Boy in chiaroscuro. RPPC. Private Collection.
An artistic portrait of a teen with a half smile. He’s holding a large book, looking up and off to the side as if daydreaming. The background reminds me of a church or school hall.
RPPC: The back is divided with no stamp box.
Card game. Snapshot. Private Collection.
The gent on the left looks like he’s much too focused on his hand to pay attention to what’s going on. The group picture? What? I’m about to lose my shirt! Either that or it was so good he wasn’t going to ruin the mojo. ;)
The one in the middle looks charismatic. There’s always one.
This is about RPPC size but the paper’s flimsier. There’s some glue residue from being in an album.
Hans & Arthur in Buffalo fur coats. RPPC. Private Collection.
Buffalo or bear fur coats must have been heavy but did their job protecting the wearers against the deep freeze of Northern winters.
Sitters: Hans Tweet and Arthur Rusminssen
RPPC: ACME POSTCARD -divided back.
Gentlemen at the fair. 1910s-1920s. RPPC. Private Collection.
This picture was part of a lot of RPPCs I got months ago. Sometimes I’ll buy a cheap lot just for a particular picture, but there’s always a few other ones in the midst I’ll like, like this one. The taller gent on the right is wearing a two button coat with matching trousers, and a square patterned tie. His buddy is wearing a flower on the lapel with a light striped pair of pants under his three button coat. This must have been taken during a summer drought; the grass looks brown and their shoes are dusty. I like the pose of the smiling gent on the left, it contrasts with the more serious attitude of his buddy who can’t wait for the picture to be over with. The hand on the hip thing…that’s how everybody’s grandpa used to pose! :)
Larger detail.
RPPC: SOLIO Diamonds. 1903-1920s
They don’t make’em like they used to rings very true for this boys’ clothing manufacturer based in New York. The clothes were ‘insured’ and would be replaced if they did not withstand the active lifestyle of their young wearers within ‘reasonable wear’. Try to get this deal today!
Wearpledge was a line of clothing to fit toddlers up to 18. The company behind it was The Bauman Clothing Corporation based in New York, and then Springfield, Massachusetts.
This series of advertising postcards was found in the closet of the seller’s great aunt, and were sold to me at a bargain. These are rare as they were advertising postcards and most people after reading them threw them away. But there were some who found them cute and kept them tucked away…you know, that person who *keeps everything*. I’m glad I’ve got this little piece of fashion history.
I believe this series of 6 is complete. They have notes on the back (typed here under each card) like a hand written message from one boy to another, followed by a postscriptum announcing Wearpledge suits were in town, and to check them out:
The two following pages were found in 1919 either in The New Yorker or The Ladies Home Journal, the leading ladies magazine in America. The art was done by Hans Flato:
The Bauman Clothing Corp. was an all-around quality company producing fine garments and taking care of their employees. They didn’t cut corners and realized good wages meant good returns. The workers were compensated well above industry standards and never joined a union. On the plant was a grocery store which provided items at ‘jobbers’ prices’, and even a dance hall!
Source: Clothing Trade Journal. Vol. 16.
Bowlers And High Collars 