Understanding Officer Uniform Codes
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2025 12:29 pm
Decades ago, I had an interview for a job scheduled. I went to JCPenney and purchased a suit. Who made it? I have no idea. It was their store brand. Stafford if I recall correctly. Later in life I did work for a place which made knit goods. JCPenney was one of their customers. The items made for JCPenney were made in colors specific to them. The affixed labels were JCPenney labels; no way to identify the actual maker. This is common in industry. A friend's mother worked for Diamond Tool. They made tools with "Craftsman" marking for Sears.
Another twist on this is where the maker is known. Best Buy sold televisions. Having a "price match" policy, I'm convinced that they had the makers use specific model codes for Best Buy. Those models only existed on televisions sold by Best Buy. Why do that? Price match. "It's not the same model, we can't match that price. It has to be the same model." Convince me I'm wrong...
Standard label on the uniform. Officer's coat. The QM handled the contract but the coats were sold by the Exchange. The Exchange, part of M.W.R., wanted to operate as private industry did. This coat, being early, still has the maker's information. That didn't last long as they wanted codes.
MFR. 348. The maker code for Michaels, Stern & Co.. This wasn't done for the secrecy reasons that the German stuff was coded for; this was done as it's standard industry practice.
Male Officer Uniforms only. Done for the Exchange. Enlisted, and female, items were done by the QM. They didn't use codes.
Another twist on this is where the maker is known. Best Buy sold televisions. Having a "price match" policy, I'm convinced that they had the makers use specific model codes for Best Buy. Those models only existed on televisions sold by Best Buy. Why do that? Price match. "It's not the same model, we can't match that price. It has to be the same model." Convince me I'm wrong...
- 19587-1.png (167.57 KiB) Viewed 1129 times
Standard label on the uniform. Officer's coat. The QM handled the contract but the coats were sold by the Exchange. The Exchange, part of M.W.R., wanted to operate as private industry did. This coat, being early, still has the maker's information. That didn't last long as they wanted codes.
- 19587-2.png (165.66 KiB) Viewed 1129 times
MFR. 348. The maker code for Michaels, Stern & Co.. This wasn't done for the secrecy reasons that the German stuff was coded for; this was done as it's standard industry practice.
Male Officer Uniforms only. Done for the Exchange. Enlisted, and female, items were done by the QM. They didn't use codes.