Known for Quality Historical Men's Military Uniforms and Civilian Clothing Reproductions- Since 1975
Frequently Asked Questions: (click on the questions to see the answers)How to Navigate this Web siteHow do I use the shopping cart?Do I have to use a credit card to order with the shopping cart?Why do you charge my credit card right away for custom orders? Can I order from outside of the USA?Can I just come to the Quartermaster Shop to shop?Why do I have to fill out a measurement chart?Can I order an "off the rack" size, without filling out a measurement chart?How long will it take for my order to be shipped?Can you RUSH my custom order?How do I know if my order is a custom or stock item?What happens if I want to change my order?How should my reproduction Trousers fit?How should my reproduction Sack coat fit?How should my reproduction Frockcoat or Shelljacket fit?How should my reproduction Period Shirt fit?How should my reproduction Greatcoat fit?How should my Kepi or Forage cap fit?What happens if my CUSTOM garment doesn't fit the way I expect it to?How do I return a stock item?Can I wash my reproduction uniform?How often should I take my reproduction uniform to the dry cleaners?How should I "age" my new uniforms to look more "battle hardened"?How much do I add for shipping and handling?Do I have to pay sales tax?Can I pay for my order with a personal check?Which Credit Cards are accepted?Do you offer Club Discounts?Can I come to the factory to order my clothing?Do you hand stitch any garments?Why are the uniforms priced without the buttons sewn on?Do the wool colors ever change or fade?What about a very "one of a kind" custom uniform?Do you make uniforms that are not listed in your catalog or shown on the web site?Where are the uniforms made?I have seen the same pictures of your clothing on other Web Sites- Why?
How to Navigate this Web site:By clicking on the hyperlinks shown in the Navigation Bar on the left side of each page (see top of this page), you will be whisked to a overview Menu Page showing all the different garments available for the category you are interested in. By clicking on the small (thumbnail) picture of any item on any Menu Page, you will be taken to the Order Page where all the details of that particular item are explained. Most pictures on this web site can be enlarged by clicking on the picture itself. To obtain a price quotation or to order an item, click on your choice from the various choices listed in each different choice box in the order section of the page. When you have the item detailed as you wish, click the "Add to Cart" button. The details of the garment you have configured will be displayed and the price calculated and shown to you on a "Shopping Cart Contents" page. This will give you a price quotation only. By clicking on the "Purchase for $...." button at the bottom of the Shopping Cart Contents page the order is submitted to us. This system, called a "Shopping Cart", lets you order each item directly from the page you are looking at. Please double check all the details you have chosen before sending the order to us. Incorrect choices can be quite disappointing when you receive the item! Items listed in the gold bar above are hyperlinks that will take you to other areas of interest on this web site. Thanks for visiting and Enjoy!
Can I order from outside of the USA?In most cases we do accept international orders, although we do reserve the right to refuse any international orders. Please DO NOT expect immediate delivery. We do our best to accommodate your requests, but we are not responsible for items after they have left our factory. Please double check everything about your order including the address that you supply us with BEFORE submitting your order. Every package will be insured, but items may sit in Customs or ports for a longer than expected time. Unfortunately these are the drawbacks of ordering from foreign companies that you will have to accept. Please be patient. If you are unable to accept these terms, we will understand if you decide to order from elsewhere.
Can I just come to the Quartermaster Shop to shop?
Our address is the address to our factory, we do not have a storefront staffed by sales persons. We are all cutting and sewing uniforms. Our seamstresses our highly trained to sew, but they are not trained in sales. If you would like to visit, we are happy to accommodate, but PLEASE! call ahead in advance to schedule an appointment. That way you will get the attention and service that you deserve. Walk-in customers are sometimes disappointed after a long drive. Don't be disappointed! Please call in advance and schedule a time that we can spend with you one-on-one! Thank you!
Why do I have to fill out a measurement chart?
