It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 2:24 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Uniforms and where to get them
PostPosted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:36 am 
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:05 pm
Posts: 1053
Location: MA
Every so often I see the topic of uniforms come up here so I thought I would share what I have found.

First, the hardest thing to finde tends to be the conductor and or motorman hats and badges. American Railway Supplies provides both. They have the standard black and gold "pill box" hats in winter, summer, and all mesh styles. Their website is here http://www.americanrailwaysupplies.com/index.htm but seems to be dead the flyer I got from them at The Railroad Hobby Show in Springfield MA list pgyorkis (at) gmail (dot) com
Phone 508-509-7860 Fax 508-533-1222

The vest is another thing I see people getting wrong. A lot of the time people will ware vest made to be worn under a suit (these have smooth lining material in the back to reduce friction with the suit coat). For Uniform vest I have had good luck with https://www.sharperuniforms.com/ecovest-vest-mens.html

For ties I use https://www.galls.com/lawpro-breakaway-tie the organization I volunteer for does not want standard ties for safety reasons so these breakaway ties look the part, unlike the dreaded clip-on counterparts.

Pocket Watch, for these I just get the gold-colored option for this
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Loves-Quartz-C ... SwtBdbQts6
and the chain here
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Retro-Antique- ... 4b647e97f3

For ticket punch holders just search for "boston leather punch"

Hope This Helps, I may be adding more later.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Uniforms and where to get them
PostPosted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:56 am 

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm
Posts: 1477
I’ve toyed around with the idea of starting up a company to fill the gap that Transquip left. Think there would be a decent market to buy all the supplies in one place?


By the way Perry Suspenders, made in the USA, are an excellent addition to a railroad uniform.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Uniforms and where to get them
PostPosted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 12:09 pm 

Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:56 pm
Posts: 126
Field and Flower Railroad gifts still sells winter and summer trainman hats made by Keystone Uniform Company.

The usual trainman uniform vests had 6 buttons. I’ve used the Stafford brand of suit vests by JC Penny’s that features them.

How recently did you purchase from Paul Yorkis?


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Uniforms and where to get them
PostPosted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 3:09 pm 

Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 9:06 pm
Posts: 2530
Location: Thomaston & White Plains
Keep in mind that a true railroad-approved watch did not have a "lid". There are other watches available that give a better representation of a railroad pocket watch, if one doesn't want to carry an antique. This one has an excellent railroad dial, just like a classic Hamilton:

https://smile.amazon.com/Gotham-Silver- ... 157&sr=8-5

There are others by this same maker. They are not lever-set watches, the major safety feature that makes a pocket watch a true "railroad watch".

Howard P.

_________________
"I'm a railroad man, not a prophet."


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Uniforms and where to get them
PostPosted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 4:00 pm 

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm
Posts: 1477
Gotham makes a true railroad grade watch don’t they?


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Uniforms and where to get them
PostPosted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 11:51 pm 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 8:51 pm
Posts: 2041
Location: Southern California
Most railroads "back in the day" required that both a coat and a vest be worn together.

_________________
Brian Norden


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Uniforms and where to get them
PostPosted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:09 am 

Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2017 11:43 am
Posts: 54
Crescent-Zephyr wrote:
Gotham makes a true railroad grade watch don’t they?


A review of the Gotham Watch website indicates that Gotham does not offer a "lever set" pocket watch.

https://www.gothamwatch.com/

While they do offer various watches labeled as Railroad watches, most likely the absence of a "lever setting" mechanism suggests that those would not qualify on most railroads (back when railroads had watch standards).


Here is a page that shows examples of various watch 'setting' mechanisms, including a lever style:
http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/how-to/setting.php


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Uniforms and where to get them
PostPosted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 11:31 am 

Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm
Posts: 1477
Ah thanks for that info. I was thinking the “mechanical” watches on their site were true railroad grade. Still an excellent source for authentic looking watches that are in between valuable antiques and cheap Walmart quality.


Offline
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


 Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 143 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: