Figure 1.--Eatons offered several blouses for boys in its Spring-Summer 1907 catalog. They were on a page with a variety of other garments. |
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We notice a variety of coats worn by boys of different ages in the 1900s. There were several different types, including sailor-styled reefers, overcoats, and raincoats. A word for ovecoats was toppers. Eatons offered reefers for younger boys as well as overcoats and raincoats for older boys. We note the various coats and reefers offered by Eatons in 1907
This Canadian retailer began publishing mailorder catalogs in 1881, at least that is we begin noticing them. We have catalogs from the 1970s, although we do not know about the company's current status. The 1970s catalgs were full of clothes which look like American styles. Timothy Eaton, founder of the huge all-Canadian department store chain bearing his name, was an Irish immigrant born on a tennant farm in northern Ireland. He was born in 1834 and followed his brothers to Canada in 1854. His brothers had opened a small dty goods store in St. Marys. Timothy Eaton began his business with a small dry goods business in Toronto during 1869. He built a giant retail store in Ontario’s capital city along with a country-wide mail-order business and a big new branch store in Winnipeg, by the time of his death in 1907. The Winnipeg branch was the first of many branches. Eaton Company business establishments eventually spread all across Canada when Timothy’s family successors extended the Eaton empire. Timothy masterminded the company during the crucial period of its early development, spanning nearly 40 years. It was Timothy who implemented the concept of the "Department Store", in Canada, a concept which were already flourishing in London, Paris, and New York.
The reefer jacket and suit has quite a bit of history attached to it. Historians, however, disagree on its origins and HBC has yet to find a definitive account. We have acquired some information on this important account and eventually hope to provide a more definitive account. While the reefer jacket and suit disappeared after World war I. The reefer coat has continued to be a popular style.
Boys from affluent familied used to have a formal overcoat to wear with their best dress outfits. One especially popular style was double breasted coats. Many of the better coats had velvet colar trin. The coats were often worn with with sailor hats, berets, or English style peaked caps. Today formal coats are less common and most boys wear more casual, colorful jackets during the winter.
The first modern rainwear was the McIntosh or mac. Rain hats and coats are necessary items for children, especially if they walk to school. These were orginally black, but eventually yellow and other colors appeared. Raincoats have been done in many different styles. Some children may wear a simple anorak, nut in a real rainstorm that does not offer sufficent oprotection. An English HBC reader tells us that as a boy he did not like the gabardine overcoat he wore for school and preferred a rubberized raincoat. I certainly remember the black raincoat I wore to school as a little chap in the late 1940s and early 50s. It had a tatching helmet like cap. Mom always insisted that I wear it with these huge galoshes with clasp like closures. A HBC reader rembers the to
yellow rain coat he wore as a younger boy. Older boys would get teased for wearing them.
E3-2095 Navy blue English serge, brass anchor buttons, Italian lined, as cut E3-2095. Sizes 23 to 28. $1.50.
E3-2096 All wool Navy blue Serge, strong Italian linings, brass buttons, as cut E3-2096. Sizes 21 to 28. $1.95.
E3-2097. Fawn Covert Cloth, imported goods well made and lined, as cut E3-2095. Sizes 21 to 28. $4.50.
Etons offered two overcoats for youngr boys. They wre called "Ruddian overcoats". I'm not entirely sure why. This is not a erm I have noticed in Americn ctalogs. They were double breasted style. I think the name mean that they were made yo be made with Russian blouse suits which HBC refers to as tunics. There were two different offerings.
The Eatons ad copy read, "Russian Overcoat of fawn covert cloth, spring weight, self collar, Italian lined, as cut E3-3006. Sizes 21 to 25 $5.00."
The Eatons ad copy read, "Russian Overcoat of light grey homespun tweeds, red velvet collar, lined, similar to cut E3-3005 but has no belt. Sizes 21 to 25. $5.00."
There were also Eatons overcoats for older boys. These were cut longer than the Rissian overcoats and extended almost to the ankles. Etons uses the term "Toppers" for these coats. I think this was a British term. I don't think that it was commonly used in America.
The Eatons ad copy read, "Topper overcoats, of fawn covert cloth, good Italian cloth linings, very dressy, as cut E3-1010, Sizes 25 ($5.00), 26 ($5.25), 27 ($5.50), 28 ($5.75), 29 ($6.00), 31 ($6.50), 32 ($6.75), 33 ($7.00)."
The Eatons ad copy read, "Topper Overcoats of stylish slate grey worsted, very new, good linings and interlinings, as cut E3-3010. Sizes 25 ($5.00) , 26 ($5.25), 27 ($5.50), 28 ($5.75) , 29 ($6.00), 30 ($6.25) , 31 ($6.50) , 32 ($6.75) , 33 ($7.00) .
Eatons offered one raincot.
The Eatons ad copy read, "Boys’ Raincoats in oxford grey cravenette cloths, shoulders lined, as cut E3-3015. Sizes 25 ($4.50), 26 ($4.75), 27 $5.00), 28 ($5.25), 29 ($5.50), 30 ($5.75), 31 ($6.00), 32 ($6.25), 33 ($6.50)."
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