Figure 1.--These English brothers, we think in the early-1930s, had their portraits taken together. They wear identical double-breasted short pants suits. The only difference is that the younger brther wars low-cut oxfords and the older brother high-tops. They look to be about 6-10 years old.

The same basic trends that appeared in the 1920s continued into the 1930s. Suits continue to be commonly worn, much more commonly than is the case today and not just for special occassions. Short pants suits continue to be commonly offered in catalogs. Boys in the 30s still did not have lage wardrobes of casual clothing. Short pants suits continued to be standard wear for English boys with little change. The jackets we see are mostly single- and double-breasted styles. We continue to see most primary school age boy and younger teens wearing short pant suits. We tend to see fewer vest suits. Here is another example, two brothers we think in the early-30s. We see very little change, although the length of the shorts were a little shorter, but only slightly. We see, however, mostly long shorts hut a little above the knees. We see knee socks with a pattern design on the turn-over top cuffs. Most seem to be grey rather than the dark knee sock common in the 20s, especially the early-20s. By the 30s these suits were commonly worn with low cut shoes, rather the high-tops often worn in the 20s.

Three Brothers

These English brothers, we think in the early-1930s, had their portraits taken together (figure 1). They wear identical double-breasted short pants suits. Strangely we do not see the second row of buttons on the olderb boy's jacket, but it dioes seem to be buttoned. He seems to be wearing a sweater, or is it a vest? The only maopr difference is that the younger brother wears low-cut oxfords and the older brother high-tops. The two older boys look to be about 6-10 years old. The high-top shoes thev older brother wears is why we think the portrait ws taken in thec early-30s. Thev todler wears light-colored sandals. Note the fountain pen in the older boy's jacket pocket. Ball points didn't exist at the time. School desks might have ink well holders. Thee was always the danger of ink spells and stains on shirts.

Ken Adams

We note a family snapshot of Ken Adams and Joyce Smith. They are in either Ken's or Joyce's back yard (back garden for our British friends) enjoing a treat, looking like an ice cream cone. But it is not icecream. Children at the time would not hsve ice cream cones in their back yards. A British reader tells us, "Had a look. at the snapshot. No its not ice cream. They have bags of sweets (candy). The little girl has made a real score. She is licking a toffee lollipop while holding a bag of sweets. And if that was not enough she has another bag of sweets in her lap. The bags are fashioned out of paper in a cone shape and the sweets have been weighed out in the bags at the sweet shop." They may be neigbors or relatives. Joyce and Ken look to be about 6 and 13, perhaps 14 years old. (Pre-War children tend to look a little younger thsn modern children.) The snapshot is undated, but looks like the 1930s to us, possibly the post-War 1940s. (Candy znd anything with sugar was strictly rationed during the war nd in Britain rationing continued for severl years after the War. We have no idea where in England the snapshot was taken, but the dealer was in Lancanshire. Joyce looks to be wearing a sweater over a dress and knee socks. The sweater suggests a cool dy. Ken wears a short pants suit. The jacket has large lapels. He also has knee socks with patterned tops. The suit looks more like his dressup clothes than a school uniform. Ken's hair is parted in the middle which suggests the 1930s rather than the 40s. In the background is a vine trelace and an area to work with potted plants.

Naval Father and Son

Here we see a farther and son studio portrait. We are not sure what the father's uniform is. It looks like a naval uniform but we are not sure. Hopefully someone will know about the badges and insignia. He is not an officer, but presumably a non-commissioned officer, clearly proud of his son who looks to be about 8 years old. He wears a single breasted suit. It is not a school uniform, although his sweater and knee socks are school uniform items, note the matching colored trim which raises another issue. School uniform were worn at pribate schools. State schools at the time did not have uniforms. But as his g=father was not an officer, we think the boy probbly attended a state school which leaves us wondering why he had some school uniform items. This is a post-card back portrait. with a K stramp box. Mom may have been with them as the boys' hair is so well combed. The portrait is undated and we are unsure about the date. The low-cut shoes suggest the 1930s to us.

Created: 12:32 PM 9/11/2017
Last updated: 3:39 PM 12/12/2023