Figure 1.--This catalog offered a variety of outfits for toddle and pre-school boys. Younger boys had romper outfits. Older boys might wear suspender shorts and longs. Note that the suspenders are not attched or button on. They have easikly removable clasps. |
German catalogs often express sizes in terms of the child's neight. The most common sizes are 92 cm (2 years), 98 cm (3 years), and 104 cm (4 years). Otto-versandhaus offered a wide style of outfits for toddler and pre-school boys. The short sets could have been worn by American boys. The romers have a kind of Russian blouse styling. Short sets and rompers were available as well as short and long pants, all with suspender or halter attachments. The script at the top of the page reads "bei Regen und bei Sonne!". I think that means rain or shine.
HBC has tried to provide the ad copy, but because We do nit have the original and don't speak Germanm we are unable to perfectly react the text. HBC hooes thatour German readers will help out here.
This shorts set for a younger boy comes in double breasted styling. It is a style a younger American boy might wear. There is a little decoration on one page. The ad copy reads, "Small boys are never careful when playing , this summer suit is therefore
ideal, strong and washable strainresistent thick cotton poplin. Jacket:
reversable collar, gold??? button. Nice applications on the pocket. Short
sleeves. Trousers: elastic belt. Suspenders with button fastener. Laterally
buttoned/On whole suit ?Zierstepperei?. ("Kleine Buben sehen sich deim Spielen nie vo?, ideal ist deshalb dieser unemphindliche und vaschechie strapazierfahige Sommeranzug aus dicham Baumwollpopeline. Jacke: Reverslragen, gold??? Knopfe. Niedliche Applikationem auf der ??? Tasche. Kurze arrnel. Hose: Gummizug ???. Träger mit Knopfverschluss. Seitlich geknöpft/ Am ganzer Anzug Zierstepperei.") It is only available in blue, but comes in sizes 86-128.
This green romper outfit has button Russian blouse top styling and bloomer pants. An American boy except for a small infant would not wear a romper outfit like this. The top is rather like a smock, although too short to be stytled such. The as copy reads, "Your little kid on the playground is the king in this charming summer suit in the Russian smock style. From solid web cotton poplin. Smock: with ?? weaved edging . Closing in the back with four buttons. Bloomer pants: with elastic strip at belt and legs. Suspenders with button fastener. Colour: green." ("Ihr Kleinster auf dem Spielplatz König in dieesem entzückenden Sommeranzug im Russen kittelstill. Aus kraftigem, dichtgewebter ???. Kittel: wirkungsvoll mit butgewebter Borte verziert. Hinten auf vier Knopfe zu schliessen. Höschen: mit Gummizug an Bund und Beinabsch luss. Träget mit Knopfverschluss. Fabre: grun.") The sizes are 80-104.
This blue romper outfit is quite silimar to item H except that is has a string neck fastner rather than buttons. The ad copy reads, "In this nice summer suit in the Russian smock style the little child can move freely and ??? . Weaved edging ornament at the shoulder, neck and pockets. Binding ribbon in front. Short sleeves. Pants with elastic strip at the belt and at the legs. Button fastener at the suspenders. Material:
Cotton fabric in the linen character. Color: blue" ("In diesem niedlichen Sommeransug im Russen kittelstill kann sich das Kleinkind frei und unge??? bewegen. Webbortenverzierung an der Schulter , am Halsaus schmidt und an den aufgesertzen Trachen. Bindebandver schluss vorne. Kurze Armel???. Höschen mit Gummizug im Bund und an den Beinen. Knopfverschluss an den Trägern. Material: ??? Baumwoligewebe im Leinencharalter. Farbe: korrblkau.") Interestingly this is almost identical to a romer suit worn by a Dutch boy in the 1950s, showing that this was an enduring style. It also shows the influence of German fashion on the Dutch. In fact there may not have been a large Dutch mail order house. Dutch mothers may have bought from this German firm. The sizes are 80-104, the same as the other romper outfit.
No J item.
Item K, long pamts come it two colors, brown and blackm and black and white. The sizes range from 88-110.
Item L is suspender shorts, with detachable suspenders. One interesting detail is that the suspender shorts come in larger sizes than the toddler clothes and the suspender longs. The short pants come in sizes 88-128. A HBC reader comments, "This suggests that the suspender shorts were more likely to be accepted by young school age boys. (or at least mothers were still dressing young school age boys in them)."
Item is also suspender shorts. They look quite sumilar to item L. One difference is the suspender clasps.
Item N are the bib-front pants. They came in sizes 88-110.
A HBC reader comments that catalogues are quite nicely done and helpful, and due to the very good quality of pictures the explanatory text which just describes the garment is not really necessary. Note that each individual description starts with a attracting sentence such as "Your little treasure in this marvellous suit will be the king of the playground." The reader of course is essentially correct. HBC belieces, however, that the ad copy is interesting because it shows how boys' fashions are being seen. This is especially helpful when viewing other countries that are no known to HBC's many readers. In addition, the ad copy contains information on material, trims, colors and other details that are helpful. HBC is building thgese catalog pages as they will be useful references when assessing styles and chronologies.
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