Figure 1.-- Swiss boys in the 1940s wore short pants knickers and long pants. Jelmoli in its 1947 catalog offered boys pants, both short pants and knickers, but not long pants on its boys wear page in the Winter catalog. The pants were done in almost the same sizes. |
Swiss boys in the 1940s wore short pants knickers and long pants. Jelmoli in its 1947 catalog offered boys pants, both short pants and knickers, but not long pants on its boys wear page in the Winter catalog. The pants were done in almost the same sizes, although the age range for the shorts were slightly lower and for the knickers slightly higher.
We note a catalog form the Grand magasins Jelmoli. Grand magasins Jelmoli has for many years been the flagship department store chain of Switzerland. Johann Peter Jelmoli-Ciolina founded founded the store in 1838 by . Ciolina must have been the maiden name of his wife. He was from the Swiss-italian section of Switerland. The company has always been headquartered in Zurich where the flag-ship department store was opened. It opened branches throughout Switrzerland, but a few years back it sold or closed all its branches and only kept the large store in Zurich. I would say it was always an "up-scale" department store. The catalog-department was a very small part of their operations and the catalogs carried a very small amount of merchandise, compared to what was available in their stores. The catalog-department was added in 1899.
The Jemoli catalog advertisement here suggests that Swiss boys wore mostly short pants an knickers. Notice that the sizes are almost identical. We do not, however, have sales data for the various sizes. Our general assumption is that the sizing in catalogs generally reflect usage. Exceptions here are on the extremes. We suspect that at age 14, for example that more boys wore kickers than shorts. Also during years in which styles were changing, the catalog stores sizes mat not be as accurate as years in which there were more stanle fashin trends. One observation that we are not sure about is that in the 1940s we do note Swiss boys wearing long pants. We are not sure why this is nog reflected in the Jemoli offerings.
Swiss boys in the 1940s wore short pants knickers and long pants. Jelmoli in its 1947 catalog offered boys pants, both short pants and knickers, but not long pants on its boys wear page in the Winter catalog. The pants were done in almost the same sizes, although the age range for the shorts were slightly lower and for the knickers slightly higher."
I wsn't sure what was being offered here, the shirt, pants or perhaps a set, but it was only the short pants. The ad copy read, "Sehr begehrte zweckmaessige Knaben – Waschose mit Gummizug und 2 Gesaesstaschen aus solidem Baumwoll-Zwilch, waschecht, dunkelblau No. 5012,013 Fuer 4 Jahre Fr.6.75, 5-6 Jahre Fr. 7.25, 7-8 Jahre Fr. 7.75, 9-10 Jahre Fr. 8.25, 11-12 Jahre Fr. 8.75, 13-14 Jahre Fr. 9.50. Keine Auswahl." This translates as "A very much desired boys pants that is easy to wash, with elastic-waist, 2 backpockets. Made from cotton-twill. Laundry-proof. Dark blue." There is no decription for the shirt.
Here we see short pants done in sizes 4-14 years (figure 1). Note the term use by Jemoli is "Knabenhose"--boys' pants. The ad copy read, "Flott gearbeitete Knabenhose aus strapazierfaehigem Wollstoff, grau oder braun gemustert, ganz gefuettert. No. 5012,016. fuer 4 Jahre Fr. 10.80, 5-6 Jahre Fr.11.80, 7-8 Jahre Fr. 12.80, 9-10m Jahre Fr. 13.80, 11-12 Jahre Fr. 14.80, 13 – 14 Jahre Fr. 15.80. Keine auswahl"
Knickerbockers were done with only a slightly older age range (figure 1). The ad copy read, "Fuer Knaben die prektische Knickerbockerhose ausm solidem Sportwollstoff, in englisch gemusterten Dessins, gefuettert, grau oder braun. No 5012,017. fuer 5-6 Jare Fr. 23.00, 7-8 Jahre Fr. 24.50, 9-10m Jahre 26.00, 11-12 Jahre 27.50, 13-14 Jahre Fr. 29.00, 15-16 Jahre Fr. 31.00. Auswahl"
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