under shirts

buckskin billy · May 01, 2011, 01:11:20 PM

i'm looking for any info on old west pull over style under shirt. if some one could point me in the dirrection on where to find pictures and such.
i see in many movies the wearing of what looks to be a pull over style shirt with 3 to 4 buttons. captain call and pea eye wore them in lonesome dove. of course i know the movies very rarley get it right, but i'm just trying to find out if these style shirts are period correct and if they can be had this day and time.

thanks in advance for any help

joec · May 01, 2011, 01:40:55 PM

All I saw them wearing in Lonesome Dove was long underwear in both white and red. I never saw a separate undershirt but more of this http://www.riverjunction.com/Mens-Long-Underwear_p_248.html

Delmonico · May 01, 2011, 01:49:40 PM

Hennley style undershirts, can be obtained in a lot of places that carry work clothes, Carhartt makes some.

GunClick Rick · May 01, 2011, 03:30:05 PM

Well the shirt was the undershirt,covered by a vest and a coat

Rube Burrows · May 01, 2011, 08:32:26 PM

Quote from: joec on May 01, 2011, 01:40:55 PM
All I saw them wearing in Lonesome Dove was long underwear in both white and red. I never saw a separate undershirt but more of this http://www.riverjunction.com/Mens-Long-Underwear_p_248.html

+ one on this.

Im pretty sure they were wearing the long johns in Lonsome Dove and also its what Billy The Kid was wearing in Young Guns.

Delmonico · May 01, 2011, 09:23:43 PM

What is interesting is that many sources say that union suits were considered women's underwear till some time in the 1890's.

wildman1 · May 02, 2011, 04:59:46 AM

You sayin alla them cowboys was crossdressers?

WM

Delmonico · May 02, 2011, 09:12:40 AM

Quote from: wildman1 on May 02, 2011, 04:59:46 AM
You sayin alla them cowboys was crossdressers? WM

Remember who wrote Lonesome Dove.

Skeeter Lewis · May 04, 2011, 02:19:27 AM

According to 'I See By Your Outfit' the one-piece long johns came along around 1900. In our period, they were two-piece. And never bright red. It was a much more muted color. White was more usual.

Delmonico · May 04, 2011, 02:27:38 AM

Quote from: Skeeter Lewis on May 04, 2011, 02:19:27 AM
According to 'I See By Your Outfit' the one-piece long johns came along around 1900. In our period, they were two-piece. And never bright red. It was a much more muted color. White was more usual.

sources vary on when they were first made.

Icebox Bob · May 04, 2011, 11:14:21 AM

Quote from: Skeeter Lewis on May 04, 2011, 02:19:27 AM
According to 'I See By Your Outfit' the one-piece long johns came along around 1900. In our period, they were two-piece. And never bright red. It was a much more muted color. White was more usual.

I'm guessing nothing stays bright red for long if you are using hot water and lye soap for your laundry.........

Cowboy pink?

Grenadier · February 09, 2013, 04:30:39 AM

Sorry to dredge up an old topic, but I thought it important. The style of shirt you may be looking for was called a bottom shirt in the mid-19th century. They are reminiscent of Henley style shirts, but typically with shorter sleeves and with no cuffs. I can post sources for replicates if anyone is interested.

WaddWatsonEllis · February 09, 2013, 08:13:10 AM

Hi,

I usually pic up Henleys at Target or whereever they are cheap .... it males a good looking base layer....and as a reenactor, I have never had a person ask if it was a union suit or just a Henley ... so I have decided to let then decide in their own mind ...

TTFN,

G.W. Strong · February 10, 2013, 11:56:52 AM

Since this topic is alive again. I can provide a great sourse for the Militay Model 1883 undershirt. These were worn by former soldiers in their civilian life as well.

NJ Sekela makes them. I own one and the quality is very nice.

http://www.njsekela.com/OSCommerce/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=285&osCsid=fac03382cd7306fd60b7a66bd1884405