Floppy hats in WSS

[maciek]

I started this topic to discuss the apperance of WSS troops, especially their hats.

Anhalt,
to post pics on this forum, you must firts post it somwhere in the web (at flickr or photobucket), then link it to your message.
Another option is to attach it to your post using "Additional options" - in the bottom-left of your message window.

[Anhalt74]

Maciek,

Thanks. It is attached.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[maciek]

Yeeeeesss  Indeed, no tricorns ...
Thanks, Anhalt.

[Chad]

I also remember seeing an illustration of Prussians at Turin. Again no tricornes.
Chad

[Jubilation T Cornpone]

Thats what I like about this forum. Its possible to share an opposing view in a civilized manner without getting shot down! Very interesting information. I for one also assumed tricornes were wholesale part and parcel of WSS.

[Hertsblue]

Surely a tricorn was just a floppy hat with the edges pinned up? Seems entirely reasonable that in hot weather you might let them down again. 

[Gandalf]

Surely a tricorn was just a floppy hat with the edges pinned up? Seems entirely reasonable that in hot weather you might let them down again. 

I was beginning to wonder if I was the only other person who held this view

[Chad]

I think it was the other way round. As far as I know in late 17C the floppy hat was turned up in a variety of ways and then became formalised as a tricorne later. I think the tricorne may have been made as such as it became the norm. Just my view, but could be totally wrong.

Chad

[maciek]

I've chcecked carefully all my book about WSS uniforms, an they all state that somewhere around 1703-1705 the general change occured from floppy hats to tricornes.
It could be a very sharp change, without any intermediate periods - simply, the officers could order their men to shape their hats into tricorns. The very next day, all the army down to the youngest drummer could wear tricorns.
So I'll do my WSS troops in tricornes.

[Anhalt74]

Maciek,

Would you be so kind as to list your books on WSS uniforms, and do these books cite any sources to support their claim? My experience over the years has been that opinion is often confused with fact. As I said originally, you can have your figures in any uniform you wish. Your statement, "simply, the officers could order their men to shape their hats into tricorns. The very next day, all the army down to the youngest drummer could wear tricorns." is, I might say overly simplimistic,, but that seems to be the order of the day.

[maciek]

Anhalt,

I've got whole collection of C.A. Sapherson booklets and Uniformology CDs by Kuhn, translated by P. Condray .
I must admit, that sources are not always cited, but sometimes there is some evidence:
- Sapherson in "Danish Army" as well as Dan Shorr states that about 1703, the change of headgear into tricornes were completed.
This site http://www.arkeliet.net/uniforms/dk_uni_1699_1712_2.htm shows one of very rare graphic depiction of Danes in WSS - a stucco in Rosenborg castle.

It shows Danish landmilitia before 1706. All soldiers wear tricornes.

In Austrian Army booklet by Kuhn, some BW line drawings are inserted, taken from original documents, e.g "Exercitium" for count Wallis regiment. Although drawings show wide variety of uniforms (open coats with waistbelt on camisol, closed coat but without waistbelt, or two crossbelts) all soldiers wear tricornes.

I dont argue, that all soldiers and during whole war wore tricornes. I only think that tricornes were predominant and my figures will be done in tricornes to differ them from LoA period.

BTW. Discussing on Pendraken forum is always big pleasure for me.