Most people would prefer to just tell us their modern day sizes and skip the time involved with taking accurate measurements. We understand this- your time is valuable. However, if you've tried on different coats or trousers at any Men's Store recently, you know that the cut and fit of modern day clothing sizes vary from one maker to the next. Generic sizes are not cut the same across the clothing industry! Now throw in another consideration- authentic style reproduction historical clothing is cut using a completely different grading system- the Victorian system. So accurate historical garments are not designed to fit the same way as modern clothing right from the start! We have found that using just the modern day garment sizes will usually work for slender individuals who are ordering the common type of "in-stock" garments, such as US Sackcoats, Trousers, Vest and Greatcoats. If a person falls into the "generous" sizes category (larger than 44), we are much more able to help fit them correctly if we have measurements to compare with. Measurements take the "guess work" out of fitting clothing and eliminate the costly "exchange process" with in stock garments. The exchange process can take about 10 to 14 days, provided the new size is in stock, plus the re-shipping costs. So, we have found the time involved in taking measurements pays off substantially for the customer by getting the correct size the first time! As a guide line, we have found that, in most cases, by going up one size in historical clothing over your modern day clothing, you will obtain a somewhat similar fit.
Can I order a standard "off the rack" size, without filling out a measurement chart?
On stock items- YES! However, it is best to complete a measurement chart so that we can advise the correct size for proper fit on any garment ordered. If a garment from stock is too large or too small, the customer may return the garment, but is required to pay additional charges (usually about $8) to re-ship the new size. The garment you are returning for an exchange or refund must be in unused and unworn condition. This does not mean worn, dried cleaned or laundered and then returned. Plus, if the new garment falls into the Big and Tall Men's category, additional charges are due for the larger size.
How long will it take for my order to be shipped?Items paid for with a credit card that are IN STOCK, can ship out the next business day (international orders excluded). Items not in stock are custom made and usually take about 6 to 8 weeks to deliver, depending on the complexity. Any order not shipped out the next business day is confirmed with an e-mail reply telling the expected delivery date. UPS Next Day Air, Second Day Air, and Three Day Select are also available at extra cost. We will also ship US Mail or Fed-Ex upon your request. If you provide us with your e-mail address, UPS will notify you with the UPS tracking number when the package leaves our dock. We are firmly committed to dependable service here at the Quartermaster Shop. This means that when we say we will have your order to you a certain date, it will be there! We do not mind a customer calling us to check the status of an order if the promised delivery date is getting near. We do ask that customers limit repeated calls to check on an order, as this takes a lot of time for us that is better spent sewing garments.
Why do you charge my credit card right away for custom orders instead of waiting until you ship my order?When you order an item from us that is custom, it is going to be made just for you! Custom orders use your measurements and your specifications. Because of this, it is necessary for us to secure payment in order to pay for the fabric and labor that is going to be used to make your custom garment. When we charge your credit card for your custom garment, it is guaranteeing that you will receive your suit of clothes in a timely manner, and we will also be assured that we will be paid for the time and effort that we put into making your garment a one of a kind original just for you!
[back to top]Instructions for using the shopping cart......Find the web page of the item you are interested in. After reading the information in the text box, click on one of the various choices in each of the detail boxes shown in the ordering section. Click the "add to cart" button. The shopping cart appears showing the item that you have added. Please read and double check the details of the item you have added. If you wish to add more items, choose the "Continue Shopping Button" or hit the your browser "Back" button. When you have added all the items you want, scroll to the bottom of the cart to choose the Method of Shipping you want. Choose "Secure Online Credit Card Transaction", or "Credit Card Transaction Via Telephone", or "Check or Money Order" . Click on the button that says "Purchase for $_____" The next window will appear; please fill in your shipping and billing address. Click the "enter" button at the end of the page. If you chose "Secure Online Credit Card Transaction", the next page is the secure form for you to type your credit card number and expiration date. Please double check for accuracy. Click the "authorization payment" button. The order form and your credit card information will then be e-mailed to us. If you chose "Credit Card Transaction via telephone", we will receive a copy of your order and will wait for you to call us with a credit card number and expiration date. Sorry, we are unable to begin processing your order until we have a method of payment. If you chose "Check or Money Order", we will receive a copy of your order and will wait for you to send us your payment. You then print the order and mail it to us with your check or money order. Sorry, we are unable to begin processing your order until we have received your payment. If you send a money order, your order is processed immediately. If you pay with a personal check, we will have to wait for the check to clear your bank, which could slow the order process. Please Note: You will usually get an e-mail confirmation of your on line shopping cart order the next business day. All orders are confirmed via e-mail. If we have any questions or correspondence, we will contact you via e-mail. Please check your e-mail for any correspondence from us. If you have a spam filter- Please check your Junk Mail Filter, or add our e-mail address to your address book. We cannot be held responsible for any correspondence that you do not receive due to spam filters or incorrectly typed e-mail addresses. Do I have to use a credit card to order with the shopping cart?No, not at all! After you put all the items you wish to order in the shopping cart, at the very bottom is a drop down arrow that asks for the method of payment. Click on that arrow and you will find "Pay by check or money order." When you choose that option, your order is electronically sent to us, and also sent to you via email. You then print the order and mail it to us with your check or money order. You should also print a copy for your records. We will confirm your order upon receiving it in the mail. If you send a money order , your order is processed immediately. If you pay with a personal check, we will have to wait for the check to clear the bank, which could slow the order process.
