Images(4)

Shako

Object number2016.90.2 a-c

Datec. 1954

OriginWest Germany

MediumPatent leather; Metal; Leather; Paint; Feathers

Credit LineGift of James Capone

DescriptionMarching band uniform shako with feather plume and chinstrap.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (a-c): 20.5 × 8.25 × 9.25 in. (52.1 × 21 × 23.5 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (a): 6.125 × 7.875 × 9.25 in. (15.6 × 20 × 23.5 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (b): 13 × 7 × 4.25 in. (33 × 17.8 × 10.8 cm)
Length x Width x Depth (c): 17.875 × 0.938 × 0.5 in. (45.4 × 2.4 × 1.3 cm)
InscriptionsHandwritten black number "2" at back of helmet liner.

Red vinyl label inside crown has white number "2".
Historical NotesPittsburgh Rockets Senior Drum and Bugle Corp shako cap. The cap was first used in 1954 and were originally West German police helmets. Pennsylvania Governor David Lawrence helped import the helmets from a contact he had in Germany. The Pittsburgh Rockets were one of many drum and bugle corps in the Pittsburgh region in the mid-20th century. The Homewood American Legion Post 351 sponsored and funded the Rockets. The donor’s grandfather, Florindo “Pete” Capone, a member of the Homewood American Legion helped raise the money to start the Corp. His sons Carmen, Joseph (donor’s father), and Valentino were all members of the Corp. It was organized in 1947, first marched in 1948, and all members were veterans of WWII. Many members of the Corp were Italian as Homewood was a primarily Italian neighborhood in th late 1940s. As the neighborhood changed, the Corp also became more diverse. The donor’s father Joseph Capone taught business at Westinghouse High School and recruited some of his students to march. The Corp was active until 1973. The last few years the Corp separated from the Legion and was a bit nomadic until there final disbanding.

Related institution Pittsburgh Rockets Drum and Bugle Corps

Related institution Homewood American Legion Post 351

Related person David Leo Lawrence

Related person Florindo Capone

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