CIRCA 1899-1902, INDIAN WARS, SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, ARTIFICER, MECHANIC, ARMBAND, BRASSARD, ARTILLERY, VINTAGE
This is an original Indian War Period U.S. Army, Artillery, Artificer, Mechanic, Brassard. Worn on the upper sleeve of the soldier's uniform coat, this piece is one of the distinctive enlisted insignias of the Indian War, Spanish American War periods. The combination of Dark Blue and Red wool creates an attractive piece and makes for a nice addition to your collection. A complete unissued, unused brassard with no damage or moth holes. This piece originates from an established collection of Indian War period Chevrons. This piece was removed from the collectors display and shows evidence of paper/glue. The patterns were cut by hand with a steel die that was hit over the wool with a hammer. In many cases, the soldier would cut out the crossed hammers and sew it onto their uniform to reduce their time sewing. There was no reaction to ultraviolet light. We will be listing more original U.S. Army Indian War Chevrons from this collection as time permits.
The name "artificer" means one who works with arms and weapons. The U.S War Department created this rank as a result of the Spanish American War. Infantrymen who wore the crossed hammers were known as artificers while their Infantry counterparts were mechanics and artificers. The Field Artillery soldiers were called artificers and their Coast Artillery counterparts were called mechanics.