Open Forum

Good afternoon wonderful museum colleagues!

We have a new WW1 exhibit up, and as I'm brainstorming programs, I'm contemplating purchasing a WW1 replica uniform and gear. Are there reputable companies that you have experience with? Companies definitely to avoid? Please point me to a few to compare!

Thank you!

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Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Programming and Education Coordinator
Penn State All-Sports Museum
University Park PA 16802
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I'm something of a WWI person myself as both my grandfathers participated. My maternal grandfather volunteered with the American Ambulance Field Service (SSU 15) and my paternal grandfather trained at Plattsburgh and was a lieutenant in the Yankee Division, seeing action and a number of famous battles.

I have a few suggestions.

Have you contact the American Field Service, 71 West 23rd Street, 6th floor, NY NY 10010? (212-807-8686). Nicole Milano is the head archivist and they have amazing stuff. nicole.milano@afs.org.

Again, on the ambulance front, George King III is the head of the Ambulance 255 project. They actually rebuilt an authentic Ford Model T ambulance of the sort that my Pop would have driven. George is based in Connecticut. Here's a link to an AFS article about the project. http://www.afsusa.org/about-afs/news/article/?article_id=6379  

Their website, such as it is:https://ambulance255.org/history

George's email isgking3@rcn.com and his phone is1-860-642-7103.

I imagine I don't need to mention the WWI museum in KC? https://www.theworldwar.org/

And if you are looking for an idea for the younger set, consider thinking about poppies.  "In Flanders' fields the poppies blow..." by John McRae, of course. Did you see what London did on that motif? Again, I am sure you did. http://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/tower-of-london-remembers/#gs.3GSiyik

Finally, I see you are at the Penn State All-Sport Museum. My Pop, the ambulance driver, included mention of a lot of sports, especially soccer, in his diaries. And, of course, there is the legend of the Christmas Truce soccer games of 1914 and 1915.  So glad to hear about this exhibition. Good luck!

Ellen

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Ellen Cutler
Adjunct Professor
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-26-2017 11:54 AM
From: Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Subject: WW1 Replica Uniforms and gear

Good afternoon wonderful museum colleagues!

We have a new WW1 exhibit up, and as I'm brainstorming programs, I'm contemplating purchasing a WW1 replica uniform and gear. Are there reputable companies that you have experience with? Companies definitely to avoid? Please point me to a few to compare!

Thank you!

------------------------------
Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Programming and Education Coordinator
Penn State All-Sports Museum
University Park PA 16802
------------------------------

If you are looking for basic AEF WWI uniform and equipment, I would recommend the following:

What Price Glory - .

Great War Militaria

Man the Line WWI

Most of the material offered by What Price Glory and Man the Line will be made overseas, but of good quality that will work well for exhibit.

Great War Militaria, which focuses on clothing, is custom made in Pennsylvania and is of higher quality, but you have less choices in terms of sizes and delivery times.  The do a lot of work for Army museums.

Hope this helps with your exhibit preparation.




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Greg Goodell
Museum Curator
Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg, PA 17325
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-26-2017 11:54 AM
From: Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Subject: WW1 Replica Uniforms and gear

Good afternoon wonderful museum colleagues!

We have a new WW1 exhibit up, and as I'm brainstorming programs, I'm contemplating purchasing a WW1 replica uniform and gear. Are there reputable companies that you have experience with? Companies definitely to avoid? Please point me to a few to compare!

Thank you!

------------------------------
Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Programming and Education Coordinator
Penn State All-Sports Museum
University Park PA 16802
------------------------------

For the best repro Marine Corps uniforms contact theUnited States Marine Corps Historical Company (Uniform Packages - United States Marine Corps Historical Company or by phone at (301) 662-3141); they provide authentic replicas for Marine Corps units for the Birthday Ball and we have purchased a number of items to use on our cast figures in the Museum. 

Good luck and happy hunting!

- Carrie

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Carrie Bowers
Museum Specialist
National Museum of the Marine Corps
Triangle VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-26-2017 11:54 AM
From: Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Subject: WW1 Replica Uniforms and gear

Good afternoon wonderful museum colleagues!

We have a new WW1 exhibit up, and as I'm brainstorming programs, I'm contemplating purchasing a WW1 replica uniform and gear. Are there reputable companies that you have experience with? Companies definitely to avoid? Please point me to a few to compare!

Thank you!

------------------------------
Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Programming and Education Coordinator
Penn State All-Sports Museum
University Park PA 16802
------------------------------

Aimee,

I would suggest contacting the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg for advice. They will surely be able to help you. Their website is here: https://www.pamilmuseum.org/Home.

Hope this helps.

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Martha Katz-Hyman
Williamsburg VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-26-2017 11:54 AM
From: Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Subject: WW1 Replica Uniforms and gear

Good afternoon wonderful museum colleagues!

We have a new WW1 exhibit up, and as I'm brainstorming programs, I'm contemplating purchasing a WW1 replica uniform and gear. Are there reputable companies that you have experience with? Companies definitely to avoid? Please point me to a few to compare!

Thank you!

------------------------------
Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Programming and Education Coordinator
Penn State All-Sports Museum
University Park PA 16802
------------------------------

There have been many comments on several good dealers in clothing.  I'd like to add my two cents' worth, but from a different perspective: that of the re-enactor.

The folks that I use for my uniforms for the Great War is Mike's Militaria.

Mike's Militaria
Again, this is just my opinion.  I don't gain anything by recommending them.  But, coming from somebody who actually uses the product, theirs is topnotch for the price and topnotch for the accuracy.

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Robert Ratliff
Director, History Fanatics
Houston TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-26-2017 11:54 AM
From: Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Subject: WW1 Replica Uniforms and gear

Good afternoon wonderful museum colleagues!

We have a new WW1 exhibit up, and as I'm brainstorming programs, I'm contemplating purchasing a WW1 replica uniform and gear. Are there reputable companies that you have experience with? Companies definitely to avoid? Please point me to a few to compare!

Thank you!

------------------------------
Aimee Brown-Shadduck
Programming and Education Coordinator
Penn State All-Sports Museum
University Park PA 16802
------------------------------