Figure 1.--Here we have an illustration of the reefer suits offered by Sears.
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Figure 1.--Here we have an illustration of the reefer suits offered by Sears. |
We were rather surprised to find the number of different Reefer Suits offered by Ward's. There is a brief discription of the different suits ffered, but they do not fully explain the differences between the suits. The variation seems more based on the fabric than the styling. The suits all seem to be kneepants suits for boys 3 to 8 years of age.
Although the word "consumerism" has a modern ring, it was personal concern for an early consumer movement, the "National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry,"That inspired a young traveling salesman named Aaron Montgomery Ward to start the world's first general merchandise mail-order company in 1872. Aaron Montgomery Ward was born on February 17, 1844, in Chatham, New Jersey, to a family whose forebears had served as officers in the French and Indian Wars as well as in the American Revolution. Looking for something more compatible, Monty left home and followed the river to Lake Michigan and the town of St. Joseph, county seat and market for outlying fruit orchards. Chicago was the center of the wholesale dry goods trade and in the 1860s Ward joined the leading dry goods house, Field Palmer & Leiter. As a retailer, Potter Palmer had previously built a reputation for fair dealing. Ward absorbed these principles while working as a clerk
for $5. The Chicago City Directories for 1868 through 1870 listed Ward as a salesman for Wills, Greg & Co. and later for Stetthauers & Wineman, both dry goods houses. In 1870, after canvassing territory in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ward was again footloose. The plan shaping in Ward's mind was to buy goods at low cost for cash. By eliminating intermediaries, with their markups and commissions, and cutting selling costs to the bone, he could offer goods to people, however remote, at appealing prices - for cash. Since its founding in 1872, the company has literally "grown up with America" and has had a major impact on the shopping habits of a nation of consumers. Montgomery Ward & Co. discontinued its catalog operations in 1
985 as part of its restructuring effort to change itself into a modern, competitive chain of value-driven specialty stores, a move which for a time saved the company. week.
The Tam O'Shanter or tam was offered with a least some of these suits. Tams could be quite large. The tams offered here seem to have been realtively small.
We are not entirely sure why the Ward's suits were called reefer suits. We assume it was because the suits had jackets styled like reefer jackets and not middy blouses.
We were rather surprised to find the number of different Reefer Suits offered by Ward's. There is a brief discription of the different suits ffered, but they do not fully explain the differences between the suits. The variation seems more based on the fabric than the styling. The suits all seem to be kneepants suits for boys 3 to 8 years of age. The Ward's ad copy read, "Children's Reefer Suits
We Have All the New and Nobby Styles. Sizes 3 to 8 Years Only."
These "Reefer Suits" are designed for little boys from about 3 to 8. This style was apparently not worn by older lads.
30910: Children's Reefer Suits, jacket and knee pants; brown and gray mixed diagonal cassimere; large plain collar. Each $1.90.
30912 Reefer Suits made of dark gray diagonal cassimere; 3 to 10 years; sam style as above. Each $2.00.
30914: Reefer Suits, gray and white cassimere, mixed with black; very pretty pattern. Braided collar and cuffs. 3 to 8 years. Each $2.75.
30916: Reefer Suits, same style as above in dark gray melton cassimere, 3 to 8 years. Each $2.75.
30918: Reefer Suits, fancy brown and tan mixed cassimere; hercules braid trimming on collar and cuffs. 3 to 8 years. Each $3.00.
30920: Reefer Suits, light gray wool cassimere invisible plaid; fancy braided collar and cuffs, 3 to 8 years. Each $3.25.
30922: Reefer Suits, dark navy blue diagonal twilled cssimere, large collar and cuffs, embroidered in fancy designs, with black silk narrow braid. 3 to 8 years. Each $3.50.
30924: Reefer Suits, "The Brownie" medium colored fancy checked wool cassimere. Large plain collar, imitation vest front, trimmed with black braid. Very popular style. 3 to 8 years. Each $3.50.
30926: Reefer Suits, "The Brownie"; same style as above. Made of fine brown mixed plaid cassimere. 3 to 8 years. Each $4.00.
30928: Fancy Reefer Suits, made of medium light brown wool cassimere; large collar, pockets and cuffs trimmed with 4 rows of narrow braid. Hip pocket in pants, satin knee bows and buckles. 3 to 8 years. Each $4.00.
30930: Fancy Reefer Suits, all wool cassimere, very neat gray and brown pin check, large collar, pockets and cuffs trimmed with three rows of narrow brown braid, brass anchor buttons. 3 to 8 years. Each $4.50.
30932: Fancy Reefer Suits, all wool cassimere; neat brown and cream colored
broken checks, large collar, pockets and cuffs trimmed with fancy brown braid. 3 to 8 years. Each $4.50.
30934: Fancy Reefer Suits, made of all wool black diagonal cheviot, fancy anchor brass buttons, collar, pockets and cuffs trimmed with fancy black silk braid. 3 to 8 years. Silk ribbon and fancy buckles at knees of pants; very stylish. Each $4.75.
30936: Fancy Reefer Suits, made of fine all wool navy blue cheviot, fancy brass anchor brass buttons on front and cuffs, collar, pockets and cuffs trimmed with 3/4 inch black mohair braid. 3 to 8 years. Fast color, square top Tam O'Shanter cap to match, included. Each $5.00.
30938: Fancy Reefer Suits, made of extra fine all wool Scotch cheviot seal brown and black intermingled, large sailor collar, pockets and cuffs trimmed with fancy black braid, brass anchor buttons on front and cuffs, also at knee of pants, 1/2-inch black braid down side of pants. 3 to 8 years. Each $6.00.
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