Did they where leather vests in the Old West

[gospel micah]

Howdy did they where leather vests in the Old West.

[St. George]

No doubt clothing was produced from leather - but leather vests - ala' those seen in the John Ford Reference Library  - do not seem to be shown in contemporary, dated photographs.

The vest was worn by all men of the time - along with a coat that did a great job of hiding it, and effectively masking construction.

The vests that stand out are the ones seen with patterns - be they plaid, stripe or 'other'.

I've handled a couple of horsehide ones (one a Pinto) and cowhide ones - even a nicely beaded one - but they were very late construction, were bought in the 'teens and Twenties, and were associated with Rodeo riders.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Delmonico]

I will add this, in all my historical picture searching I have never seen a picture of one till the 20th century.

[gospel micah]

i found this picture its from 1900 to 1910 http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?10013114+X-13114

[St. George]

The problem is that the Twentieth Century 'started' in 1900...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Mick Archer]

  Howdy Pards!

  Some hold 1901...  (1900 being the last year of the 19th)
      

   Mick Archer

 

[Delmonico]

Notice the ? after the given dates, they are making a guess,  The problem with that collection a lot of the photos have guessed dates.  By the dress and such as that photo shows it also could be into the 1940's.

Find some more with better dates and you might convince me, till then I still stand as before, but I am open minded.

None show in the Butcher collection and those dates are pretty exact as well as other pictures one can be more sure of the dates.

[Mogorilla]

I seem to recall an NCOWs post that had a Native-Buckskin Beaded vest, picture from a museum.  You might look at the old posts on the NCOWs forum, I seem to recall it being about Scout clothing.  Several pages of fringed coats, one vest. 

[Delmonico]

I seem to recall an NCOWs post that had a Native-Buckskin Beaded vest, picture from a museum.  You might look at the old posts on the NCOWs forum, I seem to recall it being about Scout clothing.  Several pages of fringed coats, one vest. 

On the Native American aspect yes, Crazy Horse is said to have worn one mad of a 'spoted calf" hide, most likely longhorn, I should have added that.  But the John Wayne or Cartwright look sure seems to be Hollywood.  BTW why didn't Litle Joe get to wear a vest?

[Mogorilla]

Found it, about page 7, Scout Garb. 

As to Little Joe, I am Guessing Hoss used up all the leather, none to make Joe's vest.

[St. George]

There's a vast difference between a 'Reservation Period' Indian-beaded vest and the ones promulgated by the John Ford Reference Library and the small screen.

The Turn of the Century's popular Wild West Shows, Rodeos and the Silver Screen seemed to bring out some truly 'interesting' clothing, hats and gear - all designed for maximum visual effect - with one building from another.

The best reference tool is a dated, period photograph.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Tricky Trina]

I'm thinking that the cows did..... 

Now I gotta go get something to eat - those pictures in Dels' posts did me in!

Lots of love and laughter,
         Trina

[gospel micah]

 
howdy this is the vest i have im going to be making it look old im going to take the plastic buttons off and adding wood buttons and im going to have me freind help me make a suede collar for it and i took the outside tag off the one over the pocket and sometime im going to take the inside tags out to http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSAA:US:11&Item=160095687645
 
 
 

[Delmonico]

Well adding wooden buttons to an "Urban Cowboy" vintage vest won't make it look vintage,  Glass, peral or metal buttons would be better, but the 70-80's vintage they are talking about has a 19 in front of it.

Pretend it is period if you want, but why did you bother to ask?  I am confused.

[Books OToole]

Bone buttons would be better.

And you do not need a lapel/collar if you don't want one.  I can document vests (usually wool, linen, or silk) w/o lapels from the 1860s through the turn of the century.

You certainly got a good buy.  I buy vests from thrift stores, change the bottom hem line to remove the points and change the buttons.  If I sell them I ask $ 25.00.  This is about half the going rate from western clothing vendors.  

In fact I have one that has a leather front, bone buttons, with a straight bottom hem line and a coarse weave linen back that breaths.  It is a large; too big for me.

Books

[Delmonico]

i was wondering if they had leather vest like this one by the photos i have seen i GUESS they did and maybe i wool add metal buttons if i can findsome

The answer is still no till someone comes up with some positive documentation, but it don't bother me.  But it doesn't make sense to ask and then doubt the answers one is given by folks who have studied this for 40 years and more.

[gospel micah]

HOWDY I BOUGHT WOODEN BUTTONS. FOR MY LEATHER VEST

[St. George]

Still puts it into the post-1900 time frame - regardless of 'what' buttons are used.

See all above about actual research and then discounting advice given when it doesn't agree with personal notions.

Scouts Out!

[Mick Archer]

  Howdy Pards!

  "But it doesn't make sense to ask and then doubt the answers one is given by folks who have studied this for 40 years and more."

  I would politely disagree.    

  There is a lot of sense, such as, but not limited to:

-the actual history and documentation are not part of one's "fun"
-the history and documentation are not "important" to what one is doing
-one has already purchased the item and will use it anyways
-one has already made up one's mind to purchase the item and use it
-the lad who is selling an item says it is researched and documented
-casual discussion around one's campfire says it is fine
- a lad likes it and the way it makes him look in it
-leather is way kewyl
-it is part of what IS a lad's "fun"
-one does not like historians and/or researchers or hobbyists, Authenticity Police, Stitch Nazi's, and Button Pissers ruining the "fun" for everybody else
etc, etc.,

   Not questioning any pards' Mental Picture of what they see themsleves doing and where they see themselves fitting in.  Nor criticizing or being negative with any pard's life and hobby choices, and what works for them.

    But.. yes... it can almost be Flame Bait to go to a point further down the Path on the Sliding Scale, and seem to say  "Don't tell me what I don't want to hear or know."

   Not saying anyone does not want to hear or know... or did so here...   

   Mick Archer
   Heretic Possee


-

[Delmonico]

Since this forum is about the "real history" then the question would have been better in a different forum, never ask a question if you don't want the answer.  And the question was answered as far as what documentation shows.  Wear Nike tennis shoes if you want, but don't ask me if they made them and then decide you don't like the answer.