New York magazine t-shirt offer (1975)

$3.95 for a shirt is quite a bargain, but please don't cut out this coupon as the offer most likely expired 33+ years ago. I wonder how the t-shirt model is holding up...

bulldog cigarette cards (1910s)

Bulldog cigarette cards, 1910s-- Patrol Call: "Graa-ow"

The Soxettes (1969)

A relic of a more swingin' age. Nothing says national pastime like a gal in go-go boots, a mini skirt and a baseball glove. The Soxettes were employed by my beloved White Sox in 1969 to serve as ushers at the Baseball Palace of the World. I need more photos of them!

Rick Barry's 1968-69 San Francisco Warriors basketball jersey

Rick Barry on the cover of Sports Illustrated, 1967. The article inside is titled, "the Razor Cut idol of San Francisco".

From this Gray Flannel auction.

How beautiful is this jersey? I love the timeless logos, especially the patch above which was affixed to the shorty short shorts. How frigging incredible are those stirrups? Before you fall in love, hold on to your wallet as this complete uniform is went for over $12k.

I couldn't find an in-action shots of the #2 all time free throw shooter rocking those stirrups.

Someone needs to print that head dress logo on a t-shirt for the rest of us.

vintage Dehen 1970s cheerleader sweater

I am selling this fantastic older cheerleader sweater on ebay, and was unable to properly date it. I guessed that it was from the late 70s, based on the overall design- especially those collars.

I contacted the good folks at Dehen, the manufacturer of this garment, and they graciously and promptly confirmed that it was shown in their 1979-80 catalog. They are still going strong and still making all of their products in the US of A. Be sure to check out their site for some incredibly awesome varsity jackets that I will eventually custom order for Bulldog Vintage when we hit the big time! Thanks for the information, Dehen, and Bulldog Vintage salutes you!

Beacon Falls Shoe Co. - Husky Shoes for Rough Work

click to biggie size

THE BEACON FALLS RUBBER SHOE COMPANY.
"The Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company was established in 1898 and is now splendidly housed.... Both water and steam power are used in the operation of the factory and there is electric connection for emergencies. That the business is today one of the most important and extensive industrial enterprises not only of Beacon Falls but of the Naugatuck valley is indicated in the fact that the company today employs fifteen hundred people, fifty-five per cent being male. They manufacture rubber boots and shoes and outing footwear. The plant has a capacity of twenty / thousand pairs of rubber shoes per day. ..Their product is sold all over the United States and also in Europe and the company has offices in Boston, Chicago, New York, Minneapolis, Kansas City and San Francisco. They are represented upon the road by one hundred and ten traveling salesmen, who travel from their own branch offices. This is the main industry at Beacon Falls...The history of this organization is largely the history of Beacon Falls, for no other business enterprise has contributed in more extensive and substantial measure to the growth and commercial development of the city. "

- from "The History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut (1918)

Beacon Falls was bought out by US Rubber in 1921. In 1930 the name was changed to UniRoyal.

I accidentally learned something...

World War I aircorps pilot's jacket detail

Sold for $305 on eBay. I really dig the winged propeller button!

Girls basketball team uniforms (1910)

Flouncy skirts and sailors' scarves are hardly conducive to fastbreaks. Fortunately, this squad seems to have a deep bench since there were apparently 32 girls on the team!

Kids always look older than their years in vintage photos, no?

ebay round up- my newly added items

(classified ad from 1926 issue of Popular Science)

I have tons of stuff to list and no time, but here are some of my recently added items- free shipping and a free gift if you mention that you saw it here, folks!

60s women's Bowling shirt

1984 Olympics t-shirt in my store

80s ringer t-shirt- in my store

80's Auburn Automobiles t-shirt added to my store

paper dress (1967)

"Nancy Oien, 17, models groovy paper dress for cartoonist Interlandi, whose drawing appear on dress." Los Angeles - this day in history-March 18- 1967

Mrs. Irma Lee McElroy does her part for vintage clothing fanatics (1942)

click for righteous embiggenmentry.

From the Library of Congress's Flickr collection.

"Hollem, Howard R.,, photographer.Painting the American insignia on airplane
wings is a job that Mrs. Irma Lee McElroy, a former office worker, does with
precision and patriotic zeal. Mrs. McElroy is a civil service employee at the
Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas. Her husband is a flight
instructor-1942 August"

(photo details by Industrial Artifacts Review- very cool stuff there as well! )

This is as right-on as American Vintage Clothing gets! Might need to steal that "Keep Them Flying" logo for something to honor the memory of Irma and the rest of the real American dames who did their part to smash the Axis. It seems that a patch reprint is in order- if only I had unlimited resources. There are a few more photos of her, but none are nearly as charming as this one!

