Figure 1.--The one illustration for children's suits show a knee pants suit. Presumably all the suits advertised were knee pants, but this is not specified. They were made in sizes from 4 to 13 years. The back belt suggests Norcfolk styling. |
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The Work Brothers 1893 catalog provides some details on the suits and pants worn by boys. The company offered knee pants suits in sizes up to 13 years and the same for pants brought separately. Few detilas are provides on styles, but there is some information on colors and material.
HBC has never heard of Work Brothers before. It is a Chicago company. I am not sure if it is a department store or mail order company. I'm also not sure about the name. I thought that they might speciaslize in work clothing, but this does not appear to be the case. They appear to be a wholesaler offering garments to retail outlets. The suits appear to be moderately prized garments for middle-class families. The company makes offers quite a few different lots, but provide very little informatioin about the different styles. The varying lots are notably much more diverse than suits and pants available in modern catalogs and clotning stores.
HBC has a few pages from the Work Brothers 1893 catalog had several pages devoted to suits and knee pants.
The Work Brothers in 1993 offered a wide rannge of "boys suits" in sizes 11 to 18. These suits appear to be long pants suits. The catalog describes the material and color, but does not specify sizes. Note use of the word "nobby" which is no longer used. It apparently meant that it looked like something an affluent or stylish person would wear.
There is another section for "children's suits". These appear to be kneepants suits. Work Brothers uses the term children to mean younger boys, but not boys and girls. The sizes for all these suits was the same, 4 to 13 years. Few details are avilable on styles, but there is no indication that specialized styles like sailor suits or Fauntleroy suits are included. One rather wonders how a customer made a choice with so little information. The material is also not spefied. The suits are two-piece suits, meaning jacket and pants, but no vest. The ad copy does provide some details on the pattern and colors. Notably the suits are mostly stripes, plaids, and checks, but there are some solid colors. Solid colored material was apparently not in fashion. The patterns are often is mixed colors with reds and yellows mixed in with blue, brown, and gray. The patterns were generally muted, despite the reds and yellows. The material is not spefied for the heaper lots, but the more epensive suirs are in Cassimere, cheviot, and flannel. Some representalive lots include the following, do let HBC know if you think any other lot should be noted
Style 464: This suit was available in grey, blue, and black broken plaid. Desribed as "extra nobby".
Style 466: This suit was described as "fancy plaited". I'm not sure what is meant by plaited. It is further described only as "dark colored".
Style 468: This suit has a dark grey diagonal pattern. As with many of these lots, it is described as plaited.
Style 469: This lot is a blue, black, and brown check and described as a new design and fancy in the back.
Style 470: Tis suit was described as plain and was made with a black and yellow check.
Style 471: This lot sounds similar to the one above, but with a blue check.
Style 473: This lot was a dark gray mixture.
Style 474: This lot was a dark blue and red, broken plaid.
Styles 475 and 476: This sounds like the same style in black and gray. Apparently plaited on the sides and back. Unlike most of the other lots, these two specify all-wool cheviot.
Style 477This lot was a small brown and white check. It is described as "made plain". The jacket was double breasted, suggesting that unless noted all the other styles were single breasted.
Style 478: This lot was also double breasted and unlike the other lot specifies kneepants. It was all wool, fancy Cassimere in a light color.
Style 480: This was another double breasted style. It was available in two shades of brown, black, and white.
Style 481: This suit was blue flannel.
Style 482: This was worsted fabric in a black diagonal pattern. Plaited on the sides and back.
Style 483: Some suits had patch pockets with buttons on the outside. This and many other lots are included with the kneepants selection below.
HBC in 1893 has noted both knee pants and long pants. We have not noted either short pants or knickers. Work Brothers offered knee pants for boys from 4 to 13 years of age. This is interesting because it suggests the age at which parents began to breech boys and the age at which boys began wearing long pants. Work Brothers advises dry goods merchants. "There is no class of clothing that seems to be in demand more than Children's knee pants and dealers who do not handle clothing can sell knee pants. Mothers can not afford to make their boys' pants when tyou can sell them ready made, as cheap as you can the material to make them of. Dry Good Merchants who do not keep ready made cloting should carry Children's suits and knee pants, for the reason that Fathers seldom buy their cildren's clothing."
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