Original Item: Only One Available. The United States Army Signal Corps (USASC) is a branch of the United States Army that creates and manages communications and information systems for the command and control of combined arms forces. It was established in 1860, the brainchild of Major Albert J. Myer, and had an important role in the American Civil War. Over its history, it had the initial responsibility for portfolios and new technologies that were eventually transferred to other U.S. government entities. Such responsibilities included military intelligence, weather forecasting, and aviation.
The Signal Corps' role in the Spanish–American War of 1898 and the subsequent Philippine Insurrection was on a grander scale than it had been in the Civil War. In addition to visual signaling, including heliograph, the corps supplied telephone and telegraph wire lines and cable communications, fostered the use of telephones in combat, employed combat photography, and renewed the use of balloons. Shortly after the war, the Signal Corps constructed the Washington-Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System (WAMCATS), also known as the Alaska Communications System (ACS), introducing the first wireless telegraph in the Western Hemisphere.
The Model 1885 Enlisted Infantry Full Dress Coat is made of dark blue wool, with nine buttons sewn in a single column, with only 1 missing. All buttons appear as the correct 1851-1880 enlisted buttons and are marked on the back with HORSTMANN PHILA. The shoulder straps, collar and tail flaps are made of red wool, with white piping along the front of the coat. The shoulder strap and tail flaps have smaller versions of the buttons on the front of the coat, three on the edges of each tail flap.
The jacket is in lovely condition with a great service worn look to it. There is no extensive damage present, but there is minor fraying on the bottom skirt and on the cuffs. The lining is stained but appears without great damage. The inside left pocket still displays a very faint unreadable depot stamp but there is however a name written inside; Ryder Co. E. We have not been able to locate any service information due to how common the name is, but with proper channels and a more in depth research, you might be able to identify this soldier.
This is a great opportunity to add a lovely Model 1885 early Army Signal Corps dress coat to your collections. Comes more than ready for further research and display!
Approximate Measurements
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15”
Chest width: 18”
Waist width: 17"
Hip width: 19”
Front length: 35"
