STuTZ693 Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I am looking for information and possible source for 1930 vintage coveralls of the type that woul dhave been worn by racing team crew members or driver. White would be preferred.Thank you in advance for your assistance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 (edited) I am looking for information and possible source for 1930 vintage coveralls of the type that woul dhave been worn by racing team crew members or driver. White would be preferred.Thank you in advance for your assistance.I have nothing to offer that is set in stone but I suppose these may have been very similar to what any mechanic would have wore at the time. I've done a little research on this and have found that one of the manufacturers would have been Cowden according to the tags that I've seen. Also, on the tag it will say "Union Made" and "Sanforized"The buttons will be made of brass and say "Union Made" as well. Very distinct yet plain nostalgic feel to them. Below is a photo of an example of these Cowden coveralls, very distinct elastic band, pockets and stitching. I personally own a pair that were evidently maintained by "Overall Cleaning & Supply" but have yet to find any documentation of where they originated or were located. Recently I took my pair of coveralls to a very experience seamstress that immediately recognized the stitching of the company logo on the back that dated to the 1930's. She said it is nearly impossible to duplicate now days.. even with the advances we have made in technology. One other note, the entire material surface should show a faint hint of V shapes both inverted and right side up woven throughout, this process is referred to as herringbone I believe.Race crews may have worn something completely different than mechanics, I just don't know, but it seems like a reasonable place to start. Good luck Edited March 5, 2014 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Dan, I also wonder if some racers and crew members may have simply used a fire retardant Air Force suit ? I've seen sample photos that seem to look very similar. Here's a pair on ebay currently:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Air-Force-jump-suit-coveralls-CMU-3-P-med-reg-/251465694720?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a8c85fe00If you find any concrete answers please let us know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STuTZ693 Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Hi 30DodgePanel,Thank you for the replies. I was asking for one of our STuTZ Club members in Switzerland. He does vintage racing in a STuTZ powered race car and was looking for vintage coverall that he could have the STuTZ logo applied. I can see that he may find them on Ebay.Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I have been collecting dealership items for 42 years now. Started as a little kid at Hershey in 72. Here is a factory Cadillac shop jacket from a service manager in Chicago the manager started wearing in 1928 and used until 1933. Check out the detailed photos. It's very cool, one of my favorite things in my collection. It will be donated to the new Cadillac Museum at Gilmore this summer. It also has a brass laundry tag I didn't photograph. I like the Cadillac Buttons. Enjoy, Ed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 WOW. way cool coveralls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 (edited) I have been collecting dealership items for 42 years now. Started as a little kid at Hershey in 72. Here is a factory Cadillac shop jacket from a service manager in Chicago the manager started wearing in 1928 and used until 1933. Check out the detailed photos. It's very cool, one of my favorite things in my collection. It will be donated to the new Cadillac Museum at Gilmore this summer. It also has a brass laundry tag I didn't photograph. I like the Cadillac Buttons. Enjoy, Ed.EdinMass, I agree with Larry, those are very cool and I love the fact you have been collecting dealership stuff for that long. Without hijacking, can you tell me if you have anything from a "McConnel Motors Inc." that was located at 14 Maplewood Ave in Pittsfield MA from 1927-1933 ? I'm looking for any photos of the dealership. They also owned a gas station on 164 Wahconah in Pittsfield MA during that same time frame, any information for either properties would be helpful in my research. The stitching on the back of your Cadillac coveralls are a match to the stitching on the set I own. Thanks for posting, the pics confirm the set I own are also 1930's (I'll try and post pics later). Edited March 15, 2014 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I have several items from Pittsfield dealerships. They are all put away. I have not seen them in years. The name does not ring a bell. Please post a photo of your coveralls. I would like to see them. I have a friend with a Pierce Arrow shop jacket like the one I posted above. I have seen two or three Packard jackets also. If the guy with a Stutz looks in the Splended Stutz book, he can see what the Long Island guys were wearing at Daytona in 1928. I had some of their stuff and gave it to a friend. Thanks, Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 (edited) Thanks Ed, I would appreciate it if you can find some time to tell me if you have anything at all from McConnel Motors Inc. I've tried the County Assessors office but they are no help (I believe they only go back to the early 70's online and the archives dept there are worthless when I call in). Here's the pair of Cowdens I own. If anyone can tell me what "Glass House" is referring to I would appreciate it. Size 38 so way to small for me, I only bought them for my research and will be selling them soon if anyone is interested. Regards,Dave Edited March 15, 2014 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 From the auto world, the only thing that I know called Glass House is the Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, MI.