitted or required to be worn, a keeper or a surfman may purchase or obtain the same upon his own account without restriction as to price, place of purchase, or terms of payment.

Sec. 272.

All articles of uniform must conform to the standard as to pattern and quality. They maybe procured or any manufacturer, there being no restriction as to the place of purchase. The overcoat and winter service cap need not be purchased unless desired; but if either is worn it must be the one prescribed. If the men already have suitable oil-clothing it may be altered and marked to con­form to the regulations.

UNIFORM FOR KEEPERS.

Sec. 273.

1. Coat--To be of dark indigo-blue kersey or flannel, sack pattern, double-breasted, rolling collar; five large regulation gilt buttons on each side, the top buttons placed close to the collar, the lower ones about 6 inches from the bottom, and the others regularly spaced between. The bottom of the coat should not extend below the second joint of the thumb when the arms hang naturally by the side. There will be two inside breast pockets, and two outside pockets, without flaps, at the hips. Cuffs to be plain, with two small regulation gilt buttons on outside seam. All buttons to be attached with rings.

2. Vest--To be of same material, single-breasted, without collar, with three pockets, and seven small regulation gilt buttons equally spaced from within 4 inches of the shirt-collar button to within 1 inch of the lower edge of the vest. Buttons to be attached with rings.

3. Trousers--To be of same material, cut in the prevailing style.

4. Overcoat--To be of heavy dark navy-blue cloth, pea­jacket pattern, lined with dark-gray repellent. The bottom of the skirt must reach the tips of the fingers when the arms hang naturally by the side. To be double-breasted, buttoning to the neck, with narrow rolling collar. To have live large-size gilt buttons on each breast, the lower ones placed on a line with the Opening of the horizontal pocket, the others equally spaced up to the collar. There will be an outside pocket in each breast with opening up and down, the lower part of the opening to be on a level with the elbow, and in front, on each side below the line of the waist, there will be a horizontal pocket with fiat cover. The over­coat will be worn completely buttoned.

5. Cap--To be of dark-blue cloth, top 3/4 inch larger in diameter than the base, the quarters to he so shaped that the height in front will not be less than 14 inches nor more than 2 inches, and behind not less than 1 inch nor more than 14 inches, respectively. The band will be 14 inches wide, formed of stout pasteboard, with a welt 1/8 inch in diameter at top and bottom. The visor will be of black patent-leather, its under side green, greatest width 2 inches, rounded, to slope downward from base of cap at an angle not to exceed 20 degrees. On the front of the band there will be worn an ornament embroidered in gold, consisting of a life buoy (inside diameter 3/4 inch, outside diameter 1 1/4 inches), crossed and interlocked with an oar and a boat hook, each 2 inches long. Above the device there will be embroidered, also in gold, the letters "U. S." and below it "L. S. S." The cap will also have a chin strap, made of a double loop of gold cord 4 inch in diameter, looped at each side over a small regulation gilt button.

6. Buttons--the buttons used on the keeper’s uniform are to be gilt, convex, and of two sizes; larger size 4 inch, smaller size 1 inch in diameter. They are to have a device similar to that on the cap. 7. Suits--Keepers may provide themselves with suits like those hereafter described for surfmen should they so desire.

8. Storm hat--to be of southwester pattern, painted black, a device like that on the cap to be painted in white on the front

UNIFORM FOR SURFMEN.

Sec. 274.

1. Coat--To be of dark indigo-blue kersey or flannel, single-breasted, straight front sack, rolling collar, and lapels to close to within 4 inches of neck, with four medium-sized plain black buttons, the front and back of coat to descend to top of inseam of trousers.

2. From the point where the collar and shoulder seams meet a plait 2 inches wide, descending through the center of each forepart, and also in the back through the center of each half back, to bottom of coat.

3. A belt of same material as garment, 2-1/2 inches wide and double-stitched on the edges, confined at the waist line by passing through and under the four plaits, the loose ends being closed by two small black buttons. One inside breast and two outside hand pockets.

4. Upon the right sleeve of the coat, midway between the shoulder and the elbow, will be placed the emblem of the Life-Saving Service (the life-buoy, oar, and boat hook), and in a corresponding position upon the left sleeve the number of the surfman will appear.

5. The emblem and the number will be of white silk or linen, embroidered upon a square of dark-blue cloth. The buoy of the emblem will have an outer diameter of 2-1/4 inches. The number will be 2-1/4 inches in height. In placing these devices upon the sleeves the stitches will be placed through the edges of the cloth; not "overhanded."

6. Trousers--Same as for keepers.

7. Cap--to be of dark-blue cloth, the same as for keepers, except that the ornament and chin strap will be omitted, and around lower part of crown there will be a black silk ribbon 1-1/2 inches wide, with" U. S. LIFE-SAVING SERVICE" printed thereon in gold block letters 7/8 inch in height.

8. For summer wear the cap may be made of white linen drilling with same ribbon.

9. Overcoat--To be the same as for the keepers, except that it will have large, plain, black buttons.

10.Jumper--To be of unbleached cotton duck, extending 2 to 3 inches below the hip. Collar of the same material, seaman pattern. Sleeves open, without cuffs, and large enough to fit easy.

11.Overalls--To be of same material as jumper, loosely cut, fastened at the waist with a drawstring, to have a large pocket in front of right leg and two buttons on the flap.

12.Canvas hat--To be of strong cotton drilling with single-ply round top in four pieces, stitched, and taped inside; three-ply rolling brim quilted, sweat band of same material as hat.

13.Storm suit--Coat and trousers of brown rubber cloth or unbleached cotton duck treated with linseed oil; the coat to have an inscription in black on the breast similar to that on the storm hat in letters 14 inches in height, so arranged as to be distinctly read when the coat is buttoned.

14. Uniform hat--To be of southwester pattern, like that for keepers, painted black, with inscription in front show­ing the name of the station and the letters "L. S. S.," arranged as follows:

This inscription will be painted in white block letters 3/4 inch in height.

15. Winter service cap-- A dark-blue knitted cap (Have­lock), with crescent-shaped visor 2 inches deep at center, the crown 44 to 5 inches deep, with a band of the same material 3 inches deep, that may be rolled down over the ears; visor and edges of rolling band to be bound with black silk braid, and the two ends of the band to be con­fined in front, above the visor, by a double bowknot of the same braid; small puffball finish at the apex.

source: Regulations for the Government of the Life-Saving Service of the United States, 1899, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1899.