Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Related Content
Topic
  • Uniforms
  • Recreation
Document Type
  • Artifact
Wars & Conflicts
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials

Syroco Sailor Figurine


sailor wearing white milkman navy uniform toy made of syroco

Title: Syroco Sailor Figurine
Accession #: NHHC 1975-297-A
Circa: 1940's
Size: 6"
Medium: Syroco Wood
Location: Headquarters Artifact Collection, Naval History and Heritage Command

This Syroco wood Navy figurine was typical of the military commemoratives made for the public in the 1940’s. Syroco Wood was a process of blending wood pulp with other casting materials and using a shallow mold to make figurines with a faux wood graining. The process was developed by the Syracuse Ornamental Company in the 1890s, hence the name Syroco.

The figurine is wearing the enlisted Dress White uniform that began in the 1930s. This uniform consists of white trousers, a white jumper with white sailor collar, a dark blue neckerchief, and a white hat. It was worn by enlisted men during the summer while on liberty or special detail. This uniform is still worn today by US Navy enlisted men as the Service Dress White uniform, prescribed for summer wear when Dinner Dress or Full Dress uniforms are not prescribed. The uniform is nicknamed the “milkman” or “Good Humor” uniform for its similarity to the uniforms worn by those civilian professions.

Published: Fri Mar 27 11:00:33 EDT 2020