Figure 1.-- Here we have an ad from A. Shuman & Co. Suits of Boston. It appeared in The Youth's Companion (November 16, 1911, p. 633). Note that the style being offered is the Norfolk style suit with belt around the outside of the coat and cloth strips down the front. |
Here we have an ad from A. Shuman & Co. Suits of Boston. They offered Knockabout suits which was the company's exclusive brand name. It appeared in The Youth's Companion (November 16, 1911, p. 633). Note that the style being offered is the Norfolk style suit with belt around the outside of the coat and cloth strips down the front. It is a knicker rather than kneepants suit worn with the customary long black stockings and hightop shoes. An interesting note is the very formal collar and tie (the collar is clearly a stiff collar attached to a neckband shirt by collar pins in front and in back). The collar and tie are very adult in style although the boy is probably no older than 12.
Here we have an ad from A. Shuman & Co. Suits. We have very little information about the company other than it is located in Boston. They offered Knockabout suits which was the company's exclusive brand name.
The ad appeared in The Youth's Companion (November 16, 1911, p. 633). The Youth's Companion described itself as "An Illustrated Weekly Paper For Young People and the Family." It was established in 1827. The magazine was published in Boston, Massachusetts, by the Perry Mason Company, 201 Columbus Avenue. It appeared under this title until 1929. It was in the late 19th century one of the most popular weekly periodicals in America and known for the quality of the writing. The magazine catered to teen-age boys and girls especially, containing articles on sports, on hobbies, and on various literary and cultural interests. But it was really a family magazine and had many advertisements for clothing, both adult and children's. The magagazine had a very strict policy about the advertising carried because its readers were mostly children.
Note that the style being offered is the Norfolk style suit with belt around the outside of the coat and cloth strips down the front. It is a knicker rather than kneepants suit worn with the customary long black stockings and hightop shoes. The illustration shows a knickers suit. It is not clear to us if they also offered kneepants suits.
An interesting note is the very formal collar and tie (the collar is clearly a stiff collar attached to a neckband shirt by collar pins in front and in back). The collar and tie are very adult in style although the boy is probably no older than 12.
The ad copy read, "Buying boys' clothing is as important as buying men's clothing. Our long experience in handling clothing for little men enables us to know just what the active boy needs in style, fit and fabric. The Most Durable Suit for Boys Is Our Exclusive Knockabout. Exclusive Make and Copyright. Designed for long, hard service; made from the finest quality pure wool
Cassimere, sewed and finished in the strongest possible manner in our own shops--extra strong pockets, taped seams, extra pieces and buttons with each suit. $8.00. Mail Orders filled Promptly. A Shuman & Co, Boston, Shuman Corner."
One reader writes, "Notice the knickers are below the knee knickers even though it is 1911." Yes they are clearly below-theknee knickers. This is a subject we do not fully understand. We note both above and below-the-knee knickers in the 1910s. We are unsure, however to what extent knickers were made specifically as above the knee knickers or rather this was a style parents insisted that knickers be worn. As knee length garments, many knickers could be buckled either above or below the knee.
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