Costs at Merchant navy outfitters

[James Curry]

In another post there was a mention of uniforms and uniform out fitters.

Not to many left, S M Bass & Miller Rayner, Greenbergs still trading but do not carry MN Uniforms as stock items.

Just looking at some of the prices for this and that. One thing did jump out was an all white 100% Cotton Boiler Suit £38.50
I wonder can you still get made to measure from Jackie Taylor in Hong Kong

Last time I had a new set of full blues was for a naming ceremony for a jont venture with CLISCO & BP on a new LNG Carrier Dapeng Moon.
They supplied , there was more Gold Braid on that thing than on the Admiral of the fleet RN
When I retired it ended up in a charity shop here. About two years ago I went to an amateur dramatic society play in the local civic centre in Heswall.
There it was on stage, they were doing their take on The Navy Lark. I got talking to the fella wearing it at the Bar after the show. Yes that was my uniform, he bought it from the Charity shop. I have donated other bits and pieces to the societies wardrobe.

[John Arton]

Greenbergs supplied all my uniform gear when I first went to sea.
Later woods the tailers were my go to shop in shields for uniform stuff, long gone now.
Just had a quick look on the internet and miller Rayner and s m bass are still on the go.
A uniform jacket in wool or Barathea runs to around £240 not including epaulette.
Most of the suppliers seem to be internet based.
Rgds
J.A

[j.sabourn]

Think the old doeskin has seen its day , but was the in thing for those into uniforms. When I was with Whitco Marine a subsidary of Salens they supplied everybody on ship with grey uniforms 2 pairs long pants 2 pairs shorts ditto with shirts and socks 1 pair steel toed shoes and a heavy parka. No cap that I saw . Their own braid. They expected you to wear it as they supplied it free gratis. In place of a reefer jacket a jerkin…cheers JS…..
And of course the wooly pully. One perk with them one could travel on their ferries for a fiver, and Cathy Pacific if used them got a chunk of money off the air fare. As they were one of the leading share holders if not THE leading one. JS .

[Tony Taylor]

Think the old doeskin has seen its day , but was the in thing for those into uniforms. When I was with Whitco Marine a subsidary of Salens they supplied everybody on ship with grey uniforms 2 pairs long pants 2 pairs shorts ditto with shirts and socks 1 pair steel toed shoes and a heavy parka. No cap that I saw . Their own braid. They expected you to wear it as they supplied it free gratis. In place of a reefer jacket a jerkin…cheers JS…..
And of course the wooly pully. One perk with them one could travel on their ferries for a fiver, and Cathy Pacific if used them got a chunk of money off the air fare. As they were one of the leading share holders if not THE leading one. JS .

My first uniform was doeskin and was given to me by a friend of one of my uncles. It lasted me for many years, was very durable and warm in cold weather.

[J Gowers]

When I went to sea (1974) it was Paisley's in Glasgow where you went for your uniforms, I was advised by some of the journeymen I served my time with to get a second hand uniform in case I did not like the MN. So I went 'West End misfits', I kid you not that was the name of the shop, I do not remember the price but I think I only wore the jacket once. A year later I was on a containership running to the USA and I bought a couple of sets of kaki trousers and shirts, from Sears, and used these as a uniform for many years good hard wearing and permapress never needed to iron them if you dried them in a tumble dryer. In Denholms I saw guys in all sorts of uniforms grey, white and kaki no one seemd to mind as long as you look smart and as an engineer I only used the uniform for a few hours a day to go for meals. Do they wear uniforms nowadays in the MN? on real ships I am talking about not the floating blocks of flats.

[j.sabourn]

I served with Naval Party 1007 , 1978 - 1982, and during that period all naval personnel on visits abroad the likes of Europe and the Mediterranean ports on courtesy visits were advised not to go ashore in naval rig , this was in case they became a terrorist target. Needless to say however if they had any wish to go ashore in full rig they would of had to shave off beards and moustaches which were not in the regulations as per Admiralty , and which most sported as were under MN command on vessel. The first thing to go when joining the vessel as permanent logistics crew was exchanging their blue boiler suits for Orange ones , on any visits by senior Naval officers was always a mad scramble to regain their blue ones and looking for a razor blade. In general ship uniform for vessel all hands and the cooks were black shoes , black trousers, navy blue wooly pully , Cheers JS

[j.sabourn]

#4 The biggest drawback to doeskin I found Tony was that the material was very liable to collect dust and other muck from bulk cargoes such as grain ,iron ore, phosphates , and myriads of others like cement etc. it was a poseurs material for ceremony’s and not for a working ship. light Serge or Murton cloth was more practical or maybe a large French letter pulled over the head with eyepieces cut out. ? Maybe ok for saloon use and then back into a boiler suit would then retain its sheen. As someone already said the days of the likes of Woods naval outfitters are gone as has the words when being measured “ what side do you dress Sir ?”, never heard an honest man say “ in the middle please “ . Often wondered if made any difference being right or left handed. Cheers JS

[j.sabourn]

#6 Anyone wanting to know about Naval Party 1007 and many others over the years , just google Naval Party. JS

[Rodney Mills]

The Ship's Cook and Carpenter were classified as Petty Officers in the M.N. I'm just curious, is there a P. O. uniform in the Merch? If so, can you describe it or show a photo of it.

Cheers, Rodney

[j.sabourn]

#9 just Google British Merchant Navy Uniform Rodney. Have just googled myself so haven’t gone right through it , but judging by some of the pictures have my doubts to the authenticity of some which noted and that was the cap badge which showed the Bombay Basher which was a vain copy but enlarged to the size of the RN badge which I doubt was ever passed as the legal badge of the MN. However others more inclined to the historical past of the British MN may be more up on the truth of the matter. I do however stand by the officers braid which is standard , and the diamond represents that a certificate to carry the rank is owned by the wearer, this law is broken all the time especially by small river passenger boats and ferry’s and their wearers showing them under false pretentions , there must be a fine somewhere but probably too miniscule to claim . Cheers JS .