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Uniform Accessories
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No uniform is complete without the proper accessories, and Postal Service™ uniforms are no exception. At different points in its history, numerous badges, buttons, hats, and stars have adorned the uniform.
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More in Postal History
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Read more about uniform accessories in Postal Service™ history.
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Badges
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Numbered badges to be worn on the hat, cap, or helmet were first prescribed for letter carriers in the 1887 Postal Laws and Regulations. As with other variable uniform features, such as the style of jacket or color of shirt, while the exact style worn varied from city to city, all of the carriers within a city were to wear the same style.
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Buttons
Specifications for buttons on postal uniforms were very precise starting with Postmaster General Alexander W. Randall's order of October 31, 1868, describing the first official uniform for letter carriers, which stipulated that the uniform coat have "five brass buttons with the design of the seal of this Department," that the vest have "seven oval brass buttons (vest size) with the letters P.O. on the face," and that the cap have "small size buttons at the sides of the same material and design, as those of the vest . . ."
The 1893 Postal Laws and Regulations introduced a new coat button style: in lieu of the post rider, the buttons could feature "a letter carrier in uniform with mail bag on shoulder and letter in uplifted hand." Both images appeared above the initials "P.O.D." The 1893 regulations also changed the vest buttons to read "P.O.D." instead of "P.O."
In September 1942, due to a war-time metal shortage, it was ordered that uniform buttons be made out of bluish-gray plastic or another non-metallic material rather than previously specified brass. By 1955, only brass buttons were allowed again.
In 1970, buttons were redesigned to feature the central figure of the seal of the newly-created United States Postal Service — an eagle and bars framing the trademark "U.S. Mail."
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Stars
In 1897, regulations authorized the use of stripes on the coat sleeve to recognize long service — one stripe for every five years. In 1899, stars replaced the stripes with black, red, silver, and gold stars indicating various years of service.
In 1913, 45 years after uniforms were first authorized, postal regulations specified that forty-five years of service were to be designated by three gold stars.
In 1955, when uniform trim changed from black to maroon, the black stars were changed to maroon.
In the 1970s, the maroon stars changed to dark blue, to match new uniform trim.
In 1988, the Employee & Labor Relations Manual specified that only silver and gold stars be worn — one silver star for every five years of service up to 30 years and one gold star for every five years of service beginning at 35. This remained in effect through 2002.
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Whistles
Initially carriers hand-delivered mail to city customers. To alert customers that they had mail, carriers would knock or ring at doors, or whistle. In an 1899 issue of The Postal Record, an Ohio carrier reported
"Since our present postmaster took charge of the office we have employed the use of whistles on our routes, and find it an excellent thing, and a saving to us daily of at least half an hour."
By 1912, new customers were required to provide mail slots or receptacles, and existing customers were encouraged to do the same. But in 1914 it was estimated that no more than half of city delivery addresses had mail slots or receptacles and that some carriers still spent up to one hour each day waiting at doors.
A 1935 instruction manual, Supervision of City Delivery Service, stated that carriers were "not required to carry whistles, but must ring the door bell when placing mail in a slot or receptacle for occupants of residences or apartments."
The 1945 edition of Supervision of City Delivery Service made no mention of whistling or ringing door bells.
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Bags
Photographs of letter carriers from the late 19th century show them carrying the mail in leather satchels similar to those issued through 1973.
In August 1973, due to the scarcity and high price of leather, the Postal Service announced that when the existing stock of leather satchels was depleted, it would be replaced with canvas satchels.
In October 1997, a double satchel was introduced to more evenly distribute weight. The double satchel was designed to prevent shoulder, back, and neck strain, but its use has remained optional. As of 2002, many carriers prefer the traditional single satchel.
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Caps
In 1868 the Postmaster General listed a cap as the letter carrier's uniform headgear. In 1873, panama hats were authorized for summer. In 1887, numbered badges were added to the carriers' headwear, and helmets were approved for use. By 1901, a western-style hat appeared, with a stiff crown and wide brim.
From 1902 through 1948, postal regulations listed the hat, cap, or helmet as acceptable carrier headwear, and uniform manufacturers advertised many variations in headgear style. Although carriers at each Post Office were to dress uniformly, photographs indicate that this was not always enforced.
In 1955, only the helmet and cap were listed as acceptable headgear.
Beginning in 1960, the Postal Manual listed the following additions to the line-up: detachable parka hood (1960), fur cap (1962), cap for women (1962), mesh cap (1964), beret (1966), and pillbox cap (1969). In 1970, a face mask in cold weather was permitted. The WAVE cap for female carriers was introduced in 1979.
As of December 1972, headgear no longer was mandatory. Since 1982, numbered badges have not been required on headgear.
In 1982, a baseball-style cap became available to letter carriers. A knit watch cap with an attached face mask was added to the letter carrier uniform in 1986, and the sun visor was added in 1991.
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