Figure 1.-- We notice a Putnam & Sons ad in the local newspaperduring 1904. Their offerings included Norfolk, Eton, and double-breasted suitsm although the illustration (upper left coirner) seems to be a generic representation. Putnam & Sons was a boys' outfitters in Lowell, Massahusetts. Their ad is interesting because it shows a store advertising an entire boy's outfit including just about everything but shoes and stockings. This was a local clothier in the industrial city of Lowell that had just expanded its boys' department. Here is the informstion on the suits offered. There are tunic (Russian blouse) suits for younger boys (lower right-hand corner).

Putnam & Sons offerings included Norfolk, Eton, and double-breasted suits. The illustrations, drawings or sketches only, are interesting. At the top of the advertisement we have a boy of about 14 wearing a knee pants suit with black long stockings playing with his dog, seated on a table. There is also an illustration of a much younger boy in a Russian blouse [tunic] suit with bloomer knickers. The ad copy read described the basic suits available, but not in great detail. There is some mention of favrics.

Hand Tailored Suits

The ad copy read, "Hand Tailored Suits in smart Norfolk jackets with Knicker bockers, and two-piece doubtle breasted jacket suits, finely tailored, hand felled collars, sewn with silk in exclusive patterns of Scotch cheviots $10.00 and $8.00." [Although not mentioned, Putnam’s also sold suits with knee pants. A boy in a knee pants suit is shown playing with his dog. Although the knee pants are shown, the jacket is depicted as a genic suit jacket wthou any detail. It does not seem to refer to any of the specific garments advertised below. I think that knee pants were standard for boys at the time that the trousers were hardly mentined. There may have been long trousers abailable for older boys, but we do not know for sure. The term "knickerbockes" is mentioned, but his should not be taken to mean knickes. At the ime, "knee pants", "short pans, "knickers, and "knickerbockers" were used interchangably.]

Excellent Suits

The ad copy read, "Excellent Suits for $2.00. These suits in spite of the remarkably low price are cut and will fit as well as our higher priced clothing. The materials are good, strong cheviots, in plain blue and black and in attractive mixtures. Every suit is new in style; smart in appearance. These are Norfolk jacket suits, all wool, in sizes 3 to 12. Double breast jacket suits, sizes 8 to 16. All at one price, $2.00."

Our Popular Suits

The ad copy read, "Our Popular Suits $5.00. A wonderfully broad variety of most excellent suits for boys 8 to 16 years of age. Here are double breast jacket suits, double seam and sewn with silk, trousers with double seat and double knees. Norfolk plaited jacket suits and three piece suits with single breast jacket and vest. It is a group of handsome, dressy, stylish suits, all made especially for us, from new Scotch cheviots and cassimeres, plain black and blue Thibets and unfinished worsted and winter weight serges, unmatachle in value and style. $5.00."

Eton Norfolk Suits

The ad copy read, "Eton Norfolk Suits. The newest suits for boys 6 years to 10. Special lots made to our order. Narrow Eton collar on the jacket and bloomer trousers with silk tie and with every suit goes a separate white Eton collar. In blue cheviot, serge and pretty fancy cheviots, from $2.50 to $5.00." [I don't think the ad here ment to suggest that there were sctual Eton suits. Rather they were Norfolk suits worn with Eton collars.]

Russian Blouse Suits

The ad copy read, "Russian Blouse Suits of handsome wide wale vcorduroy in brown, blue and red, bloomer trousers, silk ties and separate white collars—value $6.00, today for only $4.00. Russian Blouse Suits of all wool plain cloth, in blue, red and brown—sizes 3 to 6—with bloomer trousers, silk tie and separate white Eton collar. These today for $2.50." [HBC used the term tunic suits for these Russian blouse suits. At the time they were also called Buster Nrown suits after the comics character.]

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Created: 11:45 PM 12/27/2009
Last updated: 11:46 PM 12/27/2009