Crossbelt Questions

[truckie561]

I just picked these up off of eBay. I think these are for a crossbelt, although
I am not completely sure. I'm a relatively newer piper who is constantly looking
to upgrade and expand my kilting accessories & wardrobe (go ahead and ask my
wife...she'll tell ya). I just had a few questions about what 'The Rules' for wearing
a Crossbelt were and I wanted to see if anyone could tell me what the part with
the tassels is for and where it goes in relation to the belt. Obviously, I need
to buy some quality leather to make a belt, so if anyone has any recommendations
I'd appreciate it.
Much Thanks
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[TheOfficialBren]

Perhaps the tassels bit is part of a closure for a sporran?

[Downunder Kilt]

The only time i have seen anything resembling the article in question is on my late fathers and grandfathers masonic aprons. There are usually two on the apron and have seven chains with balls at the end as yours have. Currently one on ebay http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Antike-Fr...item4abd742de0

[Bigkahuna]

The only reason I know of for wearing a crossbelt, is to carry a sword or a drum.

[Cygnus]

The only reason I know of for wearing a crossbelt, is to carry a sword or a drum.

Crossbelts are often part of full parade dress for pipers (as well as drummers) whether or not a sword is being worn.

The Regimental Drum Majors Association Dress Manual is a pretty handy reference for solo musicians and bands aiming for a proper uniform.

As to the tasseled bit pictured above, I haven't the foggiest idea what purpose it might serve, though it and the other hardware look to be pretty high quality and rather attractive to boot. Nice find!

[OC Richard]

I don't think that tasseled thing is part of the same thing, is it? I've seen hundreds, thousands, of crossbelts and never seen that.

Here are some being worn. No swords! No drums! Just a part of traditional Highland Dress.



As for leather, you could send the hardware (the buckle, tip, and keeper, not the tassel thingy) to L&M Highland Outfitters and they would do a spectacular (though not inexpensive) job of mounting in on a crossbelt in whatever colour leather you wish.

What I did for my vintage crossbelt hardware was to buy a crossbelt from that place in Ireland that sells crossbelts on Ebay all the time. Very nice quality for a reasonable price. I can't think the name of the firm just now.

Be warned that nearly all the crossbelts being sold on Ebay and at various Highland Games are made in India or Pakistan. Actually the leather portion isn't too bad and the price is very low, so you could buy such a crossbelt and switch out the hardware.

Here's a thread I started a while back with several vintage crossbelt photos

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...buckles-77377/

Here's one of the photos, the same time period as yours, back in the Victorian period when they made such things out of sheet metal.



Usually there would be a tongue on the buckle like this

[truckie561]

OC Richard, we can always count on you for some great photos. I'm not sure if the tassled part is part of the same collection, but it has very similar engraving work as the other pieces, which led me to believe that they all went together. I'll take a look on eBay and see if I can find the dealer out of Ireland and just swap out hardware. We're not a competing band and we don't wear doublets, so the only time this accessory might see some use is for Firefighter or Police funerals and weddings. I like the idea of sending it off to L&M to have the work done, but I just can't justify the cost.

DownUnder Kilt, the Masonic apron idea deffinitely looks like it can be a strong possibility.

Thanks everybody for the replies, I do appreciate it. If I ever uncover the mystery as to what that piece is for I'll post it on here.