http://www.ebay.com/itm/281267809462
This vintage hunting vest was made in the 1910s-1920s by the Williamsport Leather Goods Company of Williamsport, PA. It has loops for thirty two shotgun shells and a six button front. The back has an adjustment belt and buckle. The original owner sewed a canvas bag to the back of the vest as a game pouch. The bag has a leather belt closure, and two pockets, one with a mesh bottom, the other solid. The style of label helps date the vest to the late 1910s- mid 1920s. The maker of this vest ceased production in 1927, so it can not date any newer than 87 years old.
The Williamsport Leather Goods Company had a factory at 941 Nichols Place and a store or office at 506 5th Avenue, Williamsport, PA. It was run by Charles C. and Howard E Krouse.The factory burned on April 29, 1927, with a loss in excess of $325,000. They did not rebuild.
Chest (pit to pit): 20″ (doubled = 40″)
Tag Archives: outdoors
Red Head Brand hunting vest
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271286283056
This vintage hunting best was made by Red Head brand. The vest has a densely woven brown canvas duck shell. It has a five button front and knit loops for twenty four shotgun shells. Behind the buttons is a mid 1930s Talon zipper, a rare transitional model between the hookless style grommet zips of the early ’30s and the “deco” zips of the later 1930s. As you can see, the sunburst stopbox on this one has the “foot” of the earlier riveted model. The label’s somewhat perplexing, in that it bears the registered trademark symbol. The Lanham act of the 1940s regulated who could use this symbol, and generally you see it on garments of the 1940s and newer. I have seen other Redhead clothes with this version of the label attributed as being from the 1930s, and the zipper is fairly definitively datable to the middle of the 1930s. So- either Red Head was an early adopter of the symbol, or a 1930s zip was installed a decade after it was made.
Chest (pit to pit): 20-1/2″
Length: 18-3/4″
1930s Duxbak Vest
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271286288652
This vintage hunting vest was made by the Utica Duxbak Corp. of Utica, New York in the 1930s. This one has the 1930s style label, which reads, “Duxbak Rain Proof Sanforized Sportsman’s Clothing”. It has a five button front and thirty two closed bottomed loops for shotgun shells. This particular model has a plain back (other options included an additional row of shotgun shells, and a belt-back). The canvas is densely woven and has acquired a great wear pattern over the years.
Chest (pit to pit): 20″ (doubled = 40″)
Length: 20″
Please also see these other Duxbak vests:
https://vintagehaberdashers.com/2013/09/16/1920s-duxbak-vest-size-42/
https://vintagehaberdashers.com/2013/08/31/1920s-duxbak-hunting-vest/
10 and 12 gauge shotgun vest
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271286311294
This vintage hunting vest was likely made in the 1930s or 1940s. It has a five button front, belted back and thirty four loops for both 10 and 12 gauge shotgun shells. Later vests had generally switched away from the closed bottomed canvas loops, and to easier to produce knit loops, as well as switching from belted to plain backs. This example is made from fairly lightweight, breathable canvas.
Chest (pit to pit): 23-1/2″ (doubled = 47″)
Length: 21″
1930s Woolrich hunting coat
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271277514189
This is a rare early variant of the classic Woolrich hunting coat. Most Woolrich coats you see are from the 1950s or 1960s. Coats of that era have snaps withe the “Woolrich” name on them. They have labels with a slimmed down sheep and a (R) registered trademark symbol in the corner. This one dates from the late 1930s, and has a number of details which differentiate it from the later, more common versions. The pocket snaps on this one are of the style used in the 1930s and before, with a meander pattern encircled by dots. The label is of the style used from the mid-late 1930s, with a blocky sheep, green text and a green border. Woolrich was an early adopter of zippers on their hunting garments. This one has twin double-marked Talon zippers on the game pocket. This is the style used in the late ’30s- early 1940s, with a beveled edge puller with a small hole, the Talon name on the component which attaches the slider to the puller, and the full “Made in U.S.A.” text on the back of the slider. By the 1940s, Woolrich had abandoned the use of zippers on their game pockets, in favor of a simpler and more easily repaired (though less secure) single button. With purely functional workwear and hunting items such as this, they were passed down for generations and worn hard, as there was no regard for changing styles, and a deer is unlikely to call the fashion police. The coat has a fair bit of mothing to the shell, but is in better shape than most I’ve seen from this era. Although there is some, there is also much less wear and staining than usually seen to the liner, the neck and the cuffs, the areas generally most heavily hit.
Tagged size: 42
Chest (pit to pit): 22″ (doubled = 44″)
Shoulder to Shoulder: 17″
Sleeve (shoulder to cuff): 24-1/2″
Length: 30″
Corduroy hunting cap
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281131758032
This vintage cap was made in the 1950s. Another from the lot of the same cut and style had Penney’s Big Mac tags on it, but this one is unbranded It is brown corduroy, with furry ear flaps inside, and cord flaps on the outside.
Hooded Woolrich jacket
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271159624677
This vintage Woolrich coat has really great detailing. It has a brass Talon zipper front, with a buttoned wind flap. It is fully belted, with a chunky metal belt buckle. The handwarmer pockets close with brass talon zippers, and have leather reinforcements at the ends. The pocket trim forms the belt loops in the tradition of norfolk jackets. The front patch pockets are of the saddlebag variety, allowing them to expand when used. The coat has a hood, and a full sherpa lining, with quilted nylon in the sleeves. It is tagged a size 46, but with the 46″ chest measurement, fits like a size 42.
Chest (pit to pit): 23″
Shoulder to Shoulder: 19″
Shoulder to Cuff: 25″
Aero Duxback hunting jacket
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281050458109