Cricket umpires jacket by Bukta

[Two Types]

The fabric is a mix of man made fibres, but i thought someone might be interested in it simply from the point of view of it being a sporting oddity. The jacket has straps inside that are apparently designed to hang the cricketers jumpers from:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-BUKTA-LIGHTWEIGHT-UMPIRES-JACKET-CHESTB-SIZE-42-/330781156388?pt=UK_Men_s_Vintage_Coats_Jackets&hash=item4d0417e424

 

[Baron Kurtz]

"to hold players jumpers". Give me a break, Mr Seller. Good story, but somewhat fanciful. You see this feature a lot in unlined jacket of the era. They're not all Umpire's jackets!

 

[PADDY]

Hmmm - described as "linen" by the seller, but the label says otherwise. It'd make a nice light weight travel jacket for someone .

 

[dhermann1]

"Fabric contains tri-acetate and polyester fibres". Implies there may also be natural fibres as well. Acetate was very popular in the mid and late 50s, so would you guess that this dates from then? The jumpers bit (we're talking about sleeveless pullovers here, right?) is pretty silly. Looks like it would be very comfortable and nice in mild weather. Nice jacket!

 

[herringbonekid]

Acetate was very popular in the mid and late 50s, so would you guess that this dates from then?

yes, the wide lapels and label design suggest that date.

 

[PADDY]

We ALL KNOW that the inside loops are for selling 'knocked off silk stockings' in shady alleyways *wink*

 

[Two Types]

BK: "to hold players jumpers". Give me a break, Mr Seller. Good story, but somewhat fanciful. You see this feature a lot in unlined jacket of the era. They're not all Umpire's jackets!

This interested me. I checked modern umpire's jackets and they do indeed have loops for holding cricket jumpers. However these are on the outside, rather than the inside. So I thought, maybe the straps were utilised for that purpose.
Then I started looking at photographs of cricket matches from the 1920s through to the 1960s. It appears that most of the time umpires actually wore white cotton coats (like a white version of a shop coat) rather than a short jacket. Thus raising the question that, although this is sportswear, it might not actually be a cricket umpire's jacket.

 

[herringbonekid]

Thus raising the question that, although this is sportswear, it might not actually be a cricket umpire's jacket.

looks like a general purpose lightweight summer jacket to me.

 

[Two Types]

Exactly. But the label is 'Bukta Sportswear' and (as far as i remember from the 1970s) Bukta did specialise in sporting equipment/clothing. Also I would have expected a cricket umpire's jacket to have been white, not cream.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Bukta was indeed a sportswear specialist. I don't doubt the jacket is for some sporting (or spectating, even) purpose; but umpire's jacket is a bit specific.

The umpire typically only wears things for the bowler, so I've only ever seen them with jumpers tied around their waists (or shoulders for the v-neck sweater brigade umpire). For the rest of the team, 12th man typically comes on and takes the jumpers away with him.

bk

 

[Two Types]

So, has anyone out there got a late 50s Bukta brochure to tell us exactly what the jacket was intended for?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

got a Bukta brochure, but from 1938 and dealing exclusively with golf jackets.:eusa_doh:

bk

 

[Edward]

Can't really tell exactly where these straps are located, but.... I do recall seeing a "travel blazer" (or similar) in one of the pricier modern places (I think it might have been Orvis about five years ago?) that had straps around the armpit area which were designed to facilitate the wearer strapping the jacket to their back but without having to have it actually "on" in very hot weather. It would, I suppose, save you carrying the jacket, though I'd have though you would risk looking a bit of a ninny. Could it be something along these lines?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

It looks to me like the straps are securing the pocketbags to the side seam.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

but that can't be right 'cause there shouldn't be any pocketbags.

 

[AntonAAK]

It doesn't look like an umpire's jacket to me and I've watched a lot of cricket in my time, including footage going back to the early 20th Century. It's too short. Umpire's jackets are more the length of a short lab-coat.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRADITION...-Umpiring-Jacket-/150571945408#ht_1916wt_1139

They do have the straps on the outside and often on both sides (in the cold weather a single bowler can have two jumpers to give the umpire.) Some umpires don't use them and drape the jumper over their shoulders but they are often there.

I really don't think that this is an umpire's jacket.

 

[Qirrel]

but that can't be right 'cause there shouldn't be any pocketbags.

It either covers or is in itself the stay/reinforcement of the front patch pockets.

 

[herringbonekid]

the strap has two functions; it reinforces the patch pocket corner points (as Q mentions above) so not all the stress goes onto the jacket front, and it attaches to the loose facing to stop it flapping about.
here's a a better shot of one in a 1930s school blazer:

 

[herringbonekid]

p.s.
on vintage workwear jackets the strap is usually stitched down all the way along, and therefore stitching is visible on the jacket front. Old Town still follow this method.
on vintage school blazers and summer jackets it is usually loose as above, so no stitching is visible on the front.

here endeth the first lesson.

 

[Edward]

Can't really tell exactly where these straps are located, but.... I do recall seeing a "travel blazer" (or similar) in one of the pricier modern places (I think it might have been Orvis about five years ago?) that had straps around the armpit area which were designed to facilitate the wearer strapping the jacket to their back but without having to have it actually "on" in very hot weather. It would, I suppose, save you carrying the jacket, though I'd have though you would risk looking a bit of a ninny. Could it be something along these lines?