How do I know if my order is a custom or stock item?On each individual garment page of the web site, a message says "IN STOCK" or "This garment is custom made..."- usually in red type. Occasionally, our stock garments may be "out-of-stock" and will need to be made for a particular order. So, we ask that customers order early allowing time should the garment they are interested in be "out-of-stock". What happens if I want to change my order?It is extremely important that you are VERY SURE about what you want when you place your order. If you are not sure, please don't order until you are. We pride our company on processing orders as quickly as possible. If an item is in stock, it will usually go out that same day or the day after the items are ordered. Custom orders can be changed BEFORE the items have been cut, but it is very likely you will be charged a "Change Order Fee" of $25.00 at the time of the order change. This may seem like a lot of money for a 30 second phone call, but after we hang up from that call, a considerable amount of extra time has to be put in to that order that wasn't anticipated with the original order. Here's what the $25.00 cost covers: re-charging or crediting your credit card. changing the specifications of the item (extra paperwork) reprinting the custom order production tickets, finding the original order in the production schedule, replacing obsolete tickets with the new production tickets. And, insuring that everything is made the way you specified. We do appreciate your business very much. Please assist us in getting your order done in the most timely and efficient manner by knowing exactly what it is that you want at the time you place your order. What happens if my custom garment doesn't fit the way I expect it to?If you have already read the sections pertaining to correct fit of each garment, and you still feel there is a problem, please call to discuss your concern. Usually you will be asked to send the item back and to re-take and fill out a new measurement chart. If we have made a mistake, we will correct or replace the item. If the mistake was due to incorrect measurements (or "no" measurements) being supplied, in some cases, alterations can be made to a garment to make it fit a little better. Alterations are priced "by the hour" at a reasonable rate, depending on the work involved. All fitting problems must be addressed within TWO WEEKS of receiving your garment. If we should have to replace a panel or section, you will be assured of the closest color match in fabric. Please note, we are not responsible for clothing that has been shrunk in the laundering or dry cleaning process. Fitting problems can almost always be avoided if correct measurements are supplied with the order. Under no circumstances will we alter a garment that has already been altered by another firm or person. How do I return a stock item?Exchanges can be made on stock items for other sizes or even other garments, provided the garment hasn't been worn or laundered. Fill out the enclosed return and exchange form that came with your order. Customers will be charged for the re-shipping costs of the new garment. Please ship the package back to us by UPS or other service. Remember to insure the package for the correct value. For a return only, if items returned have to be re-packaged, re-priced, or re-pressed, items could be subject to a re-stocking fee depending on the time taken to ready items for re-sale. You will receive the amount refunded less shipping charges paid. How should my reproduction Trousers fit?1860 period trousers were worn higher on the waist than today's trousers- usually just above the belly button. They should be quite loose and baggy in the seat and thigh area. A good rule of thumb for proper fit is: At the waist: The trousers should easily button in front. Without "sucking in" your stomach, both your hands (palms flat) should easily slide in the waistband against your stomach. The fly area should not "pull open". The seat area should not pull tightly across the hips. If the side seam pockets "gap" open, it means the trousers are too tight in the seat or hip area. If any of these happen, you need the next size up. How should my reproduction Sackcoat fit?The proper fit for a Sackcoat is loose and baggy. It is