Manson-Frocks - Need label ID help!

Rebecca McNamara

Rebecca McNamara

Registered Guest
Hi everyone -
I am researching a dress from about 1900-1910. It has a label sewn into it that reads "Manson=Frocks." I have been unable to find ANY information (using both primary + secondary sources) on a design or import house named "Manson Frocks." There were a few Mansons that sold clothing in the early 20th century in Philadelphia and New York, but I haven't been able to confirm if any of them relate to this label/garment. The dress goes with a jacket, which has an L. S. Ayres (Indianapolis retailer) label. Has anyone seen this label before or have any insight?? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Manson-Frocks_detail.jpg
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Many thanks!
Rebecca
 
I suspect it may have been a store/shop. Did you happen to see this mention of Manson Frocks in this novel? It takes place in NYC and if you read the "About this Book" section it is rather fascinating and I would bet the author is writing based upon facts from her own first-hand knowledge. Anyway, if you read the first chapter, I think there are some clues there thay may provide more research avenues.

It is a beauty. Good luck! !

https://books.google.com/books?id=p...Q6AEICjAA#v=onepage&q="manson frocks"&f=false
 
The label I see stitched onto your dress says & Manson Frocks and looks as though it is folded over. This rather suggests to me there is another name preceding this and perhaps after a partner's death or change of ownership they stopped using that name, preferring to use up old labels in this manner rather than ordering new ones. If there is a chance the remainder has not been cut off I'd be inclined to undo that end and see what it says...
This could also help with dating, as it would suggest this garment was made shortly after the change of name.
 
Pinkcoke said:
The label I see stitched onto your dress says & Manson Frocks and looks as though it is folded over. This rather suggests to me there is another name preceding this and perhaps after a partner's death or change of ownership they stopped using that name, preferring to use up old labels in this manner rather than ordering new ones. If there is a chance the remainder has not been cut off I'd be inclined to undo that end and see what it says...
This could also help with dating, as it would suggest this garment was made shortly after the change of name.
Click to expand...

Melanie, what a fascinating interpretation! I will definitely take a closer look at the dress/label and explore that possibility.
 
jauntyrooster said:
I suspect it may have been a store/shop. Did you happen to see this mention of Manson Frocks in this novel? It takes place in NYC and if you read the "About this Book" section it is rather fascinating and I would bet the author is writing based upon facts from her own first-hand knowledge. Anyway, if you read the first chapter, I think there are some clues there thay may provide more research avenues.

It is a beauty. Good luck! !

https://books.google.com/books?id=pwUtCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT13&lpg=PT13&dq="manson frocks"&source=bl&ots=YfLQ9dnbzE&sig=D4KnYez2Czt73VWSETvGTXKJb_M&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiuqunm1pHMAhXJtYMKHXE5BFUQ6AEICjAA#v=onepage&q="manson frocks"&f=false
Click to expand...

I had indeed seen that GoogleBooks result...but didn't know what to make of it, since the matching jacket has an L.S. Ayres label, which was a well-known Indianapolis department store. It would be strange, I think, for someone to purchase the dress at an NYC store and then the jacket in Indianapolis. That's why I thought it would be a design/import house. But I will definitely explore NYC city directories to see if I can't find a Manson Frocks retailer.
 
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