Exeter Corporation Tramways
History
Exeter Corporation officially took over the privately owned and operated Exeter Tramways on the 1st February 1904. Although photos of the horse tramway taken prior to this date are very rare, a surprising number appear to have been taken during the relatively short period of municipal operation, up until electrification (circa 14 months later in early April 1905). These photos clearly show that staff were issued with smart new uniforms — in stark contrast to the policy of the previous owner/operator — whose uniform expenditure only appears to have stretched to the issuing of kepi-style caps to conductors (see link).
Corporation horse tram drivers and conductors were issued with double-breasted, 'lancer-style' tunics with two rows of five buttons, presumably brass and bearing the full title and corporation device (see link), and with upright collars; photos suggest that some kind of insignia was carried on the latter, very possibly the initials and employee numbers seen in photos from the electric era (see later). Caps were in a kepi style with a steeply inclined glossy peak, but now bore a large municipal coat of arms badge, almost certainly the same as the brass example depicted below. Staff were also issued with long double-breasted greatcoats; these appear to have carried some form of badge on the epaulettes, very probably an employee number.
Photos taken on the opening day of electric services show staff wearing double-breasted, 'lancer-style' tunics with two rows of five buttons, two waist pockets, epaulettes (with button fastening) and upright collars. The latter carried an employee number in individual numerals on the left-hand side and individual metal initials 'E C T' on the right, all presumably in brass. Caps were initially in a kepi style, but were soon changed to a military type with a tensioned crown (top), with the same prominent municipal cap badge. At some point, probably just after the Great War, a new style of single-breasted jacket was introduced with five buttons, waist and breast pockets, epaulettes and upright collars; the latter continued to carry the same designations as the earlier tunics. Photos frequently show crews with both styles of uniform, suggesting that their introduction was a gradual process.
At the very end of the tramway era, another change of uniform was made, this time to a more modern double-breasted jacket with two rows of three buttons and lapels; the latter carried the same designations as were worn on the upright collars of the older uniforms. These new uniforms very probably bore chrome insignia and buttons, as Exeter Corporation Tramways buttons exist in this material, despite the fact that chromium plating only came into vogue in the very late 1920s (see link), and was expensive — somewhat surprising given that the system was closed in 1931.
Inspectors in the municipal horse tramway-era probably wore single-breasted jackets with lapels, shirt and tie (photos are unclear), along with long double-breasted overcoats with lapels. In contrast to the tramcar crews, caps were in a military-style with a glossy peak, though still with the same Exeter coat of arms cap badge. A staff photo taken after the demise of the tramway (see below) shows that inspectors wore very similar jackets to the bus crews, but with Inspector in embroidered script-lettering on the collars in place of the usual system initials and employee number. Caps were military in style with tensioned crown, and continued to carry the standard municipal cap badge.
Female staff were employed during the Great War as conductresses, to replace male staff lost to the armed services; unfortunately, no photographs of these ladies appear to have survived, so it is currently impossible to state what uniforms they wore.
Further reading
For a history of Exeter's horse tramway, see: 'Exeter: a Century of Public Transport' by R C Sambourne; Glasney Press (1976). For a pictorial history of Exeter's tramways, see: Exeter and Taunton Tramways' by J Perkin; Middleton Press (1994).
Images
Horse tram drivers and conductors
A rather battered Exeter Tramways Horsecar No 4 outside Polsloe Park Post Office in the municipal era — photo undated, but certainly taken in 1904 or early 1905. The prominent municipal cap badge is clearly evident on the driver (left), inspector (centre) and conductor (right). Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society, with thanks to David Voice.
Exeter Corporation Tramways cap badge — brass. With thanks to John Burford.
Exeter Tramways Horse Car No 3 in Heavitree Rd — photo tentatively dated 1905, but definitely taken in the corporation-era. The larger figure to the right is presumably an inspector, and in all probability, the same individual depicted in the photo of Horsecar No 4 above. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society, with thanks to David Voice.
Motormen and conductors
A photo taken on the opening day of electric services — Tuesday 4th April 1905 — with Mayor E C Perry at the controls. The man on the left (who is presumably a motorman) is wearing exactly the same style uniform as the crews who worked the now defunct horsecars. The figure next to him is in all probability an inspector, as all other photos from this period show that conductors and motormen wore 'lancer-style' tunics. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society, with thanks to David Voice.
An excellent studio portrait of Exeter Corporation Tramways Employee No 26 — photo undated, but probably taken prior to the Great War. The collar designations and the cap badge are particularly clear. Photo courtesy of the Stephen Howarth Collection.
Another studio portrait of an ECT tramwayman, this time Employee No 23 — photo undated, but probably taken shortly before the Great War. Photo courtesy of the Stephen Howarth Collection.
A motorman and conductor pose with Tramcar No 10 in Alphington Rd — photo undated, but almost certainly taken shortly before the Great War. Both men are wearing double-breasted, 'lancer-style' tunics, as well as white rain covers on their caps, indicating that it was summer.
A lovely studio portrait of Exeter Corporation Tramways conductor Gilbert Easterbrooke — photo probably taken around 1920. Mr Easterbrooke started as a tram conductor, later became a motorman, then worked on the buses, initially as one of the first corporation drivers, and finally retiring as an inspector. Photograph by kind permission of his daughter, Margaret Batten.
A blow-up of the above photo showing the cap badge and collar insignia, revealing that Mr Easterbrooke was Employee No 57.
A conductor and motorman stand in front of Tramcar No 30 at the Stone Lane terminus — photo undated, but definitely taken after 1925 as No 30 was not built until then. Both men are wearing single-breasted jackets with epaulettes.
A conductor leans casually against Tramcar No 20's headlamp, along with a fitter and a no doubt rather excited schoolboy, inside Heavitree depot — photo undated, but probably taken in the mid-to-late 1920s. With thanks to the National Tramway Museum. 
Another shot of Gilbert Easterbrooke (right), this time as a motorman, along with his conductor and Tramcar No 24 — photo undated, but almost certainly taken in the very late 1920s or early 1930s. Photograph by kind permission of his daughter, Margaret Batten.
Mr H E Bradley (Chairman of the Transport Committee) at the controls on the last car on 19th August 1931. Note that the tramwayman to his right (Motorman Nicholls) is wearing a smart new style of double-breasted jacket with wide lapels. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society, with thanks to David Voice.
A close-up taken from a much larger photo of Exeter Corporation Transport staff outside a municipal depot. Although almost certainly taken several years after the demise of the tramway, the uniforms appear to be similar if not identical in style to the one seen in the 'last-day' photo above. With thanks to Stephen Howarth. 
Cap badge — nickel. Possibly worn in the later tramway era. Author's Collection.
Cap badge (late) — chrome. Possibly worn in the later tramway era. Author's Collection.
Senior staff
A blow-up of the photo of Horsecar No 4 above (taken in 1904 or 1905), showing a figure who is presumably an inspector. Although he appears to be wearing a standard Exeter Corporation Tramways cap badge, his cap is military in style, in contrast to the kepis issued to the tramcar staff.
A blow-up of the opening day photo above, again showing a figure who is, in all probability, an inspector. He is wearing a single-breasted jacket with lapels, and like the photo above, a military-style cap rather than the kepis of the tramcar crews.
A blow-up of a larger Exeter Corporation Transport-era photograph, showing an inspector. Although taken after the demise of the tramway, it seems likely that the uniforms were the same as worn by inspectors in the latter days of the tramway (i.e., the 1920s).