1930s US Biological Survey bag

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271570365132
This vintage canvas bag was made in the mid 1930s and was used by the US Biological Survey for poisoned grain, which was used to eliminate “undesirable species” from the western states of America to clear the way for agriculture and ranching. The Bureau of Biological Survey was created in 1934 and lasted until 1940, when the Fish and Wildlife Service was created.
The bag is made of selvedge canvas, with the selvedge edge by the zipper. The zipper is a very early Talon, made in the same shape as earlier Hookless zippers. The buckle has anchor and “W” hallmarks.

1940s brown sanforized shorts

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281385081330
These vintage cotton twill shorts were made in the 1940s. They have piped side seams, single pleats, an attached belt, front coin/key pocket and a single rear pocket. They are Sanforized and have a button fly.

Waist (side to side): 18″ (doubled = 36″)
Outseam: 14-1/2″
Inseam: 3-1/2″

1910s “The Gem” Special hunting vest

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281337853385
This vintage hunting vest was made by the Gem Shirt Company of Dayton, Ohio in the 1910s. The Gem Shirt Co. was founded c.1888, and diversified into canvas hunting clothes in the early part of the 20th century, innovating the usage of lined waterproof game bags. They were a high end maker at the time, making their products from an excellent grade of cotton canvas duck. They ceased production by the 1920s.
The vest has 37 closed bottomed reinforced corduroy shotgun shell pockets on the front of the vest. The corduroy material is somewhat unusual, a nice early detail. The back is belted, but instead of the usual vest style central belt and buckle arrangement, this one has double side adjuster belts. It has Southwick buckles, a type patented in 1906, also used on some DuxBak vests of the period. It has an early black and yellow label, which identifies this model as the “Special”, made for “Outers and Hunters”. The grouse on the label is carried through onto the figural buttons. They are removable ring-back, of the type common on workwear of the period.

Chest (pit to pit): 22″ (doubled = 44″)
Length (front): 24″
Length (rear): 19″

For another vest made by “The Gem”, see here. A comparison of the two is below.

Patent no 819,180, as found on the back of the buckle. Patented May 1, 1906

The logo for “The Gem” was trademarked in 1911, although it had been in use since 1888. The label on this vest reads “Registered”, dating it after 1911.

Ad for “The Gem” from 1912

The Gem Hunting Coat, 1917

1918. Guiterman Bros Town and Country vest, Gem Hunting Coat and a Springfield Rifle

1923. Gem Hunting Vests and coats. This is the last I can find on the company.

1950s Bullseye Bill fishing jacket

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281337372551
This vintage jacket was made in the 1950s and was sold under the “Bullseye Bill” label. I have had several of these jackets, dating from the 1930s-1950s, and other than the hardware and labels, the overall design barely changed. This one has a “Wiz” zipper front, where as earlier models generally had button fronts. There are pockets on both of the arms, wraparound pockets, a large rear game pocket, a breast pocket, fly rod loop and a sheepskin patch for flies. There is a D-ring on the back of the jacket to attach further gear to, and two internal patch pockets Most people who wear these as streetwear remove the fly pad. This one is made of light, summer weight canvas.

In case if you don’t know wher to buy water shoes for this part.

Chest (pit to pit): 23″ (doubled = 46″)
Shoulder to shoulder: 18″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 24″
Length (base of collar to hem): 22″

Similar in cut to this “Snag Pruf” jacket

1920s high-neck buckle-back hunting vest

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271491035755
This vintage hunting vest was made in the 1920s. It is made from canvas, with thirty four closed bottomed shotgun shell loops. It has a high necked closure to keep out the elements, similar to the Browns Beach vests of the period, which were also designed for hunting. The vest has a buckle back. An ink-stamped canvas tag identifies this as a size 40.

Chest (pit to pit): 21″
Length: 19-1/2″

1920s Duxbak hunting coat

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271482181910
This vintage canvas hunting jacket was made in the 1920s by Duxbak. It is their early style of hunting coat, introduced in the first decade of the 20th century, with double hip pockets, and a double breast pocket. For both, the double pockets share a single flap. This jacket has the early version of what would later become the “half-moon” pocket, a pass through on the front of the coat to the interior game pocket. The jacket is a double thickness. The pockets have been lined/patched with selvedge salt and pepper cotton. Underarms are double-panel gusseted and have ventilation grommets. There is a calendar in the pocket dated 1939, presumably the last time this coat was worn in earnest. With the amount of wear put on it, its safe to say it dates from some time before that. The style of label and style of the coat confirm a 1920s date of manufacture.

Tagged size: 42
Chest (pit to pit): 25-1/2″ (51″)
Shoulder to shoulder: 19-1/2″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 23″
Length (base of collar to hem): 29″

1920s Red Head Hunting vest

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271478366338
This vintage hunting vest was made in the 1920s by the Red Head Brand, a premier maker of hunting garments at the time. It is an early style, high buttoning cut, with a six button front. It has canvas, closed bottomed shotgun shell loops, another hallmark of earlier manufacture hunting vests. There are loops for 38 shotgun shells on the front, and loops for another 23 on the back.
This has the earliest Red Head brand label I have yet to see. It is significantly larger than later labels, with a much more detailed duck. It reads Trade Mark Registered at the top, while labels from the 1930s and early 1940s read , “reg. us. pat. off”, and ones from the mid-late 1940s had the (R) symbol.

Chest (pit to pit):19″ (doubled = 38″)

1930s canvas hunting cap

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271469093705
This vintage canvas hunting cap was made in the 1930s. This one has seen some heavy use, with fading to the canvas. It has internal earflaps, and a back brim which can flip down to protect your neck in the rain.
Size: 7-1/4
Brim Width: 2-1/2″ front, 2-1/4″ back

1940s polka dot work cap

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281321573752
This cap was made in the 1940s by the Beaver Headwear Company of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is a blue canvas with white polka dots. There are internal ear flaps, and a back brim which can be folded down.

1940s hunting coat

Posted on April 11, 2014 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271449021284
This vintage hunting coat is made from brown canvas, with a brown corduroy collar. It has large cargo pockets with shotgun shell loops inside, reinforced shoulders and an internal buttoned game pouch. It is half-lined with plaid flannel.

Chest (pit to pit): 26″ (doubled = 52″)
Shoulder to shoulder: 21″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 23″
Length (base of collar to hem): 26″

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Tag Archives: canvas

1930s US Biological Survey bag

1940s brown sanforized shorts

1910s “The Gem” Special hunting vest

1950s Bullseye Bill fishing jacket

1920s high-neck buckle-back hunting vest

1920s Duxbak hunting coat

1920s Red Head Hunting vest

1930s canvas hunting cap

1940s polka dot work cap

1940s hunting coat