Yet Another 'Holy Grail' '30s Suit Sells Well on eBay

[Marc Chevalier]

.
Outstanding 1930s belted back suit (in a small size) ends up selling pretty well on eBay. Did a Fedora Lounger win it?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/160660845957

 

[Baron Kurtz]

bollax

Too bad the bid I had you put on (my max) was too a little too low. It's in my local fabric (Shepherd's/Border/Northumberland check). As voyeurs of fabric will know, a sample of just this kind of check was found in a pot near Hadrian's wall in a Roman pot - it had been used to wrap something or other. The earliest known example of a British check fabric. Just this pattern. It's still woven by a couple of mills in the Borders so is still buy-able.

I hope that I can find a Hong Kong tailor next year to make this suit for me. I can provide them with the fabric and examples to copy. Grrrrrrrrr I really wanted this one … Good luck to the chap that bought it.

A STUNNING suit

bk

 

[dhermann1]

Can't believe the seller didn't know a herringbone from a hound's tooth. Like almost everything sold out there, it was too small for me (luckily!).

 

[Fletch]

These belonged to a man who was the currator of a museum. He passed away 8 months ago. He chose to dress in period clothing and lived in a home built in 1911. Quite an eccentric fellow. He did have a cat.

Right out of central casting...

 

[Mario]

Can't believe the seller didn't know a herringbone from a hound's tooth. Like almost everything sold out there, it was too small for me (luckily!).

At least the seller admitted to the fact that he doesn't know too much about vintage attire...

 

[Baron Kurtz]

well, given that it's neither herringbone nor houndstooth … This is a Northumberland check.

 

[Johnny J]

I bid but went too high for me.

 

[Tomasso]

There are two other suits from the same seller ending momentarily. They have low bids on them currently.



They went for a song.

 

[Tomasso]

well, given that it's neither herringbone nor houndstooth …

lol

 

[Marc Chevalier]

There are two other suits from the same seller ending momentarily. They have low bids on them currently.

And they probably won't go for much.


The magic dollar-sign phrases of the moment are:


"Vintage belted back suit" (preferably '20s-'30s, preferably Palm Beach Cloth)

"Vintage three-piece suit" (preferably tweed, preferably '20s-'30s)

"Larger size" (though this is optional)

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I took a peek at that suit, and even though it appeared to be in a decent condition, I can't see myself wearing it and it would have been a wee bit too tight.

A few make mention of tweeds and such on this thread, well, there are a few very clean, great condition sports coats at a resale shop here in my town, none of which are priced more than $40.00, and some that are at least from the late 1930's, if not older. None of these sport coats have any issues with them at all, and for the most part are a tweed or tan/black small check pattern. I think they may have one or two suits also, I will check tomorrow and do some investigation on them. If anyone would desire to have me make a purchase for them and buy it, seriously, let me know.

Thanks....

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I took a peek at that suit, and even though it appeared to be in a decent condition, I can't see myself wearing it and it would have been a wee bit too tight.

A few make mention of tweeds and such on this thread, well, there are a few very clean, great condition sports coats at a resale shop here in my town, none of which are priced more than $40.00, and some that are at least from the late 1930's, if not older. None of these sport coats have any issues with them at all, and for the most part are a tweed or tan/black small check pattern. I think they may have one or two suits also, I will check tomorrow and do some investigation on them. If anyone would desire to have me make a purchase for them and buy it, seriously, let me know.

Thanks....

The key is to take good photos first, especially of the stuff that is from the late 1930s or older. Would the resale shop let you do that?

 

[Tomasso]

And they probably won't go for much.


The magic dollar-sign phrases of the moment are:


"Vintage belted back suit" (preferably '20s-'30s, preferably Palm Beach Cloth)

"Vintage three-piece suit" (preferably tweed, preferably '20s-'30s)

Do you think that these auctions could have benefited from better listing terminology?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-193...Clothing&hash=item2314bdba73&autorefresh=true

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-193...pt=Vintage_Men_s_Clothing&hash=item256823af6a

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Do you think that these auctions could have benefited from better listing terminology?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-193...Clothing&hash=item2314bdba73&autorefresh=true

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-193...pt=Vintage_Men_s_Clothing&hash=item256823af6a

No. Well-versed potential bidders realized that the first auction above was for a 1960s suit, not 1930s. Even if the seller had correctly described it as '60s, she wouldn't have gotten much cash. Mad Men notwithstanding, most '60s suits can hardly be given away.


In my opinion ... the suit in the second auction above, though perhaps genuinely '30s, has few 'iconically' '30s details to it. The jacket doesn't seem to have a particularly suppressed waist, the lapel silhouette is ho-hum, it isn't a three-button, and the vest is missing. The Donegal tweed wool is nice indeed ... but not quite spectacular enough to make the whole suit exciting. (You have to understand that the collectors who bid high are VERY particular about what they want.)

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Yeah, the first one was a ringer.

I'm not convinced the second one was 1930s, either. I thought late 40s or early 50s. That said, had it fit, I would have had you bid, Marc. Sadly, it was a bit too big for me.

bk

 

[Tomasso]

The Donegal tweed wool is nice indeed ... but not quite spectacular enough to make the whole suit exciting. (You have to understand that the collectors who bid high are VERY particular about what they want.)

Oh, I realize it isn't a Holy Grail garment but $26 is a thrift store price, No?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I thought late 40s or early 50s.

I reckon it's from the cusp of 1960.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Oh, I realize it isn't a Holy Grail garment but $26 is a thrift store price, No?

Yes, but it's an eBay price, too. You'd be surprised how often some of us --mostly dealers-- sniff out great vintage suits on eBay for less than $30. Don't ask me how, though. Trade secret!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

yes, that's certainly a very very good price for this suit. Whoever won it got a GREAT deal.

bk

 

[Baron Kurtz]

really? The tweed flecked one? That would surprise me.

I reckon it's from the cusp of 1960.