Australian Vintage Suits

[Qirrel]

I have seen it on older american suits too.

 

[Fastuni]

Very nice suit. But I consider the decision by the tailor to have the weaving flaw right on the lapel (instead of a less visible place) rather peculiar.

 

[Two Types]

Lovely suit. Congratulations on finding that one.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I fully suspect this would be rtw. Dimly lit factories etc. Maybe this is why it remains in such good condition? (Not worn much. Or not even sold, maybe.)

decision by the tailor

 

[Benny Holiday]

Great to see another Aussie suit posted here Rag and Bone Man. Looking at your photos of the triple-stripe heavy fabric, it just appears so typical of that used in Australian suits of the 30s through to the early 50s. My suits are easily made from 14oz wool that's as hot and heavy as you'd ever want in winter here!

 

[The Rag And Bone Man]

Thanks Fastuni.. Cheers Two Types, and thanks Benny.

Fastuni, my thoughts as well very strange place to display that flaw, and Benny your not wrong about weight, this one weighs a Ton.

Baron Kurtz, I tried taking another clear pictures of the buttons, but just can't seem to get a good enough picture, but after closer inspection I would have to agree with you, they are not Bakelite.

Also the suit has been worn, and there are a few moth nibbles, in the pants, nothing to serious that cannot be fixed, sadly the suit is not my size, I would say this would be better for a size, 38 at most, may be a tad smaller.

I wear a regular size 40 jacket 18 inch shoulders and a 32 waist pants, these pants are a size 30 waist, with a 43 inch outer leg and 31 inch inner leg, and the leg opening is a whopping 11.5 inches.

Some crazy measurements of the time, I doubt you would find those kind of measurements today on a regular male.

The good thing about having that extra length in the pants, is that the material I suppose can be used for the few repairs the suit needs to bring it up to scratch.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

It's different colour of course, but do the button backs have this kind of swirl pattern?

 

[The Rag And Bone Man]

Yes the buttons do appear to have a grainy swirl pattern to them, but only very slightly.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Sounds like corozo!

 

[Seb Lucas]

I used to buy a lot of vintage gear here in the early 1980's. You could get a pristine 1930's suit for $4 to $8 then. A 1940's Herbert Johnson or Stetson hat for $3. What amazed me was how heavy the suits were. Many of course were made to British, cold weather, specs (in those days people still called Britain "home" even if they had never been there). These garments were like armor - the very lining was thicker and more robust than the external fabric of many an expensive suit today. How they wore this stuff in this climate, lovely though it was, astonishes me.

 

[Benny Holiday]

Seb I remember seeing great 40s stuff at vintage clothing stores like the Jazz Garter in Pitt St Sydney back then. I was right into Rockabilly in those days and had no interest in those suits - man how I regret that now! I've also got a great photo at home, which I must scan to post here, of my mum when she was about 6 in 1945 at the Royal Easter Show with my grnadfather, in full 3 piece 'thornproof' wool suit and fedora. Now the Easter show is held around mid-autumn here for our non-Australian friends, but it still can get pretty warm. How men wore those suits in the heat is beyond me.

 

[cookie]

I used to buy a lot of vintage gear here in the early 1980's. You could get a pristine 1930's suit for $4 to $8 then. A 1940's Herbert Johnson or Stetson hat for $3. What amazed me was how heavy the suits were. Many of course were made to British, cold weather, specs (in those days people still called Britain "home" even if they had never been there). These garments were like armor - the very lining was thicker and more robust than the external fabric of many an expensive suit today. How they wore this stuff in this climate, lovely though it was, astonishes me.

I concur with all of that. I scored a few Sunday suits which were absolute beauties back in the 80s, Never see them now.