Figure 1.--Sears in its 1902 catalog offered offered four styles of sweaters, all done in the turtle-neck style. The one here was made in cotton. It was for boys 8-15 years old.
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Figure 1.--Sears in its 1902 catalog offered offered four styles of sweaters, all done in the turtle-neck style. The one here was made in cotton. It was for boys 8-15 years old. |
Sears offered several styles of turtle neck sweaters which they called roll-neck sweaters. From the illustrations, they look to be made as an an athletic style of sweater. The Sears ad copy reads, "Boys' and Youths' Sweaters. We call special attention to the four following numbers in boys' sweaters. They are selected stock and at our prices form values that are unapproachable. Always state breast measure in order. Sizes 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 inches breast measure."
The Sears, Roebuck and Co., huge merchandising firm centered in Chicago was founded by Richard W. Sears (1863-1914) and
A.C. Roebuck (1864-1948). Sears had begun a career in mail-order business in Minnesota 1886. In Chicago he and Roebuck joined resources and formed a corporation in 1893 as a mail-order
business under title Sears, Roebuck and Company. In 1895 Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) bought Roebuck's interest in firm and became president on Sears's retirement 1908. A retail-store system was added 1925. The first foreign store added in Havana, Cuba during 1945 and becane te first expropriated store in 1960. The Sears-Roebuck brought the production of industry to the fartherest corner of rural America, opening the cornucopia of the consumer age to rural America. All the new things that were changing American life danced across
their pages. Through it, a huge Chicago warehouse offers to modernize the farms and small towns of the Midwest.
HBC does not yet have a complete picture os sweaters and the coinventions for wearing them at the turn-of-the-century. We note few portraits or snapshots of bnoys wearing sweaters. Nor do we see a lot of sweaters in school portraits. The sweaters seen here are shown as a sporting or athletic style. The are turtlenecks, but that term was mot yet in use, rather Sears refers to then as roll-neck sweaters. We have some limited information on turtle-neck sweaters. We suspect that many of the sweaters that were worn were knitted at home rather than store bought.
Sears offered four styles of sweaters in its 1902 catalog. The Sears ad copy reads, "Boys' and Youths' Sweaters. We call special attention to the four following numbers in boys' sweaters. They are selected stock and at our prices form values that are unapproachable. Always state breast measure in order. Sizes 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 inches breast measure."
Sweaters were normally seen as wool garments. This sweater was done in cotton (figure 1).The Sears ad copy read, "Boys' Cotton Sweaters, 39 cents. No. 16R8060 Boys' Heavy Cotton Sweater, plain roll collar. Will stand rough wear. Sizes 24 to 34 breast measure, for boys 8 to 15 years of age. Colors, navy, or maroon. Price, per dozen, $4.68; each 39 c. If by mail, postage extra, each, 11 cents."
Here Sears use the term "roll-neck" rather than turtle neck sweater. The Sears ad copy read, "Boys' Roll Neck Sweaters. No. 16R8064 Boys' Strong, All Wool, Ribbed Sweater, with fancy ribbed rolled collar; elastic ribbed cuffs and tail; all wool; warranted to give good service. PLain colors, black, maroon, or navy. Sizes 24 to 34 breast measure. Price, each . . . 75 c.; Per dozen $9.00. If by mail, postage extra, each, 10 cents."
This sweater is clearly an atltletic style garment. It looks rather like the sweaters worn for ruby football in England. It is clearly for American football as the illustration here shows the model wearing football pants. The Sears ad copy read, "Boys' Alternating Stripe Sweaters, $1.00.
No. 16R8072 Boys' Fine All Wool Sweater, made with alternating stripes as illustrated. A closely knitted sweater made from fine clean yarn that will not fail to give lasting service. Colors, black and orange, black and red, green and red, royal [blue] and white. A special leader at our low price. Sizes, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 breast measure. Price each . . . $1.00. If by mail, postage extra, each, 15 cents."
I' not entirely sure here what the term worsted means here. It is normally a term used with suit material ratherer than sweaters which are normally knitted. Hopefully a HBC reader can eventually explain this to us. The Sears ad copy read, "Boys' Wool Worsed Sweaters, $1.25.
No. 16R8076 Boys' Fine All Wool Worsted Sweaters, made with all worsted neck, cuffs and tail. This is doubtless the best sweater of the season in fine goods. They are made with about 1/2-inch mercerized silk stripe on collar, cuffs and tail. Usual retail value, $2.00. Colors, navy, maroon, royal blue, black or cardinal. Sizes 24 to 34 breast measure. Suitable for youths up to 15 years of age. Price each . . . $1.25. If by mail, postage extra, each,
16 cents."
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