A photo of the musician and the ordinary army infantry RIA

All the musicians, buglers and trumpeters of the old Russian army was worn on dress uniform contrast, once borrowed in Prussia – the shoulder pads (so-called "swallow's nest") applied colors, trimmed with braid around the perimeter and diagonally. By contrast, the so-called chorus of musicians, i.e. musicians of the regimental orchestra (choir) from signalised, buglers and trumpeters served as a non-commissioned officer's braid on the collar and cuffs of his uniform, worn by them even in those cases, if they are not consisted in the non-commissioned officer ranks. Such insignia is the soldier on the left. Judging by the colors of uniforms (white edging and the collar of one uniform color), both characters serve in the third regiment infantry division (white valves on the collar was abolished in 1912). Straps – light blue assigned to the regiments of the second brigade. The scene, unfortunately, is unknown, unreadable encryption. The great advantage of the subject are the inscriptions on the back: address (photo greeting was sent to Ivanovo-Voznesensk, Vladimir province) and extremely heartfelt appeal to the addressee – the worker of a textile factory Marya Novikova. The postmark is preserved date – December 21, 1913, from which we can conclude that both characters serve at least a year. Postcard format. Recommended!