Animal House t-shirts from National Lampoon magazine (1977)

click to embiggen.

My kingdom for that yellow one in xlarge! That drawing of Bluto Blutarsky with the orange peel in his mouth is blowing my mind!

Munsingwear factory (1912)

click for embiggenment.

"The Great Manufacturing Plant of the Northwestern Knitting Co."
The banner at the top of the penthouse offices (?) reads, "The Home of Munsingwear"

The Esquire- fedoras on the march (1950)

click to embiggen.

"Photograph of a display of men's fedora hats during Spring Market Week in Los Angeles, ca.1950. Two stacks of hats can be seen near center. The stacks are canted outward, forming a V shape. There are more hats on display on the ground at left and right, while several small cacti are at center. A large sign at center describes the events of Market Week, while at left and right, there are drawings of a man tipping his hat. Copies of Esquire Magazine can be seen in the lower left and right corners of the image.The sign at center reads as follows: "Los Angeles Spring Market Week January 21-February 1 350,000 Hats a year made by the George Bailey Hat Company, the largest Men's Hat Manufacturers on the Pacific Coast and the only makers of Straw Hats west of St. Louis"."

the smaller sign at center announces that this particular model was called The Esquire (hence the copies of Esquire Magazine in the corner) and sold for $3.

And how!

Young Democrats baseball jersey (1974)

Grabbed from Uniwatchblog's scans from Athletic Knitwear catalog.

I would kill for this jersey. I'll take an XL, please. The hat ain't bad, either.

JFK pioneers would be a good punk band name.

vintage Chicago White Sox varsity jacket

From ForAllToEnvy.

"Just came across this eBay auction for a vintage Chicago White Sox baseball Jacket from 30s-40s. The jacket is classic varsity jacket with wool body/leather sleeves and made by Von Lengerke & Antoine. The seller states the jacket was given to a relative of the owner during his childhood. As a boy, he had the privilege of attending a White Sox practice, and the team manager was so impressed by his enthusiasm that he took the jacket off of a player's back and gave it to him as a memento. The jacket had a buy it now of $2,500 and ended with a best offer of $1,650!!! In a way this jacket is priceless and Im not sure how many if any are floating around, this kind of memorabilia belongs in Cooperstown IMO. I love seeing stuff like this pop up on eBay and hearing the story (if there is one) behind the item!!! "

wow, my jaw hit the floor on this one! A M A Z I N G! I would KILL to own this bad larry, but it would be very tempting to get "Appling" embroidered on the chest.

This tater is right in the wheelhouse of many of my tags.

James Brown t-shirt advertisement (1969)

from Jet Magazine 1969.
Hello, Black Enterprises, Inc. ? I'd like to place a sizeable order....

Victory over Wear and Waste! Carhartt advertisement (1944)

Ad copy reads:

"Carhartt's famous Master Cloth work clothes meet war time needs with the same high quality and comfort fit that have spelled extra value for America's workers for over a half century. There's victory, too, in every Carhartt work front uniform- victory over wear and waste! You can always work in extra comfort when you work in Carhartt's. They're built roomier and really fit - backed by three generations of the Carhartt family ... a family that has stood squarely behind American labor for over 50 years."

Found in Popular Science Magazine, June, 1944.

Marilyn Monroe wore Levi's (1960)

Marilyn Monroe on the set of The Misfits (1960)

Largest pair of Levi's ever made (1953)

From the pages of Jet Magazine.

The Anderson Shoe Company catalog (1915)

I love the color scheme and illustrations on this one. When was the last time you read a clothing manufacturer bragging about cementing their seams? There's not much about this company on the internet, any info is welcome!

Excerpt from "Boot and Shoe Recorder" a trade magazine from 1922:

"Baltimore- Big Fall Business Ahead- The local retail merchant has been experiencing the usual between-season business but is looking forward to a banner season this fall. About all the stores are showing advance fall styles...indications are that perforated patterns will sell big this coming season."

Dull as dishwater, but again, tells a little something about the hidden history of America. There are HUNDREDS of small time shoe companies listed in this boring yet facinating trade magazine. There used to be a thriving domestic shoe industry, scattered throughout the country and highly responsive to local tastes, valuing quality of construction, but at the same time, looking to expand out of market by producing snappy catalogs such as the one above.