Figure 1.--This American boy wears a small Eton-like collar with a Norfolk jacket without the vertical elements that are characteristic of most Norfolk jackets. Notice the very small bow.

The popular Norfolk jacket over the more than 50 years that it was a popular style had varying vertical elements looking rather like straps. Some jackets appear to have few of these straps. Other jackets had extensive and varying vertical elemebts. HBC is uncertain at this time as to whether the jackets without the vertical elements were varriants of the Norfolk jacket or a different style of jacket entirely.

Vertical Elements

The vertical, strap-like elements of Norfolk suits varied wiely. Some were minor, rather like narrow suspenders. The vertical elements in these jackets might be no more than two centimeters wide. Other jackets had very wide elements, as much as 6 centimeters wide, with seemed to dominate the jacket. Some had more than two elements. The elements were always balanced on the two sides of the jacket. These elements on the jacket front were generally repeated at the back.

No Vertical Elements

Other jackets had extensive and varying vertical elemebts. HBC is uncertain at this time as to whether the jackets without the vertical elements were varriants of the Norfolk jacket or a different style of jacket entirely. The jackets without the vertical elements apear o have generally been earlier examples of the Norfolk jacket, usually seen in the 1870s or 80s.