A nice assortment of summer shoes from Florsheim. Some spectators, some white bucks, all in unusual and elegant styles.
Florsheim Spectator Shoes 1939-1940
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Tag Archives: mens
1930s Macy’s men’s swim trunks
1930s swim trunks sold by the R.H. Macy Company of New York. Great belt buckle. Heavy kersey-type wool, not the typical knit. Flapped key pocket. Early Talon zipper.
Mid 1930s Stetson Playboy Air Light
Now on eBay! LINK
This hat is the first generation of the famous Stetson Playboy. It is made of “Air Light” quality felt, some of the lightest felt Stetson ever produced. It has a correspondingly thin and lightweight leather sweatband, narrow ribbon, and a stitched brim edge. There is punched ventilation in the crown. The felt is so light and soft, yet dense, that it easily takes any crease. The sweatband is stamped “The Stetson Playboy – Air Light”. It was sold by Kuhns Johnson Company of Greensburg PA. There is a vibrant blue bow at the sweatband seam, and a typical mid 1930s Stetson gold foil tag. The unreeded sweatband has dropped a fair number of stitches, as is common on unreeded sweatbands of this period.
Size: 7-1/8
Brim Width: 2-1/8″
Ribbon Width: 7-1/8″
Crown Height: 5-7/8″
1940s casual MacLachlan fedora
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This hat was made by MacLachlan hat makers, probably in the 1940s and was sold by Barney’s Mens Wear of Chicago, Illinois. It is an unusual light oatmeal colored heathered felt with a small overwelt. The hatband is of a then popular casual knit style. The hat has a grosgrain ribbon sweatband, which, combined with the tin, lightweight felt, makes the hat rollable and packable. The hat is unlined and has the Mac Lachlan crest printed into the crown. Also, because of the soft construction, the hat has a fair bit of give to it, so it easily fits a 7-1/4, despite being tagged and measuring to a 7-1/8 when unworn.
Size: 7-1/8
Brim Width: 2-1/8″
Band Width: 3-4/”
Crown Height: 5-5/8″
Late 1800s / early 1900s Stetson Montecristi Panama Hat
Now on eBay! LINK
This hat was made in the early part of the 20th century, or possibly the late 1800s. I’ve never seen another hat with this super early John B. Stetson crest. It’s extremely old and unusual.
The hat is a very fine montecristi panama, see the detail picture with a penny for scale for an idea of just how fine. There are three breaks in the straw in the brim, at the back, but unlike the other early Stetson Montecristi, they don’t show very badly, especially when worn. The hat has a classic optimo blocking, and the brim is finely backwoven. THe sweatband has some of the finest stitching I’ve seen and is extremely wide. It is still nice and supple. The original owner’s initials, “ECA” are stamped opposite the Stetson logo.
Size: 7-1/4
Brim Width: 2-1/8″
Ribbon Width: 7/8″
1920s men’s one piece swimsuit
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This vintage men’s bathing suit is from the 1920s or early 1930s. No makers label, just a content label saying that it is part wool. Feels like the rest is probably cotton, because, if anything, it feels like a soft cotton knit T-shirt. It has a skirt and side cutouts. Sizing on these one pieces can be a bit tricky- please refer to the measurements.
Waist unstretched: 13″ (doubled = 26″)
Waist stretched: 20″ (doubled = 40″ )
Shoulder to crotch unstretched: 22″
Shoulder to crotch stretched: 26″
Mike Peppe early 1960s competition men’s swimsuit
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.
Waist unstretched: 12″ (doubled = 24″)
Waist stretched: 16″ (doubled = 32″)
Rise: 12″
Side Seam: 7-1/2″
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
Now on eBay! LINK
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″
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