Figure 1.--The BSA in this publication provide details on the Scout uniform and how it was worn. At the time sales were direct to the BSA Department of Scout Supplies. They also supplied a view if the efficent office staff ready to handle each Scout's order.

The BSA initially sold Scout uniforms and equipmet through its Department of Scout Supplies. The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated in 1910. The United States Congress in 1916 granted a federal charter to the Boy Scouts to protect their name and to authorize uniforms similar to U.S. military uniforms. A major battle had been fought with a rival Scout associarion over the Scout uniform. With the 1916 charter, the BSA had complete title to the uniform and sale of uniform items. Thus no one could compete with the BSA in the sale of uniforms. BSA publications show that the mail order sale of uniforms and equipment was a major undertaking by 1919. The BSA bragged about their efficent office workers. Presumably this mail operation was begun almost as the BSA was established to make uniforms available to Scouts around the country. Mail order suppliers were already well established in the United Sates and thus consunmers were used to ordering clothing, and just about every thing else including the kitchen sink, by mail. The sale of supplies of course was a major part of financing the fledgling Scout movement in the United States.

Rival Associations

The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated in 1910. A major battle had been fought with a rival Scout associarion over the Scout uniform. The BSA has dominated American Scouting. This has, however, involved Federal legislation and extensive legislation. They were not the only contenders. And there were also rival association in the 1910s. There were several loosely-structured outdoor-oriented youth organizations in America in the early 20th century. There were earlier attempts at Scouting, two of which were very important influences on the Scouting movement. Some of these groups used the name "Boy Scout". A few Scout were already functioning using varied approaches based on Baden Powell's Scout program before the BSA was founded in 1910. The most serious competition was launched by the American Boy Scouts (ABS), at first powerfully supported by newpaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Hearst like William D. Boyce who founded the BSA were both newspaper publishers. There were several other small associations, but only the ABC was ever a serious challenge. America unlike Scouts in European countries was to have one single monolithic association--the BSA.

Federal Charter

The United States Congress in 1916 granted a federal charter to the Boy Scouts to protect their name and to authorize uniforms similar to U.S. military uniforms. With the 1916 charter, the BSA had complete title to the uniform and sale of uniform items. Thus no one could compete with the BSA in the sale of uniforms. The BSA as a result of the Federal charter "owns" the names "Boy Scouts of America", "Scout", "Boy Scouting", and "Scouting", as used within the United States. This is granted by the Charter under this charter, the Government of the United States granted the organization called corporately "Boy Scouts of America" the sole and exclusive right to have and to use, in carrying out its purposes, all emblems and badges, descriptive or designating marks, and words or phrases now or heretofore used by the Boy Scouts of America in carrying out its program.

Figure 2.--This was the instructionl page on how to order with the prices. Click on the image to see the order sheet.

Department of Scout Supplies

The BSA initially sold Scout uniforms and equipmet through its Department of Scout Supplies. BSA publications show that the mail order sale of uniforms and equipment was a major undertaking by 1919. The BSA bragged about their efficent office workers. Presumably this mail operation was begun almost as the BSA was established to make uniforms available to Scouts around the country.

Mail Order

Mail order suppliers were already well established in the United Sates and thus consunmers were used to ordering clothing, and just about every thing else including the kitchen sink, by mail. The sale of supplies of course was a major part of financing the fledgling Scout movement in the United States. Companies like Sears and Wards created huge businesses in the 19th century selling to isolated consumers in rural areas without access to large stores. Delivering orders through the U.S. Postal Service. There was nothing like this in Europe at the time.