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Dave, thanks for the photos of your coveralls. The glass house wasn't built till the 60's if I remember right, but I may be off. Here is another dealer item sitting on my dresser. I have found factory published photos of the award being given to the winner. It's amazing what turns up. Ed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 (edited) YES ! That's a heck of a find. If that were a Dodge Brothers display it would have probably sold for around $300 (not sure what the Caddy market is like). That's good your displaying it like you are, I'd put it front and center if I owned it too. Excellent piece. As for the Coveralls I own, do you have any information you can offer for the Cowden brand timeline? The stitching doesn't really resemble anything I've seen from the 60's and as I said previously the seamstress I took them to immediately dated them to the 30's, how, I do not know but her response was sincere. As for the Glass House, it is possible it was something other than the Ford Headquarters is it not ? Edited March 16, 2014 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Cadillac stuff is stupid money. I turned down 2200 for the shop coat about eight years ago. The desk clock and pen holder is much larger than it looks like, and tips the scale at 8 pounds. I have a bunch more stuff all packed away, I hope to donate it all to the new Cadillac museum later this year. My favorite stuff is the factory jewelry. Before I send it to the museum I'll post photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 My guess is your coveralls are from 1938 to 1948 era. Only reason I think they aren't quite as early is the labels. I collect factory lap robes, and have a bunch of them. Over the years I was able to look at the style and labels to date them. The Glass House logo looks like it was done by machine. Machine work like this was available in the late 30's. I have no idea if they are transportation related, or if they were from some other industry. Someone will want them no matter what industry they were from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) Here is a Stutz photo. This style logo was still in use by the Long Island gang in 1927-1928. Edited March 17, 2014 by edinmass (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 The Studebaker Indy car teams in 1932 were equipped with sweaters with the Studebaker logo and the driver or riding mechanic's initials. Of course, I wanted one, so I had a 100% cotton sweater made in Fall River, MA embroidered in the same style. These sweaters come from the last U.S. sweater knitting mill. In 1932, the sweaters were probably only worn for publicity photos, not for racing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 (edited) I found another photo of a Studebaker team at the Amatol, NJ wood track when they were setting endurance records in November, 1928. For similar clothing, try searching for "boiler suit white" at ebay.co.uk. British workmen still wear these in many occupations. I also found some Red Kap style CC14 white cotton twill coveralls in the U.S. Here's one link: http://www.automotiveworkwear.com/RedKap/CC14/coveralls.html, see them in Bleached White. They have a range of sizes. Edited April 8, 2014 by Gary_Ash (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STuTZ693 Posted April 9, 2014 Author Share Posted April 9, 2014 edinmass,Great photo. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 The Studebaker Indy car teams in 1932 were equipped with sweaters with the Studebaker logo and the driver or riding mechanic's initials. Of course, I wanted one, so I had a 100% cotton sweater made in Fall River, MA embroidered in the same style. These sweaters come from the last U.S. sweater knitting mill. In 1932, the sweaters were probably only worn for publicity photos, not for racing.Hey Gary, I found these and thought you may be interested, if your not please let me know cause I may bid on them:http://www.ebay.com/itm/121314693481?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Nice item! I don't need the "Johnson Motors" embroidery, so you go for it! I can buy new patches with the Studebaker logo like the one on the overalls. Styles sure haven't changed much in men's overalls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RU22 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Gary....... Wool was the preferred material for sweaters..... more fire resistant than cotton. Overalls were dipped in Borax to make the fire resistant. My friend wore a belt so he wasn't sitting in mud and garbage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 My guess is your coveralls are from 1938 to 1948 era. Only reason I think they aren't quite as early is the labels. I collect factory lap robes, and have a bunch of them. Do you have any Buick lap robes from the teens? If so, could you post some pictures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Redshoebox Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Your GLASS HOUSE coveralls are from the 40s. The lettering is chain stitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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