The Ohio State University Marching Band - Uniforms - 1988 Remodel

1988 Remodel

In 1988, Dr. Jon Woods commissioned the newest form of OSUMB uniform. The Fechheimer Bros. also constructed these uniforms. Everything visible was changed to some extent. These uniforms debuted for the homecoming game in 1989. The list of changes is as follows:

• Hat: The hat now comes from the Bayly Co. and resembles the U.S. military hat to an extent. The top of the hat is still Navy Blue, but the hat band became red with silver piping instead of the dark blue pattern material seen on US Air Force hat bands. The chin strap was created out of the same silver cloth material. The Eagle Ohio was cleaned up and created out of more metal to make the eagle more easily withstand the rigors of OSUMB maneuvers. For the first time the hat also came with a built in plume socket. Before this all plumes had to be attached directly behind the Eagle Ohio, which caused wear and tear on the front fabric of the hat.
• Beret: The band uses military-style red berets, worn in the way that the U.S. Army wears their berets. Instead of a U.S. military black shield, they feature a Diamond Ohio.
• Jacket: The jackets were restyled to be more friendly to rugged marching, while still keeping the appearance of the military style. The changes included thicker material and extension slots behind the shoulders which allowed for greater arm movement in the uniform. The patches were enlarged slightly, but still contained the same designs as the original patches from the 1950s. A diagonal red stripe with silver edging was placed on the outer half of the jacket sleeves. The shoulder straps on the uniform were now sewn down, with fake buttons placed for image. The sewn shoulder straps were stronger than the buttoned-down shoulder straps, and designed as such because the demands of the OSUMB marching style put stress on them and caused buttons to pop off.
• Cross Belts: Because of the redesigned shoulder straps, the cross belts also needed to be redesigned. The original style were of one piece construction that were adjustable at the waist plate and by adjusting bars on the shoulder loops. The shoulder straps unbutton, the pre-crossed belts slide under them, and the straps are buttoned again. The current cross belts are still one piece, but the shoulder loops button onto the front waist belt section so that the shoulder loop can be passed through the sewn-down shoulder straps.
• Trousers: The trousers were marching band-style pants, which, when properly worn, button and zip up roughly around the midsection of the abdomen instead of the waist. The pants have either button or zipper expansion/contraction capabilities on the side seams for the waist area. The pants are able to be worn using three different means of support: belt, button suspenders, or tab suspenders.
• Spats: The spats are still of the vinyl type.
• Shoes: The shoes are recommended to be Bates patent leather shoes, as these are the same shoes used by all of the U.S. military branches.

During the 1990s, the Fechheimer Bros. left the business of marching band uniforms and the Fruhauf Company took over. The Fruhauf uniforms were of slightly different styling, going back to button-down shoulder straps and removing the expansion panels behind the shoulders. From a distance there was no difference between the two styles, so the Fruhauf uniforms were purchased as needed to replace retired Fechheimer uniforms.