Figure 1.--Here are a range of suits and other garments offered by Jelmoli in 1938. Here we see short pants and knickers, but no long pnts. Notice the cape. That was kind of French school style, but rarely seen in Germany. The boys are pictured wth both flat caps and berets. |
Boys still commonly wore suits in the 1930s. Jelmoli in its 1938 catalog offeredc several different styles of boys' suits. The Norfolk style seems to have gone out of fassion. We note jackets with both single- and double-breasted jackets. There ere blazers. There was also a dark communion suit. There was one suit without a coat/jacket fro a younger boy. We note several different materials. They were done as short pants and knicker suits. The suits were for a range of different ages.
Here we se a boy's suit reffered to as a Veston-Anzug (figure 1). The Jelmoli ad copy read, "Veston-Anzug aus solidem Strapazierstoff, ohne Weste, Hose gefuettert, modernes Fischgraetmuster, grau oder braeunlich, Alter 5 – 12 Jahre." This translates as, "Suit jacket in solid Herringbone pattern without waistcoat, lined trousers, modern Herringbone pattern, grey or brown, age 5-12 years". I am not sure what "solid" means here. Perhaps ot means that the entire suit is done in the herringbone pattern material. I'm also not sure about the term "Veston-abzug". It apparently means a suit with a jacket. I don't quite understand that because the term "Anzug" is often used with the meaning a matching jacket and suit even when the "Veston" is not added. Note that the suit to the right is just referred to as an Anzug.
This suit is very similat to the Veston-Anzug above except that it has a waistcoat (vest) (figure 1). It is not made in the small sizes like the Veston-Anzug. The Jelmoli ad copy read, "Eleganter Anzug mit Weste und glatter Kniehose (same as short pants), ganz gefuettert, aus erstklassigen Wollstoffen, braun oder graublau mit feinen Noppen. Alter 9–14 Jahre." This translates as, "Elegant suit with waistcoat and smooth knee trousers, completely lined, from first-class wool cloth, brown or grey-blue with fine burls. Age 9-14 years." Here "smooth" relates to the material. In other words it is not rough to the touch.
The Jelmoli ad copy read, "Eleganter Knabenanzug aus feinem Wollstoff, kleine gemustert, mit Rueckengurt, ganz gefuettert, grau odere braun. Alter 5 – 10 Jahre." This translates as, "
Elegant boy's suit from fine Wool material, small pattern, with back belt, completely lined, grey or brown. Age 5-10 years". The reference here to "small pattern" seams to mean the pattern of the design in the material.
The Jelmoli ad copy read, "Elegant. Zweireiher ohne Weste, aus strapazierfaehigen, apart gemusterten Wollstoffen, ganz gefuettert, graum oder braun. Alter 7 Jahre – 14 Jahre". This translaes as, "Elegant. Dounle-breasted suit without waistcoat, from strainable, distinctively/distingtively??? patterened wool cloth, completely lined, gray or brown. Age 7 years - 14 years."
This was the little boy's outfit. It is referred to as a "Jacken-Anzug". While it is called a suit because the shirt and pants match, it sid not have a proper suit jacket like the suits for older boys. The Jelmoli ad copy read, "Aparte Neuheit. Jacken-Anzug aus feinen Wollstoffen, neuste Form, ganz gefuettert, mit Krawatte und Ueberkragen, grau, braun oder marineblau. Alter 2 – 6 Jahre." This translates as, "Distinctive novelty. Jacket suit from fine wool cloth, newest form, completely lined, with tie and over collar, grey, brown or navalblue. Age 2 - 6 years".
I don't think the suit here was meant for sports. Rather I think it means more like a modern, sporty look. The Jelmoli ad copy read, "Moderner Sportanzug, ohner Weste, extra solide Wollstoffe, ganz gefuettert, aparte, sportliche Dessins in braun, grau, gruen oder blaugrau. Dazu passende, glatte, gefuetterte Kniehosen. Alter 6–18 Jahre". This translates as, "Modern sport suit, without waistcoat (vest), specially solid wool cloth, completely lined, distinctive, sporty dessins in brown, grey, green or bluish gray. In addition suitable, smooth, lined knee trousers age 6-18 years".
Blazers were best known as a British school style. Note the English word is used here. The Jelmoli ad copy read, "Leinen, die grosse Mode! Knabenblazer, aus grauem Leinen, extra solid, waschecht, mit Goldknoepfen. Alter 5–14 Jahre". This translates as, "Linen, the greatest style! Boy's blazer, from grey linen, specially solvently, washable, with gold buttons. Age 5-14 years".
Switzerland has large numbers of both Catholics and Protestants. Often parents bought a suit for religious events. Commonly this was a conservative dark suit. First communion for a younger boy was very important for Catholics. Confirmation for a boy about 13 was probably more important for Protesrants. The suit here could be used for either. The Jelmoli ad copy read, "Kommunions-Anzug aus feinem, reinwollenem Kammgarn, zweireihige, mit feinem Fischmuster oder einreihige aus blau Serge, ganz gefuettert, ohne Weste. Alter 8 – 14 Jahre. Mit langer Hose je Fr. 5.00 mehr". This translates as, "Communion suit from fine, pure combed wool yarn, double-row, with fine herringbone pattern or single-row from blue serge, completely lined, without waistcoat. Age 8-14 years. With long trousers Fr. 5.00 more for each additional year."
Here is another blazer offered bt Jelmoli. The Jelmoli ad copy read, "Eleganter Blazer, 2reihig, Goldknoepfe, in Flanell, marine oder braun, breit Besatz. Alter 3 Jahre – 14 Jahre. Dazu passenden Hose aus solidem Flanell, ganz gefuettert, grau oder beigefarbig. Alter 3–14 Jahre." Elegant blazer, two rows of gold buttons, in flanell, navy or brown, broadly trimming. Age 3 years - 14 years. In addition suitable trousers of solid flanell, completely lined, grey or beige-colored. Age 3-14 years."
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