Figure 1.--Patterns and modern photography of period clothing provides valuable information on material, color, detail, and desisn that is not always available through contemprary photography.

A HBC reader reports that he has a pairs of old store stock, or NOS, boys knee pants. He is in the process of drafting a rough working pattern for them. They still have the tags on them. The pants are a fall-front, dark navy blue, approximately a size 12 in today's sizes. with plain legs, wool, slightly above the knee cut. They were made in the United States.

Chronolgy

HBC at this time has no information on when the pants were made. Presumably they were made in the late 19th or early 20th century.

Location

They were made in the United States.

Details

The pants are a fall-front, dark navy blue with plain legs, wool, slightly above the knee cut.

Age

They are approximately a size 12 in today's sizes

Usage

HBC does not know if these pants were for ordinary wear or for dress wear. Many boys in the late 19th century did not have the large wardrobes boys have today. Thus a new pair of pants would be used for school or special events and a boy would wear an old pair for play. This pair looks to be made from a hard wearing material.

Figure 2.--This photograph shows the button detail on fall front. Click on the image for stitching details.

NOS

NOS is a term common in the vintage car area. It can mean New Old Stock, or as some say Never On Shelf. It is most commonly used when describing old car parts that did not pass factory inspections or were left overs that never went on a car or were never sold, but I have heard it used elsewhere as well. It is used here to mean vintage clothing that was never sold and used.