Dark navy blue cotton dust style coat which has been waterproofed. It is single breasted with a turn down collar and fastens with five plastic buttons and hidden fly. There are two large pockets at waist level with flaps and a small internal pocket in the centre front hidden fly. There are ventilation holes under the arms. It has taped seams and has been constructed in layers glued together with a waterproof centre - this is now stiffened and is creating knife edge creases.
General Post Office
Tan cotton drill workwear dust coat for the General Post Office. Fastens with four black plastic buttons embossed with 'GPO' and a crown. On the left chest there is a rectangular narrow pen pocket with two eyelet holes above.
Country of Design: United Kingdom
Country of Manufacture: England
Keywords: The coat was used by indoor postal staff to keep the letter and bag dust off their uniforms.
General Post Office
British Railways black double breasted wool coat with grey and black herringbone wool tweed lining. The coat fastens centre front with six silver coloured shank metal buttons with 'British Railways' embossed on the front around the image of a spoked wheel and with the back mark 'Buttons Limited Birmingham' on the reverse. It has black leather cuffs.
Country of Design: United Kingdom
Country of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Keywords: Railway uniform, civil uniform, work wear, protective clothing, cold weather wear
British Railways
Dark navy blue wool duffle coat which fastens with four wooden toggles and loops. 'GPO' is stitched in red machine embroidery onto dark navy wool patches which are sewn onto each collar front. The toggles are attached with cream cotton cord cords down the right side of the front of the coat. The loops are made of the same cream cotton cord. It has two large patch pockets to lower front. Adjustable strap with button fastening to lower sleeve. Unlined. Size 3.
Country of Design: United Kingdom
Country of Manufacture: England
Keywords: Civil uniform, post office uniform, postal services
General Post Office
Long black wool double breasted coat with turn down colllar and two pockets with flaps at the waist. It has a back vent and is lined in black nylon mesh fabric. It fastens at the front with six buttons and three buttonholes. The plastic buttons have the British Rail double arrow logo design embossed.
Country of Design: United Kingdom
Keywords: Uniform, civil uniform, railway
British Rail
Double breasted greatcoat in heavy black wool. It has a large turn down collar and fastens down the front with ten matched pairs of buttons (five fasten with buttonholes). The large black shank buttons are moulded with 'C D' under the King's Crown. It has a double metal hook and eye fastening at the neck and a storm collar fixing. There are epaulettes on each shoulder which fasten with two smaller black shank C D buttons with crowns and two flapped pockets at the hips. On each outside upper arm are curved black wool badges -flashes - with 'HEADQUARTERS & SIGNALS' embroidered in yellow thread. The back waist has a half belt attached with two large black shank C D buttons with crowns and a deep centre vent. It is lined in dark blue wool. Interior labels with War Department date stamps with letter A. Army Size 8 - for height five foot, ten inches.
Country of Design: Great Britain
Country of Manufacture: Great Britain
CWS Ltd
Black wool duffle coat with fluorescent orange yoke in the style of a donkey jacket. There is a strip of silver reflective fabric on each side of the front yoke and around each cuff. The centre front closes with four wooden toggles attached with black rope. The back of the coat has NCB printed in black letters, which has been coloured over with black pen. Underneath the letters is a strip of silver reflective fabric. The coat has a one piece hood, which is unlined with an over locked seam. The front has a square patch pocket with notched corners. The full body of the jacket is cut from a single piece of fabric, seamed at the shoulder.
Country of Design: United Kingdom
Country of Manufacture: United Kingdom
National Coal Board
Black wool duffle coat with neon/flourescent orange shoulder panels and cuffs made of coated cotton. There is a square black wool badge printed in white with the ICI circular logo stitched onto left chest. It fastens with three wooden toggles and navy cord at the centre front. The orange panels run over the shoulders to the cover the back yoke and are top stitched with black thread. The coat is not finished to a high standard - the inside seams are left raw at the neck. It has two large front patch pockets and neck tabs with button fastenings.
George Key (Rugeley) Ltd
Double breasted greatcoat in a heavy, navy blue wool. Coat has peak lapels, each with a decorative buttonhole. A popper under each lapel enables them to be held in place. Coat is front fastening and has four buttons on either side of the opening. The coat buttons up using three of these buttons on the right side which fasten through buttonholes on the left. The brass buttons [dark, slightly tarnished] are domed, shank buttons with a stylised plant design embellished on them. Either side of the waist are jetted pockets with flaps. At the reverse of the coat there is a half belt running horizontally across the back at waist level. There is a centre seam that runs the length of the back of the coat, becoming a vent 45.5cm up from the hem. The coat is lined in a black satin pocket. There is a large, breast pocket on the inside right of the coat. There is a smaller pocket on the inner left side, level with the second button hole [which was perhaps for a pocket watch]. A chain on the inner collar of the coat enables it to be easily hung on a hook.
Simpson & Son Ltd
Raincoat in a black PVC fabric, Coat has a high neck and is front fastening via five poppers. A strap fastens across the neck of the coat for additional security. Large, angled welted pockets are found at either side of the waist. There is no vent at the reverse of the coat.
Swedish Armed Forces
