Featured Baby jumpsuit - 1920s

The family story is that this was made by my grandmother from my grandfather's hand-me-downs for my father. That puts the date 1920/21. I know nothing about sizes. Maximum length as shown is about 16", and the waist is about 9 3/4" across.




Here's a closer look at the principal fabrics:




Most of the stitching at hems looks machine done to me, but the button holes look hand sewn.


None of the 3 white buttons match: two are shell, the bottom one seems to be made of glass. But then, buttons do sometimes need to be replaced.


There are 2 brass buttons stamped Hill Brothers. The period clothing references I found to that name are for Hill Brothers Millinery Goods. Any chance these came from hats?


So what do you think? Does it look handmade? Is the story plausible? (There's a chance it could be from 20 years earlier.)

 

Sure. 20 years earlier is 1900; ain't from then. It would be called a "romper." (And I don't know why your grandmother would have hand sewn this item when it was so much easier to use a sewing machine.)

Debora

 

I couldn't think of that word for love nor money. Thanks.

 

I do not know about the company name, but those look like "suspender buttons" to me.

 

Now that I come to think of it, my father, as a youngster, had an attic workspace, and in it, he had a couple of old treadle sewing machines that he had converted to use as fretsaws.

 

Here's a reference that gives the name as "Old Bond St. Hill Bros"

http://www.cbweiser.com/buttons/22-396.htm

 

Suspender buttons makes more sense to me. My experience with brass buttons of this style has pretty much been limited to denim.

 

Sewing machines would have been available. Button hole attachments not so much.
I learned to sew in the early 60s, and we had to make our button holes by hand.

 

Exactly, same here.
And if a sewing machine has been converted to use as a fretsaw....

 

The bigger issue here is what to do with the thing. I've already decided to give it away (not here) at Christmas. Let it go to one of the younger relatives. It will end up there eventually anyhow, but if I give it away now, at least they will know what it is and where it came from. What they do with it after that is up to them.

 

Keep it in the family if someone wants it.
However, Doll collectors might buy this.
@Christmasjoy @judy

 

Sorry, I have no knowledge to impart regarding this item, hopefully a younger family member will want to keep it, Joy.

 

The brass buttons were for trousers rather than overalls, the white button is a china 'piecrust' - no reason the mismatched buttons weren't original (were they sewn on with the same thread?), wouldn't be uncommon to raid the family button box or jar when making play clothes...

~Cheryl

 

Same thread on all three, so maybe...

I actually have the family button jar. It's this galvanized metal lunch/beer bucket from probably the first decade of the 1900s.


There's a bit of random stuff on top, and there may be more further down, but I believe it's mostly filled with buttons. The thing is: I can confidently state that no one has gone through this bucket in the last 60 years.

 

Looks like keys.
People buy those. Price individually if skeleton type.

 

They are keys, but they've been there forever and I see no need to change that.


The lettering at the top of the one on the left says Germany on one side and RMAH on the other (because I know someone's going to ask). The longest key is 3 1/4".

 

Most are furniture or door keys.

1. Looks like a watch key - possibly gold plated
2. Small box, diary
3. Not sure about this one. Unusual.

If you sell, you should investigate prices.

 

Do you have any of the furniture from the person who had the button box?
You might want to go around and test to see if any of the keys fit your furniture.

 

Hi,
If #3 has a hole on the end it is a clock key.
greg