This racing suit was made in the late 1950s or early 1960s by Cambridge Ltd. / Scioto. It was designed and endorsed by legendary swim and dive coach Mike Peppe and bears his name. It is 60% acetate, 30% cotton and 10% rubber, the end result of which is a fine, slightly stiff, fabric, which stretched horizontally, but not vertically. There is a false fly, a drawstring waist and a cotton front lining. These were sold as racing / competition suits at the time. It is marked a size 28.
Category Archives: swim
1930s Blue Wool men’s bathing suit
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This vintage men’s swimsuit was made in the 1930s. It is deadstock, unworn, with the original paper tag. They are belted with a tan, white, maroon, teal and yellow belt and a silvertone solid brass buckle. There is a buttoned key pocket. They are in perfect NOS condition.
Waist unstretched: 11-1/2″ (doubled = 23″)
Waist stretched: 15″ (doubled =30″)
Rise: 14-1/2″
Side Seam: 10″
1930s men’s maroon wool swimsuit
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This vintage swimsuit was made in the 1930s. It is a ribbed maroon colored wool. There is a flapped and buttoned key pocket. The belt is tan, white, purple, blue and yellow and has a silvertone solid brass buckle. They are in great condtion.
Waist unstretched: 12-1/2″ (doubled = 25″)
Waist stretched: 16″ (doubled = 32″)
Rise: 10-1/2″
Side Seam: 7″
Vintage 1940s Puritan Sportswear satin swimsuit
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This vintage men’s swimsuit was probably made in the late 1930s or 1940s. It was made by Puritan Sportswear and is made of a white satin Lastex. Lastex was an early latex elastic based stretchy miracle fabric, woven in with other materials to give them elastic properties. This suit has a drawstring waist and internal buttoned key pocket. I’ve attached some images from Life Magazine from the the 1930s of similar suits being worn.
Waist unstretched: 16″ (doubled = 32″)
Waist stretched: 21″ ( doubled = 42″)
Rise: 16-1/2″
Side Seam: 12″
1940s/1950s Arrow Seashell men’s swimsuit
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These vintage swim trunks were made by Arrow (yes that Arrow- the one that made shirts and ties) in the late ’40s or 1950s. They have an atomic / Hawaiian seashell print on the front panel, and a woven satin- type fabric on the back- probably some kind of acetate blend. The front is lined and they have a key pocket and drawstring waist.
Waist unstretched: 11″ (doubled = 22″)
Waist stretched: 17″ (doubled = 34″)
Rise: 14″
Side Seam: 8-1/2″
Early 1950s Aetna Miamian men’s swimsuit
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This swimsuit was made in the early 1950s by Aetna. It is their Miamian model, for which I found newspaper ads in 1952 and 1953. It is made of Acetate, Nylon and Rubber, in a heavy textured fabric. The front panel has stripes, the back panel is plain white. There is a bit of light staining on the back. They have a drawstring waist.
Waist unstretched: 10-1/2″ (doubled = 21″)
Waist stretched: 20″ (doubled = 40″)
Rise: 12-1/2″
Side Seam: 8-1/2″
Unmarked 1950s white men’s swimsuit
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Unmarked 1950s men’s swim suit. Some kind of stretch cotton blend. Elastic waistband with drawstring. Key pocket- front lining. Some light dirt from storage.
Waist unstretched: 11″ (doubled = 20″)
Waist stretched: 17″ (doubled = 34″)
Rise: 12″
Side Seam: 7″
Vintage 1950s men’s Campus swimsuit
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This vintage men’s swim suit was made in the 1950s by Campus Sportswear. They are white with a black waistband, and a white lace-up belt. The front is lined- they are in excellent condition.
Waist unstretched: 13″ (doubled = 26″)
Waist stretched: 16-1/2″ (doubled = 35″)
Rise: 11″
Side Seam: 6-1/2″
VIntage 1950s men’s Campus swimsuit
This vintage men’s swimsuit was made in the 1950s by Campus Sportswear. They are cotton with racing stripes down the side seams. They have a flapped key pocket and an elastic waist. The front is lined. The elastic in the waist is still in great shape and stretchy. Some light stains from storage, but I think they would come out. They are tagged a size 30-32
Waist unstretched: 10″ (doubled = 20″)
Waist stretched: 15-1/2″ (doubled = 31″)
Rise: 11″
Side Seam: 7″

1950s men’s Campus Sportswear swim suit
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This vintage men’s swimsuit was made in the 1950s by Campus Sportswear. It is a white stretch material with blue stripes. The waist elastic has lost some of its stretch it would seem, and the drawstring is missing.
Waist unstretched: 13″ (doubled = 26″)
Waist stretched: 16″ (doubled = 32″)
Rise: 11-1/4″
Side Seam: 5″






















