considered "work clothing" and should be loose enough to allow movement without looking like a "gunny" sack on you. If it's tight anywhere, it should be returned for the next larger size. How should my reproduction Frockcoat or Shelljacket fit?Both of these garments should fit loose enough to be comfortable, but still fit nicely. In other words- snugger than a sackcoat. The proper sleeve length at the cuff is about 1" above the first set of hand knuckles (or the crotch of the thumb.) The chest, shoulder, neck and waist areas should be loose enough to allow movement. Loose is always better than tight. These wool garments will shrink some with perspiration, dry cleaning and rain storms. So, they will always get smaller, never bigger. Decide if the coat or jacket fits you according to these guidelines. How should my reproduction Period Shirt fit?Our cotton shirts are patterned from an original 1850-60 shirt. The sleeves are called "drop shoulder pattern" because the shoulder seam falls about 3" off your natural shoulder. Sleeves are full and should be "blousy" at the cuffs. Cuffs should extend to about 2" above the first set of hand knuckles. Shirts are 100% cotton and will shrink some with repeated washings. Loose is always better than tight. How should my reproduction Greatcoat fit?Our Greatcoats are cut on the generous side. This is so you can order the same size greatcoat as the jacket you wear and the greatcoat will be large enough to fit over any coat you are wearing. Sleeves should come almost to the first set of hand knuckles. The skirt should extend about 4" below your knee cap.
How should my Kepi or Forage cap fit?Tight enough to stay on your head in a wind storm, but loose enough to avoid getting a headache. A cap that is too loose can always be made a little tighter by inserting a small strip of cardboard under the sweatband. Plus the caps do shrink a little bit- they never get any bigger. Can I wash my reproduction uniform?
Not Recommended! Even hand washing weakens the wool fibers causing the garment to shrink and weaken- thus taking years off of the life expectancy.
How often should I take my reproduction uniform to the dry cleaners?
Normally we recommend about once a year- at the end of the season. This way the garments are clean in your closet and won't permeate the rest of your clothing with a year of campfire smoke. Be sure to tell the Dry Cleaner to "Dry Clean Only- No Steam". If they steam the garments, this will cause undue shrinkage of the wool. Always remove any gold embroidery that can be easily removed when taking a garment to the cleaners- such as officer shoulder boards, knots, or Epaulettes. If these trim items are not removed, chemicals the dry cleaners use will tarnish the gold quite badly.
How should I "age" my new uniform to look older?By wearing them! We highly discourage "aging" with any formula other than "time". We sometimes get this question AFTER a customer has tried some concoction to make his new uniform look like he's been in the field for 3 years. Homemade concoctions can chemically react with the chemicals in the dyes, and cause the "set" of the color to be lost and eventually washed out of the wool- thus ruining the garment.
How much do I add for Shipping and Handling?
If ordering from our printed catalog, most people leave the shipping box blank on the order form and tell us what method of UPS shipping they prefer. This allows us to charge the correct amount for the shipping service a customer is requesting. Be sure and specify any UPS shipping method other than UPS Ground that you want. Available in most cases: Next Day Air (most expensive), Second Day Air (still quite expensive); and 3 Day Select-(not too bad).
Do I have to pay sales tax?
If the order/sale originates in Michigan, we must charge you the current Michigan sales tax, unless you have a Tax Exempt number that you can furnish us with. We then will mail the correct forms for you to fill out and return to us.
Can I pay for my order with a personal check?Orders paid with a personal check must be held until the check clears your bank. Credit Cards, a Bank or Postal Money Order, or Traveler's Checks allow us to ship immediately as available.
Which Credit Cards are accepted?
Master Card, VISA, American Express and Discover cards are accepted.
