Is this a 1920s suit jacket???

EndlessAlley

EndlessAlley

Alumni
This man's suit jacket was made by the United Woolen Company. This company purchased in bulk, wool fabrics, etc., operated their own tailoring shops and sold direct to the consumer. Ads found were from 1911 to 1946. The Company President on my label is the same name that is shown in a 1926 ad.

Also in the coat is an A.F of L United Workers Garment Label. Inside the circle on the label it states "General Executive 1891" I have not been able to find an image of this label nor information on it. (I can try to get a better image of this label if that would be helpful)

I found a suit very much like this one listed in one of my reference books. Three button double breasted with wide lapels, flap pocket and long vertical seams at waist. There is no vent in back. Shoulders are padded, but nothing extreme. Fabric is scratchy dark brown wool with tiny blue stripes and flecks of red and white. I've also included an image of the lining.

Thank you for any insight you can share regarding this jacket.

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Hi,

It sure has many of the right signs of a mid 1920's suit jacket. I cannot tell from the photo, but it should taper in at the waistline if it is 20s. Also, it looks a bit short for a 1920's jacket, but that may be due to the man who it was made for. Most 20s jackets came lower on the hip area. The lining also looks later than 1920s to me.

But it has some of the right signs, the lapels look right, as does the 3 button double breast.

B
 
I had a suit with that United Woolen Company label in it. I ended up with a 1930s date. It's long gone now, but I believe it was a dark green double breasted wool.

Can you get a clearer photo pf the white Union label? It looks like it has some important differences to the ones on steelzipper.

Hollis
 
Barbara, thanks for your comments. I measured the jacket flat and pit to pit is 45" and the waist is 43". Would this fit into the 20s profile?

Hollis attached are two clearer images of the label (pixel size reduced to fit this forum. If you think it's something Rusty Zipper would be interested in I saved the full size of the images, so I could send them a higher quality image.

Thank you both for your help.

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Thanks Holis, that's a great site which I have bookmarked. The label on this sight, similar to mine, shows "Duck Goods" written in large script while mine notes "Special Order".

They state that labels were registered 1950, so I don't know where this coat fits in.

My coat looks earlier to me than 1950s and I did find one reference in 1951 where the United Woolen Co. made a donation to a local organization, but all clothing references are from 1911 to 1946.

This is a dating mystery to me.... Any suggestions???
 
I think with a 'first use date of 1913, and first use in commerce date of 1930' you are still go to go with earlier than the 50s.

When I had a suit with this United Woolen label, I couldn't find much, but now! The signature is W.A. Hersch and if you google that with United Woolen Mills, you will find a good bit.

Hollis
 
It could be early 1940's. The fabric appears to be a hard finish wool suiting fabric often used in the 1930's although tailors often had older fabric on hand and used it at least into the 1940's when wool went to the war effort. Is the jacket a little large for your form? I am confused by the apparent substantial shoulder pads. 1920's and 1930's suits were fitted much higher underarm giving that strangled look (to me). The armseye did not open up until WWll giving a broader shouldered look. What is the mid back length?
Marian
 
Hi Marian. Mid back length is 31 1/2" (collar seam to hem). So that shoulders don't "slump" on my female dress form I insert a pieces of cardboard to extend the length of support for shoulders. This is a large coat with pit to pit 45" and waist 43". Shoulders are padded but not like the "40".

And thanks for the suggestion Hollis, I'll do another archive news search on Hersch and United Woolen Co. as well as Mills.
 
Hello all. My interest in this thread is primarily in the United Woolen Company itself. My grandfather worked for them (was accountant and later treasurer according to US Census data and city directories). I am trying to find out more about the company. My grandfather moved to Columbus, Ohio in about 1937 or 38 and worked there until sometime in the 1940s. I don't know if he retired or was still working when he died in 1946. He was listed as treasurer, United Woolen, in the 1942 Columbus City Directory. Among other things I am wondering if they also had a company in New Jersey or New York City. I am trying to determine if they transferred him to Columbus or if he decided to move to the midwest for other reasons. Thanks for any information anyone has. Pat
 
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