*** vintage clothing Tom Sawyer button-on play suit 1920s








Tom Sawyer Button-on Play Suit (1920s)

Oliver Twist play suit
Figure 1.-- A good example of a boy's play suit is a Tom Sawyer button-on play suit which probably dates to the 1920s. This is a two piece blue and white boy's play suit. Cloth label reads Tom Sawyer Age 4 'Washwear' Elder Manufacturing Company. This was a popular brand at the time. Click on the image for a back view.

A good example of a boy's play suit is a Tom Sawyer button-on play suit which probably dates to the 1920s. This is a two piece blue and white boy's play suit. Cloth label reads Tom Sawyer Age 4 "Washwear" Elder Manufacturing Company. This was a popular brand of stylish boys' clothing at the time. It has a sewn on cloth label on both the top and bottom half that gives Lot no. of 0333 -1/2 and Age 4 again. There is a round carboard string tag with metal rim attached to one button that was made by the Dennison Co. It has no. 4 on one side and R4904 - 275 on the other. The top is an off white with blue collar, cuffs, and pocket trim. There is a a white cord or string with tasseled ends attached to at top button. The button are all original and intact and appear to be a carved Mother of Pearl. I am not sure how white the top was orignally, but now it is more of an off white with some darker discoloration areas. The top and bottom attach by means of buttons.

Tom Sawyer Brand

A good example of a boy's play suit is a Tom Sawyer button-on play suit which probably dates to the 1920s. This is a two piece blue and white boy's play suit. Cloth label reads Tom Sawyer Age 4 "Washwear" Elder Manufacturing Company. This was a popular brand of stylish boys' clothing at the time. Tom Sawyer outfits were not only stylish, but were washwear meaning they could be easily laundered. It has a sewn on cloth label on both the top and bottom half that gives Lot no. of 0333 -1/2 and Age 4 again.

Chronology

We have no specific date associated with the suit but it looks as if it would have been made in the 1920s. The ornamental kneepants buttons at the hem probably date this outfit to the 1920s as this styling was not common by the 1930s.

Age

There is a round carboard string tag with metal rim attached to one button that was made by the Dennison Co. It has no. 4 on one side and R4904 - 275 on the other. This identifies it a size 4 meaning for a 4-year old.

Construction

This was a two-piece play suit including a white blouse and contrassting blue short pants. The blouse had a large white collar with pointed tips. It had long sleeves even thought the material is light-weight, clearly suitable for warm weather summer wear. It might have been called an Eton collar. The short pants buttoned-on to the blouse. There were buttons at the blouse waist which fit into button holes at the waistline of the shorts. They were done as kneepants--notice the buttons at the leg hem. There do not seem to be any pockets except for a small breast slash pocket.

Color

The top is an off white with blue collar, cuffs, and pocket have colored trim. I am not sure how white the top was orignally, but now it is more of an off white with some darker discoloration areas.

Material

I'm not sure about the material. It would be either linnen or cotton. A reader tells us, "The manufacturer used Indian Head cloth, a superior muslin with a linen texture. I note an Indian Head ad from 1924 showing one of the Tom Sawyer suits made of Indian Head." [Kiplinger] I'm not sure how popular this fabric was, but we notice a number of advertisements in the early 20th century.

Detailing

The outfit included color detailing on rhe white blouse as well as buttons on both the blouse and pants. The blouse breast pocket is detailed in blur color. Blouses in the early 20th century were often worn with bows. This was becoming less popular in the 1920s. This vlouse had a kind of string tie wuth tassles. There is a a white cord or string with tasseled ends attached to at top button. There are matching ornamental cuffs on the sleeve cuff and pants hem.

Button-on Style

The button are all original and intact and appear to be a carved Mother of Pearl. The top and bottom attach by means of buttons. Trouser suspension is a problem for younger boys without defined waistlines. Belts were not commonly worn at the time. The button-on styling was very popular for American boys in the early 20th century, especially in the inter-war era. We note many European boys at this time wearing suspender shorts, but this was much less common in the United States. This item was for a 4-year old, but button-on clothing was commonly made for boys up to about 10 years old.

Convention

This outfit was suitable for play, but could also been used for special events like church or parties. Younger boys did not have to dress up as once had been common.

Oliver Twist Suits

While the Brand was Tom Sawyer, the style at the time would have been called an Oliver Twist suit. They were a style for younger boys and done in many different styles. The common stylistic element was the prominant use of buttons. Buttons, often large white buttons, were the dominant stylistic feature of Oliver Twist suits. The size of the buttons was both stylistic and practical. Large buttons were also easier for small hands to manipulate as younger children began learning to dress themselves. Not all Oliver Twist suits had large buttons, but virtually all did have buttons as an important stylistic element. Large collars were popular and included with many of the suits, but not all. Other common features were collar string ties and tassles. They were often used because large floppy bows were not as commonly used for boys as had been the case earlier.

Sources

Kiplinger, Joan. E-mail message, May 13, 2008. Ms. Kiplinger is writing on history of Indian Head cloth and its mill owners.







HBC




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Created: 12:42 AM 12/16/2005
Last updated: 6:43 PM 5/13/2008