Here's an interesting eBay find- Thoughts?

[artificer]

http://cgi.ebay.com/1800s-Complete-S...item33676ffe86

I would say that this doesn't appear to be a military uniform, despite the belt (which looks like it's been blancoed). There doesn't appear to be any standard militaria on the jacket (rank indicators, etc).

I'm not in the market for museum pieces, so bid away ;)

[MacLowlife]

I am voting Highland Dancer, myself...And,while I suspect it is pretty old, I would imagine more like mid-20th century.

I look forward to hearing from some folk familiar with older clothing construction, etc.

[Cherub]

I also note that there is no Sporran included...

not really that complete an outfit.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

First off, the tunic isn't felt, it's doe skin and it appears to be lined with silk; doe skin is the superfine wool used to make officer's tunics in the British army, and it is frightfully expensize. My guess is that the tunic (and associated leather gear) was made for the drum major of a pipe band sometime between 1890 and 1939 and in all likelihood dates to just before WWI.

[OC Richard]

I agree that it's probably for a civilian Drum Major or Highland Dancer.

But some regiments had their musicians in white wool doublets- not the members of the Pipes & Drums, but members of the Military Band, and/or Buglers. (White wool, not to be confused with the white cotton drill temperate doublets.)

Here are some members of the 78th Highlanders in 1867. Note the white doublet.



It's a tough call many times, because oftentimes the same tailor made doublets for the Army and for civilians, the firm of Thomas Gordon being a prime example. So you might have two absolutely identical doublets made by the same tailor, one military, one civilian. The only difference would be the buttons. Buttons can be replaced though, and I once had an antique mililtary Drummer's doublet (with full Crown lace) which had had half the original military buttons replaced with diamond civilian buttons.

To add to the potential confusion, military piper's doublets often have different buttons than the rest of the regiment, for example the regiment may have round brass buttons bearing the regimental crest but the pipers square silver buttons with some other design.

About badges of rank, it's common for mililtary doublets to have none, such being the doublets of privates.