Do you offer Club discounts?No, we don't. We have priced our uniforms as low as possible so everyone can get the lowest possible price. Can you RUSH my custom order?In some cases we offer a RUSH service on custom made garments for additional charge. If it's possible to work your order into our schedule early, we will make and ship your custom order in 4 weeks! (We cannot guarantee international orders for 4 week delivery) The rush fee is 25% of the custom garment and covers the overtime wages we must pay to have a cutter and seamstress come in on "overtime" to make the order. Please select the "Delivery Option" choice while ordering your garments. It is located on almost every item on the web site. If it is not available on a certain garment, please let us know at time of order if you would be interested in this service. Can I come to the factory to order my clothing?Yes! We are happy to have customers come to get measured and place their orders here in our shop. We ask that you call several days in advance and make an appointment that is beneficial for both you and our tailor/salesman. Showing up without an appointment, you might find us closed or unable to have anyone available to take your measurements, etc. Do you do any hand sewing of garments?All of our garments are machine sewn. On a few of the garments, some of the trim items must be hand stitched on. With the exception of buttonholes, many garments were completely machine sewn during the Civil War and after. Machine sewn buttonholes are standard on all our garments. We do offer hand stitched button holes if desired by the customer. Price is $7.00 per buttonhole. We also offer an instruction sheet for customers who may wish to try this feature themselves. We can leave button holes and top stitching off a custom garment so that the customer may hand stitch where he pleases. Ask for the "Hand Stitched Button Hole instruction sheet" when you order!
Why are the uniforms priced without the buttons sewn on?We have found that a customers sometimes have their own buttons and prefer to get a more tailored fit by sewing the buttons on themselves. For a snug fit, buttons can be placed farther from the edge of the coat. A loose fit has the buttons sewn closer to the edge. Plus, most customers seem to prefer saving some money by doing some of the easier things that can make a quality garment less expensive. When we are requested to sew on the buttons, we place them in the most typical location. Do the wool colors ever change or fade?
As a rule, wool and wooljean colors stay pretty close from dye lot to dye lot. However, if it is important to you that all your uniform items match exactly, they should be ordered all at the same time and specify "color match" for each order. Most wool colors will fade somewhat over time- especially those that contain any blue dye. The ultraviolet rays of the sun break down the chemicals in blue dye- causing it to lighten, or fade, in color- sometimes even giving a somewhat "purplish" cast. What about a very one of a kind custom uniform?Yes, we are always happy to try to accommodate these also. Complete photographs and details are required to quote a price. Delivery is usually longer than 8 weeks given the extra details. Do you make uniforms that are not listed in your catalog or web site?Yes! We acknowledge there were many different versions of garments made, even by the same depot. With proper documentation we can accommodate most revision requests. Depending on the complexity, there can be an additional charge for this service. Where are these uniforms made?Every one of the garments pictured on our web site and in our catalog are made right here in our shop by US citizens. When you purchase a Quartermaster Shop garment, you can be proud that it is MADE IN THE USA! You might like to click on our Shop Tour to see how things work at the Quartermaster Shop. Some gold trim items and some buttons are imported from overseas. Recently, we have discovered that some of our American fabric suppliers that we have used for years have discontinued their fabric making operations in the USA and gone to importing fabric from overseas. This is disheartening to us, since we have tried to support American firms and workers for the last 30 years. Unfortunately, this seems to be the way of the future. I have seen the same pictures of clothing on your web site as on other Sutlers' Web Sites- Why?
Along with supplying Re enactors and Skirmishers, Historical Associations, Forts, Museums and Movie Production Companies, we also supply uniforms to a few Sutlers who travel to events throughout the year. We have given them permission to use our pictures since they are selling our garments. All garment pictures on our web site are of garments we have made here in our sewing shop. The pictures have been taken by us, with the exception of the images on the Showcase. The showcase images have been sent to us by our customers and feature them wearing our clothing. Unfortunately, there are some webmasters who have chosen to take our copy righted pictures without permission. We understand that copying is said to be a very sincere form of flattery. The question that comes to mind is... Why wouldn't they want to show you a picture of their clothing on their web site? A note of caution ... Seeing our Uniform pictures on someone's web site does not necessarily mean you will get a Quartermaster Shop made garment. If you would like to know how to tell if you have received an Authentic Quartermaster Shop made garment- call us! 1-810-367-6702.
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