"Never-Rip" Jerseys Trade Card

I've seen numerous overalls and pants manufacturers using the term "Never-Rip," but I'd never seen it used when it came to shirts until I found this trade card on ebay. I haven't been able to locate any info on the company that made these.

1913-14 Cowhide Overalls Pocket Memo Book

1913-14 Cowhide Overalls Pocket Memo Book. Cowhide was produced by the Ben J. Martin Manufacturing Company in Springfield, Missouri. The company originally started in Kansas City around 1902-1903 and relocated to Springfield in 1905. During his time, Ben J. Martin Sr. was considered one of the most prominent businessmen in southwest Missouri.

From Burley Auction Group

Hamilton-Carhartt Overall Factory Kodachrome Postcard

Dexter Press Kodachrome Postcard featuring the Hamilton-Carhartt Overall Company in Irvine, Kentucky. This card was published by the Rowland Drug Store in Irvine, KY. I have seen other cards with the same design and publisher making me believe that this card was part of a series of cards showing various locations in Irvine. 

What Dreams Are Made Of...

Like any collector, I always dream about that one big score. Luckily I've been part of some pretty decent finds. My family's sports card business was kick started by a garage sale find in the early 1980s. I recently found the photo above on the Skagway Historical Society site to help fuel my dreams. It is the Levi Strauss sample room in Skagway, Alaska circa 1900. Unfortunately it's the only image.

c. 1938 Goodhue's Star Brand Overalls Pocket Memo

Circa 1938 Goodhue's Star Brand Overalls, Pants and Shirts pocket memo. Goodhue's was established in 1893 after James B. Goodhue purchased a carding factory in Rock Island, Quebec and started manufacturing Star Brand clothing. The company is still in business to this day, but seems to be geared more toward footwear than workwear. The company website can be found here:

http://jbgoodhue.com/

Vintage Goodhue's label in a  flannel sold on Etsy by NortheastKingdom

Undated Snapshot of Lee Union-Alls Overalls Sign on Building

Here's a great vintage undated snapshot of a massive Lee Union-Alls Overalls sign taking up the entire side of a building. Not sure what the Luxite stamp refers to on the back.

1923 Finck's "Detroit Special" Time Book

Finck's "Detroit Special" Overalls time book issued by W.M. Finck & Co., Detroit, Michigan. The book itself is undated, but the original used has written 1923 on the top of the second page of his time log.

1937 Mechanic Overall & Coat Service Co., Advertising Envelope

Illustrated advertising envelope from Mechanic Overall & Coat Service Company of Philadelphia postmarked December 31, 1937. Not quite sure what these guys did.  I have a feeling they were an industrial laundry service. It was located in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. 

1936 Kerite Wreckers Photo

When I picked this photo up, the seller said it was from a lumber yard. That might be true, however it doesn't look like your typical lumber yard. The first thing that caught my eye on the photo was obviously the workwear. Second was the large spools in the back ground that are usually used for cable. Sure enough, a quick online search for Kerite revealed that they are one of the leading manufacturers of cables.

The following is taken from the Kerite website:

The Kerite Company, a member of the Marmon Group of companies, was established in 1854. Kerite power cables have withstood the toughest test of all - the test of time - setting the standard by which cable is judged, through actual field experience not just accelerated laboratory testing. Unequaled quality is reflected in every foot of Kerite cable. It is this commitment to superior performance that has established Kerite as the best cable value in the world. Kerite manufactures utility transmission and distribution power cable, industrial power cable. The Kerite Cable Service Company provides turnkey installation and field service capabilities.

1908 Kerite Ad from Atlantic-Cable.com

Ad from Electrical World April 26, 1930

Vintage Cabinet Photo with 5 Carpenters

Nice unidentified/undated cabinet photo picturing a work crew of five carpenters with some great workwear. I love the guy acting like he's pouring beer on the seated guy's head.

1909 Brattleboro Overall Company Time Book

1909 Brattleboro Overall Company Time Book. Located in Keene, New Hampshire, Brattleboro produced Double Cylinder Overalls and Coats. The company was established in 1905. It's interesting to see that the company used the slogan "Watch the Wear." H.W. Carter & Sons also used this. The book is not dated, but I have used the letter show on the fifth image to date it from 1909.

Below is a waistband size tag from a pair of Double Cylinder Overalls. 46/34 is a crazy size.

Courtesy of Tim Holmes

c.1910 Cones' "Boss" Overalls and Jackets Advertising Tag

I recently purchased this advertising tag featuring Cones' "Boss" Overalls and Jackets on ebay. The seller said the piece was very fragile. He wasn't kidding. The thick card stock tag was in several pieces when it arrived. Surprisingly it still had it's original string (not pictured). The above scans are the tag in its original state and the images below are a quick Photoshop job to show what the card would look like on a better day. There's no date on the piece, but I would put it around 1910 because of the image on the front. This appeared in several trade publications in 1910. The final image shows an ad from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen's Magazine dated January 1910.

c.1940s Montgomery Ward's Pioneer 8 Ounce Denim Flasher

Circa 1940s Montgomery Ward 8 Ounce, Sanforized Pioneer Denim pocket flasher. The picture blow shows how the piece would have been attached to the back pocket.

1936 Simon & Cohn "Paterson" Overalls Advertising Cover

Illustrated advertising cover from Simon & Cohn, manufacturers of the "Paterson" Union Made Overalls and Work Pants, postmarked February 14,1936. There's not a lot of info out there on this company. There is a History of Paterson book that apparently has stuff about the company, but I haven't been able to access it. I have found them listed as Simon & Cohn and also as Simon & Cohen as far back as 1898.