C013958 BRITISH DISPATCH RIDER'S COAT. A heavy, waterproofed, khaki-colored canvas, full-length motorcyclist or dispatch riders’ coat. Its single-breasted front closure has a rectangular, single-pronged, leather covered buckle on a short tab extending from its left panel at about waist height, with a male snap and a buttonhole to the top of this panel. There is a snap closure flap over the right collarbone, underneath of which is the button which mates with the aforementioned buttonhole, and whose female snap would then mate with the aforementioned male snap to the top of the left panel. A male snap is beneath the flap to the right panel which mates with its female equivalent to the interior of the left panel. A buttonhole is along the edge of the right panel. A hook may be seen where the front closure meets the base of the collar but the mating eye is missing. The lay-down collar has a nickel plated, single-pronged metal buckle, with minor surface spotting, sewn to a short tab under its right side, and a strap with four reddish-brown painted grommets and a retaining loop under its left side. A small brown bakelite button is sewn above both the buckle and strap. The integral shoulder straps are buttoned with similar buttons to each shoulder with the left side button starting to pull loose. An angled patch pocket, for easy access to travel documents, is to the left breast which has a scalloped flap with a single snap closure. Two horizontal slash pockets are to each hip, each with straight-edged flaps with double snap closures. Each of these hip pockets also have triangular brown leather reinforcements to either side of their openings. A belt is sewn to the left hip, which has a single-pronged, leather covered buckle and a retaining loop to one end, and eight adjustment holes to its other, pointed end, four which still retain their grommets, which passes through a retaining loop to the right hip. Six alloy ventilation grommets, painted reddish-brown, are under each armpit. Each of the cuffs are pleated, have 6 1/2" vertical slash openings with a snap closure, and a tab to their bases with a female snap which mates with one of three horizontally arranged male snaps along the cuff. Ten male snap closures are along the bottom rear exterior edge, which mate with female snap closures, five extending from the base along each interior front opening, evidently to draw the coat around the body while driving. A maker’s mark, "G.& I." with a "1943" date, a "broad-arrow" with a "5" below is inkstamped to the middle back a few inches below the collar. Stamped to the left interior of the front opening is a "broad-arrow" with "W", "D" to the sides and "N" and "499" above and below. There are two internal belts, at knee length, each divided into a short tabs with nickel plated, single pronged, metal roller buckles, and straps with six reddish-brown painted grommets. One of the grommets is missing from the left strap. A short tab with a buttonhole is sewn horizontally beneath each of these belts, and two similar buttonholed tabs are sewn vertically along the interior of the base edge and mate with brown bakelite buttons there. Typical age and usage soiling is evident throughout, with some staining to the base of the reverse exterior, some fraying to the edges and wear holes to the fabric over the closure snaps, but there are no tears or repairs.

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