Figure 1.--A HBC reader has found a bit about what were called "MacIntosh knickers". The image is captioned, "If mackintosh knickers with apron front are worn at the seaside, a child may play on the sands and paddle without risk of chill from damp clothes." Notice the seaside in the background. The entry is included with a discussion of "mud-pie knickers". Source: "Every Woman's Encyclopaedia"

A HBC reader noticed that the rompers a boy was wearing on a HBC page seemed to have a peculiar fabric. It is stiff. It doesn't fall into folds, unlike the cotton material of which rompers would usually be made. I think they are made of a rubberised material or have rubberized backing. The fabric is waterproof to allow play on damp sand. Our reader tells us, "I have a dim recollection of seeing such in my early youth, or even wearing them! Pehaps another reader can confirm that such garments were around." He has since found a bit about what were called "MacIntosh knickers". The image is captioned, "If mackintosh knickers with apron front are worn at the seaside, a child may play on the sands and paddle without risk of chill from damp clothes." The term knickers may be confusing. It was not used with either the contemprary American meaning (bloused knee-length pants) or the modern British meaning (girls' underwear). The term knickers could have different meaning, but here it seems to be essentially short trousers. We have not found many examples of these ruberized rompers so they do not seem to have been very widely worn in England. And the exa,ples we have found are all related to the seaside. The entry is from The Every Woman's Encyclopaedia along with a discussion of "mud-pie pinafores".