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Sears offered a range of knickers suits done in all wool as well as wool blends with rayon and cotton. The materials included herringbone and casshmere. There were both sinngle and double breasted styles. One suit also had a pair of lng pans as well, referred to as "longies". The sizes ranged from 6 to 7 years. Colors included blue, browm. gray, and green. The knickers were lined, but apparently not the long pants. These were going back to school suits.
The Sears, Roebuck and Co., huge merchandising firm centered in Chicago was founded by Richard W. Sears (1863-1914) and A.C. Roebuck (1864-1948).
Sears had begun a career in mail-order business in Minnesota 1886. In Chicago he and Roebuck joined resources and formed a corporation in 1893 as a
mail-order business under title Sears, Roebuck and Company. In 1895 Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) bought Roebuck's interest in firm and became president on
Sears's retirement 1908. A retail-store system was added 1925. The first foreign store added in Havana, Cuba during 1945 and becane te first expropriated store in 1960. The Sears-Roebuck brought the production of industry to the fartherest corner of rural America, opening the cornucopia of the consumer age to rural America. All the new things that were changing American life danced across their pages. Through it, a huge Chicago warehouse offers to modernize the farms and small towns of the Midwest.
These suits were offered in the Sears 1939-40 Fall and
Winter catalog (p 351). This means that these were going back to school suits.
Sears offered three different knickers suits, including one choice that inclided knickers and longies. The size range was from 6 to 17 years, vaying slightly depending on the choice of suits. Note that these knickers do not buckle or button below the knee and rather have a knit weave to provide a snug closing.
The Sears ad copy read, "Herringbone weave overplaid . . . Servicable cassimere suiting is 1/4 wool, balance rayon and cotton . . . Plain navy blue Cheviot is 2/5 wool, balance cotton, rayon . . . Single breasted pinch back coat, lined with rayon . . . knickers are full lined and tailored with knit bottoms . . . no vest. A real bargain! For the fabric has more style, the suit has better tailoring than you usually find at this extremely low price. We'll
match it for value with suits selling elsewhere for considerably more.
Coat has three patch pockets. Popular herringbone weave with overplaid.
All age sizes: 6 to 16. State age-size. Shipping weight, 3 popunds, 3
ounces.
40 D 3013 Med. Brown Cassimere. $4.19
40 D 3014 Med. Gray Cassimere. $4.19
40 D 3015 PLain Navy Blue Cheviot. $4.19."
The ad copy read, "3-Pc. Suit. Coat, knickers, and longies included at this one low price . . . Carefully tailored from fine smooth finish all wool suiting in the new diagonal weave overplaid pattern with nub decorations . . . Popular double breasted sports back coat lined with high luster rayon . . . no vest. If you want a change from knickers to longies, or the other way about--here's the ideal combination for you! A suit with both. It gives you what amounts to 2 different suits . . . and doubles the wear. Longies are smartly styled with pleats and 4 pockets. Knickers are full lined and have knit bottoms. All age-sizes: 8 to 17. State age-size. Shipping weight, 4
pounds, 3 ounces.
40 D 3005--Dark Green $9.45
40 D 3074--Medium Gray $9.45." This is the suit seen here (figure 1). HBC is unsure how useful this two pairs of pants (kniclers/longies) proved. We suspect that most boys wanted to wear the longies and the knickes didn't get much use, but we have no confirmation of this yet. A HBC reader writes, "I saw this in other 1930s ads, duch as the Butler Brothers 1930 catalogue. So it was done for quite some time. I suspect that Knickers were considered more appropriate for
school, Church and other special events whereas going out to eat might be less dressy so long pants were ok. This is a guess more than anything else." HBC is unsure how long after 1939 that this option continued to be offered.
The ad copy read, "With High Quality. Boyville $6.95 2-pc. Suit.
Tailoring Throughout. Very fine, smooth finish all wool suiting . . .
Handsome herringbone weave with overplaid . . . Stylish double breasted
coat has sports back, high luster rayon lining . . . 1 or 2 pairs of
knickers . . . no vest. It carries the famous Boyville label--your
assurance of high quality, finer fabrics, better tailoring. Tailored with
pleated patch pockets. Full lined knickers have wool worsted knit
bottoms. For an exceptional value, buy the suit with extra
knickers--they practically double the life of this stylish suit.
All age-sizes: 8 to 17. State age-size. Shipping weight, 3 lbs, 3 oz;
with extra knickers, 4 lbs, 3.oz
Coat and Knickers
40 D 2946--Dk Brown $6.95
40 D 2949--Dark Blue $6.95
Coat and 2 Prs Knickers
40 D 2947--Dk Brown $8.95
40 D 2950--Dark Blue $8.95"
The ad copy read, "In Latest Style Diagonal Weave. 1-Knicker Suit $4.98.
2-Knicker Suit $6.95. Good quality suiting . . . 2/5 wool, balance rayon cotton . . . Latest style diagonal weave with nub decorations . . . Double breasted coat has sports back, high luster rayon lining, patch pockets . . . no vest. New diagonal weave--featured in the smartest boys' clothing shops. Knickers are full cut, full lined, and have knit bottoms. The extra knickers are especially practical--for they double the life of the suit.
All age-sizes: 8 to 17. State age-size. Shpg wt., 3 lbs, 5 oz.; with
extra knickers, 4 lbs., 3. oz. Coat and Knickers 40 D 2910--Med Brown $4.98
40 D 2911--Med Gray $4.98 Coat and 2 Prs of Knickers 40 D 3010--Med. Brown $6.95 40 D 3011--Med Gray $6.95
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