A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Wooden Sleepers, a vintage menswear store in Red Hook and chatting with its owner, Brian Davis. If you have fifteen minutes, watch the video below for a cornucopia of vintage denim, leather, canvas and more, and for some serious geeking out.

http://katch.me/embed/v/d8c43c63-3569-3554-83b3-28ec759fe62a

The front of the shop, with vintage coveralls, denim and army jacket displayed. The store is about a block and a half from the water.

Vintage blanket jacket and well worn wooden fixtures.

A touch of modern handmade goods, designed to patina with age and usage.

Brown’s Beach vest

Vintage denim and hunting jackets.

The leather section, with an emphasis on 1940s civilian models.

Wooden Sleepers is located at
416 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
http://wooden-sleepers.com/

Vintage 1930s 7 fold parkway men’s brown rust necktie tie unlined
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281412172304
This vintage tie was handmade by Parkway Ties using seven fold construction. It measures 48-1/2″ long by 3-1/4″ wide.

Vintage 1940s 1950s Arrow silk tie gray red yellow men’s neckie
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271574997605
51″ long, 4-1/8″ wide.

Vintage 1940s Beau Brummell 4 Fold Palm Beach Sportown wool men’s necktie tie
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281411356352
Beau Brummell was best known for their production of Palm Beach Cloth neckties, using the 4 fold construction developed and patented for that fabric. Interestingly, they used the same construction for their line of Sportown wool ties, of which this is an example. 47-1/2″ long, 3-1/2″ wide. Originally sold by Wagner’s of Bozeman, Montana

Vintage 1930s Bondley Sanforized men’s striped necktie tie wrinkle free
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281412175071
The tie measures 47″ long and 3-1/4″ wide

Vintage 1940s Botany Regence NOS Deadstock blue paisley men’s necktie tie wool
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281412177975
This vintage tie was made in the early 1940s by Botany. It is part of their Regence line, and is unlined. The tie is made of wool and measures 46-1/2″ long and 4-1/2″ wide

Vintage 1940s Don Juan men’s necktie swing tie fruit apple grapes pears red
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281411298281
47″ long, 4-1/2″ wide

Vintage 1950s figural farm barn lovers men’s necktie swing tie purple red
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271575002324
This vintage tie has a scene of a farm with a barn, fence line and two lovers in victorian garb underneath a tree. 51-1/2″ long, 3-3/4″ wide.

Vintage 1940s men’s knot planned red white blue fish scale men’s necktie tie
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271575007437
50″ long, 4-1/8″ wide

Sometimes it’s fun to have a beater guitar. This was the base model Heit (Teisco). One pickup, right in the middle and a bent metal tailpiece.

Here’s a coat from my collection. Not for sale, but an interesting piece.

This flight suit was made in 1942 by the Canadian company Deacon Brothers. Deacon Brothers had a factory at 133 Dundas St East Belleville, Ontario, and was known primarily for their shirts.

It was sold to me as being RCAF issue, as part of a two piece flight suit. The military style designation number seems to point to that, as do all the specialized details on the front. I have only seen two other flight suits of this design, and only a few other items made by Deacon. I have seen one example of this same design made by S.S. Holden Ltd.. Multiple manufacturers producing identical patterns does point to this having been an issued item, but its current rarity points to it not having been made in large numbers.