need help on antique clothes

That's really neat ! I can easily see that being made in 1911 , minus the newer boot lacing .

 

It looks to be made of wool felt and leather fringing so that would indicate it has some age.

The thonging is man-made fibre so is definitely a recent addition. If it is from 1911 it would likely have been leather or cotton thonging and started to break years ago.

It was made using a sewing machine and the felt looks to be mass produced. It could still be from 1911 as sewing machines and felt were relatively cheap at the time.

It appears to me that it was either made in a hurry of by someone that didn’t make clothes professionally.

Because of the use of cheap materials (felt and unbleached cotton drill) my guess is that this was part of a costume made for Gerald when he was a play or a parade. Made either by his mother or someone that had to make multiple costumes. As for it’s age, I would have to take their word for it, but seems plausible to me.

 

i see no honest wear.....

 

Is that a Canadian expression? I don’t understand what you mean here is Oz...

 

Wear & tear......what one would expect to find on an older item.

Honest...meaning not artificially aged...

Honest wear....something older that was used in the manner it was made for , and shows signs of age...consistent with it's use.

I'm not sure it has anything to do with Canadian phrasing..
maybe more....antique speak....or such thing..!

Is that explanation ..... fair dinkum..?

 

Honest wear = genuine or legitimate