Harold Steptoe's belt

• Jul 6, 2009

• #1

taggers

New in Town

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Brizzle

Brit posters will know who I mean. Harold Steptoe is an unlikely fashion hero, but I've always wanted his belt: http://images.dailyexpress.co.uk/img/dynamic/10/285x214/14692_1.jpg it's a thick brown leather belt with a brass buckle and fancy brass studs round it.

I've always assumed it was part of his traditional get up for going out with the horse and cart, or perhaps it's for lifting.

Whatever, I want one, any ideas?

 

• Jul 6, 2009

• #2

barra063

Familiar Face

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62

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Australia

I would suggest you find a saddler to make you one from some nice bridle leather.

 

• Jul 6, 2009

• #3

taggers

New in Town

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Brizzle

That's a good point. I imagine that's where a rag and bone man would have got his.

 

• Jul 7, 2009

• #4

Talbot

One Too Many

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1,855

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Melbourne Australia

Just don't east pickled onions in the bath, like his dad!

 

• Jul 10, 2009

• #5

taggers

New in Town

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Brizzle

TOO LATE!

 

• Oct 13, 2009

• #6

H.Johnson

One Too Many

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1,562

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Midlands, UK

Sorry, I'm coming late to this.

I think that the writers of the show (it was 1960s, remember) are implying that Harold had done WW2 service. There was a fashion in WW2 (and WW1 for that matter) among British servicemen (particularly 'attached' units such as RA and RE) of wearing a 1903 issue belt with cap badges fixed to it to 'show off' their service record. I think that is what is going on here, in which case you need a real (they are still fairly common) or reproduction 1903 Pattern leather belt and a small collection of British Army cap badges. I think WPG and SoF do them.

See Mike Chappell's book on British Battledress 1939-1960 for an example of this practice in WW2.

 

• Oct 13, 2009

• #7

BellyTank

I'll Lock Up

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Scandinavia- location, location, location

I hadn't seen this thread.

HJohnson-
I remember a wider, two-pronged belt, adorned with cap badges.
See here:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aGCscuJT1ZU/Ru6BxBuOK5I/AAAAAAAAAAU/uacrwLEEGLs/s320/steptoe_and_son.jpg

and that first pic from the opening post-

http://images.dailyexpress.co.uk/img/dynamic/10/285x214/14692_1.jpg

It may be that the "1903" belt was in the original 1960s series and the one
I remember clearly was from the later, '70s series.
The Harold Steptoe character HAD indeed served in the British Army- reflecting on his situation,
this was ONE of his regrets.

I have a couple of those belts, I may have to do one up.


B
T

 

• Oct 13, 2009

• #8

C

Cobden

Practically Family

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788

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Oxford, UK

These were known as "hate belts", and as Mr Johnson correctly says, were usually a 1903 pattern belt - though sometimes captured German equipment belts were used. The former can be found at What Price Glory (require leather dying and polishing): http://onlinemilitaria.net/shopexd.asp?id=4294&bc=no
and many other reproducers. You might find an original one on ebay fairly cheap, too.

Just attack with a Stanley knife, and add British cap badges. Et voila!

 

• Oct 13, 2009

• #9

H.Johnson

One Too Many

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BT dude,

Your first link appears to show a 'Sam Browne' belt (a misnomer, I know) without the shoulder strap(s).

 

• Oct 13, 2009

• #10

BellyTank

I'll Lock Up

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7,061

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Scandinavia- location, location, location

Yes HJohnson dood, it does appear to be one but I hesitated to call it such.

You know a Miss Nomer, or a Sam Browne, or both?

I don't have enough cap badges and some of them would be silly shapes for putting on a belt. Jellala not bad, though.

Now that you mention it- I saw one of these belts in a militaria/Antique shop in Auckland last time I was there- now that's exciting.


B
T

 

• Oct 13, 2009

• #11

C

Cobden

Practically Family

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788

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Oxford, UK

I don't think it's a Sam Browne (at least, not a British one). It looks too thin, and there are no sword hangers or strappy loopy bits - though I should add the photo is too small for me to be sure. I'd personally say it's probably something they found in the BBC costume department and decided to spice up with badges...

 

• Oct 13, 2009

• #12

BellyTank

I'll Lock Up

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7,061

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Scandinavia- location, location, location

Easy enough to remove the "junk" from a British one, if you really wanted to.
Post war Swedish Army belts look like a Sam Browne but are a plain belt(no junk), with the tricky catch/tab, which fastens to the back of the buckle post, so that the buckle and prongs proper, are only for length adjustment.
Some SB type belts function this way.


B
T

 

• Oct 14, 2009

• #13

H.Johnson

One Too Many

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Midlands, UK

I think we need a better image to be sure. I suspect we are looking at different belts in the different photographs.