Red Head Brand hunting vest

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Spencer Stewart

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

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Spencer Stewart

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/

1920s Duxbak vest – size 42

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271278932633
This vintage hunting vest was made in the 1920s. The DuxBak line was started in 1906 by Bird, Jones and Kenyon, and had a factory located at 1 Blandina St., Utica, NY. Prior to the 1920s, Duxbak used the slogan “Duxbak Sportsman’s Clothing” in their advertisements and on their tags. During the 1920s, they switched to ” Duxbak Rain Proof Sportsman’s Clothing”. By the 1930s, they had changed their label to include a graphic of a hunter, and to emphasize “Utica”.

This shell vest design changed very little from when it was introduced in the early 1900s until this one was produced. As it was a garment of pure function, it was not beholden to the whims of fashion. A good design was a good design, and they stuck with it. It has loops for 32 shotgun shells on the front and 16 on the back, for a total of 48. The loops have a canvas top and an early rubber elastic bottom. They are of an open bottomed design, and have leather reinforcement tabs at the end of each row of loops. The vest has a five button front and all buttons bear the duxbak name. This vest was sold originally by the Ambrose Sporting Goods Co., which was located at 132 South Main Street, Memphis, TN. The company seems to have had their peak in the late 1920s, although they did make it through the depression.

Tagged Size:
Chest (pit to pit): 21-1/2″ (doubled = 43″)
Length (neck to hem down back):19-1/2″

1920s DuxBak hunting vest

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281160337309
This vintage hunting vest was made in the 1920s. The DuxBak line was started in 1906 by Bird, Jones and Kenyon, and had a factory located at 1 Blandina St., Utica, NY. Prior to the 1920s, Duxbak used the slogan “Duxbak Sportsman’s Clothing” in their advertisements and on their tags. During the 1920s, they switched to ” Duxbak Rain Proof Sportsman’s Clothing”. By the 1930s, they had changed their label to include a graphic of a hunter, and to emphasize “Utica”.

This shell vest design changed very little from when it was introduced in the early 1900s until this one was produced. As it was a garment of pure function, it was not beholden to the whims of fashion. A good design was a good design, and they stuck with it. It has loops for 28 shotgun shells, a high buttoning neckline to protect the wearer from the elements, and a buckle back to adjust for a comfortable fit. The buckle used on the back bears the patent number “819180”, which shows that this buckle design dates from 1906. The vest has a six button front, and all the buttons bear the DuxBak name.

Tagged Size:
Chest (pit to pit): 18-3/4″ (doubled = 37.5″)
Length (neck to hem down back):18″

Pendleton Vest II

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271199140959
This vintage vest was custom madein the 1950s, by “Jackie”. This kind of label was typical for small, cottage industry seamstresses of the period. The vest is made from a Pendleton indian blanket, and the seams are trimmed with blanket material. It has a three button front. There are several surface moth bites on the right shoulder.

Chest (pit to pit): 21″
Length: 22″

Pendleton Vest

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281141508243
This vintage vest was custom made mid-century from a Pendleton blanket. It is reversible, with patch pockets on both sides. All the seams are finished neatly and properly such that it truly is reversible. The side seams are cut like shirt tails.

Chest (pit to pit): 25″ (doubled = 50″)
Length: 29″

1910s summer vest

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271245474316
This vintage vest was made in the 1910s. It has an incredible weave, be sure to see the close up photo. It has five mother of pearl buttons and a belted back. There are repairs around the buttons, and staining throughout the vest. The belt is missing its buckle, and is pinned up for the photos.

Chest (pit to pit): 20-1/2″ (doubled = 41″)

Summit Town and Country Coat hunting vest

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281140400237
This vest was made in the 1910s. It is made of brown canvas, with holders for 36 shotgun shells. The manufacturer, Guiterman Bros., pioneered the knit collar this vest bears. They began using it on leather jackets in 1912. By the 1920s, it would find its way onto the A-1 leather jacket. In Guiterman’s 1915 catalog, this model is identified as the M1206, and is described as a “Vest with Cartridge Holders”: “Dead Grass duck shell vest, four rows of cartridge holders for carrying thirty two cartridges, detachable buttons, adjustable strap in back; sizes 36 to 46. Each $10.”

The tag identifies the patent of the “Summit”, as Jan 30, 1912. The tag on the back identifies it as “Dri-Bak Rainproof”. The collar has extremely early U.S.F. snaps. The buttons are sewn, not detachable as the ad indicates. They have a wonderful lined pattern to them.

A bit about the maker: Guiterman Brothers was founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1904. They began using the Summit “Town & Country” name in 1904. In the early 1910s, Guiterman Brothers pioneered the attached soft collared shirt. They also called it the Summit. The company had a plant at 352 Silbey Street, St. Paul, MN, which still stands. They enjoyed prosperity during the 1910s, riding the Mackinaw boom of 1912-1915. They were supposedly the first company to coin the name “windbreaker”. As shown above, their “Town and Country” Coats and vests shared the distinctive double snap Knit-Nek. During WWI, Guiterman Bros. were one of the larger contractors for flying coats for US aviators. In 1928-1929, the company was purchased by Gordon and Ferguson.

Chest (pit to pit): 20-1/2″ (doubled = 41″)

factory

1922 ad

M1206 – from the 1915 ad

More vests from 1915

1950s Saddle Sturdy Brand western vest

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281104985753

This vintage double breasted vest was made in the 1950s by the Saddle Sturdy Brand / Glenshore / Denver, Colorado. It has a green plaid corduroy front, fancy buttons, and a yellow back and lining.

Chest (pit to pit): 21″

Austin Ltd. Red wool vest

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Spencer Stewart

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271203797196

This vintage vest was sold under the Auston, Ltd., New York label. It has a red wool front, copper colored back and striped lining. It features nicely shaped points, a darted, four pocket front, pointed pocket flaps. The red buttons are a nice touch. “British” marked buckle on the back.

Chest (pit to pit): 22″

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Tag Archives: vest

Red Head Brand hunting vest

1930s Duxbak Vest

1920s Duxbak vest – size 42

1920s DuxBak hunting vest

Pendleton Vest II

Pendleton Vest

1910s summer vest

Summit Town and Country Coat hunting vest

1950s Saddle Sturdy Brand western vest

Austin Ltd. Red wool vest