The infantry bell-top shako was introduced in 1829 and lasted until 1844. It became known as that because the sides curved out from bottom to top like an up-turned bell. The previous 1816 pattern of shako was similar but the sides, initially, did not curve outwards. From 1822 the shape became more bell-like and by 1828 had reached a height of 8 inches. The 1829 version was black beaver, 6 inches high with a sunken lacquered or leather top 11 inches in diameter. There was no gold lace around the top edge as before, but there was one inch of black leather which was repeated around the bottom but slightly narrower. Two leather strips on either side of the cap formed a V shape from the chin-scale bosses. The chin-scales were gilt and attached to gilt bosses displaying the Royal Crest.
From 1829 to 1830 the shako was festooned with gold cap-lines that formed a large braid in front and wound around the cap, ending in ‘racquets’ and tassels. The badge on the front was 6.5ins deep by 5.25ins wide. The Horse Guards Memorandum dated 22 Dec 1828 stated that the star badge from the previous shako was to be incorporated into the design of the new pattern, overlaying it onto a universal gilt star plate. The Royal Regiment had a gilt badge of the collar of St Andrew with battle honours radiating out of it and the crowned cypher of George IV in the centre. This changed slightly in 1830 when William IV’s cypher replaced the reversed GR cypher, and again in 1837 when the VR cypher replaced the reversed WR.
The first pattern cap had a swan feather plume, white over red for battalion companies, changing in 1830 to a hackle plume. The Light Company was ordered to have a green ball tuft. In 1831 the red disappeared from the plume so that it was all white, 8 inches high. But in 1835 the plume was replaced by the white ball tuft as seen in the photo. It was held in place by an ornate gilt holder.
The bell-top shako altered little in the 15 years that it was worn apart from an increase in height in 1842 when it was raised from 6ins to 6.5ins. The chin-scales were, at the same time, changed to a chin-chain and attached to lion’s head bosses.
