EBAY DEMOB

[Howard Hughes]

Whatto All,
Did a fellow Lounger win/buy the brown herringbone/striped Demob that sold on Ebay UK last evening ?
On first sight the suit looked to be approx my size, but after measuring one of my own suits, I discovered that if the vendor's measurements were correct, the inside leg was extra long, whilst the sleeves were extra short.
Maybe the jacket was re-tailored to fit someone shorter, but the trousers were never altered, though the photographs do appear to be a well proportioned garment.
I would be interested to know the outcome of this transaction.
It was only the sizing that put me off bidding, and I hope the buyer will great enjoyment from the piece.

Toodleoo
HH

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Lovely suit.

Lovely suit, but those arms are hardly extra short! 25" long? This sounds about perfect for a 31" inseam, possibly even a bit long.

bk

 

[benstephens]

Yes 25" Arms are longer than mine!

It was a nice suit. Nice to have the inspection stamp on as well, as a lot of the de-mob suits are not actually de-mob suits.

Kindest Regards

 

[Howard Hughes]

RE-MEASURE

OOPs !!

It sounds as though I will have to re-check my measurements, I might have to bin that Ronco "Measure-All Tape".
I did measure it against a genuine de-mob, so although the cut might be slightly different, it shouldn't be too far out.
Mrs HH will be pleased with my faux-pas, saved at least £260.
I already have a Horne Bros three piece single breasted suit, in a very similar fabric, so maybe not too bad a loss. A Demob would have been nice though.
Oh well.

Toodleoo
HH

 

[benstephens]

Can you post a picture of the Horne Borthers suit, I am quite interested in them. I have a couple of original catologues, we might be able to match it up?

Ben

 

[Howard Hughes]

HORNE BROS

Whatto Ben,
I am at work at the mo, and so it will have to be tomorrow, (out tonight, dining with Mater and Pater), before I can get you any photographs to you, I may already have one or two, but I can take new ones anyway.
Probably best if you can let me have your e-mail address, as I don not know how to upload photographs onto The Lounge.
I will sort something out anyway.
I have, however, just found a photograph of three young chaps playing pontoon at Fanhams last New Year, a very nice silk evening robe Sir !

Toodleoo
HH

 

[benstephens]

Are you a fellow Fanhams chum?

Kindest Regards

Ben

 

[Howard Hughes]

FANHAMS

I am indeed a Fanhams veteran.
I think we have a few mutual friends, but being based in the Northern Midlands, our paths do not seem to cross very often.
Will you be attending the August meeting of this year.
My father-in-law has a book at the moment from the library, a photographic encyclopedic reference of WWII British Army uniform, published around ten years ago, in which I had the pleasure to see Bryan & Lou, and also a young, but none the less tall, Chris R.

Toodleoo
HH

 

[benstephens]

Myself and Miss Sis will indeed be there.

If you get the next book in the series you will see myself as well!

Kindest Regards

Ben

 

[Mike1973]

Myself and Miss Sis will indeed be there.

If you get the next book in the series you will see myself as well!

Kindest Regards

Ben

Looking splendid in Jungle Green if I remember correctly? Must have a flick though mine again...

 

[PADDY]

Burton's Demob (40's) 3pc DB suit (pics)

Apologies & thanks for the reminder there BK, (any excuse for a Paddy photo shoot eh!). Utility suit pics for stored for 'another' day Cheers.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

^^

That's utility, not demob.

bk

 

[mike]

... as a lot of the de-mob suits are not actually de-mob suits.

hahah you mean, how anything post war through the 70's is classed a demob suit?!:eusa_doh:

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I think Ben means that many 1940s era British suits are listed as "Demob", whereas they are in fact either utility label (CC41) suits, or non-Utility suits dated to the correct-ish era. "Demob" suits bore War Department labels and stamps. The one label i've seen was very much in keeping with British military labels (rectangular, linen, about 3" by 2"). There were also war dept stamps and small labels inside the arm of the jacket, for example. The labels were very often taken out. You will see the one that started this thread retains the stamp - rather more difficult to get rid of than the labels!

There's a store here in London which has a few "Suits, Airmen's, Travelling". This is a grey flannel 2 piece notch lapel SB suit (the ones in the store date to the middle 1950s) issued to airmen travelling in civvies. A somewhat similar idea to the demob suit, but since they are uniform pieces, i suppose, there would be no choices for the "airmen, travelling", whereas the chaps demobbing had a little bit of choice.

bk

 

[mike]

I think Ben means that many 1940s era British suits are listed as "Demob", whereas they are in fact either utility label (CC41) suits, or non-Utility suits dated to the correct-ish era. "Demob" suits bore War Department labels and stamps. The one label i've seen was very much in keeping with British military labels (rectangular, linen, about 3" by 2"). There were also war dept stamps and small labels inside the arm of the jacket, for example. The labels were very often taken out. You will see the one that started this thread retains the stamp - rather more difficult to get rid of than the labels!

There's a store here in London which has a few "Suits, Airmen's, Travelling". This is a grey flannel 2 piece notch lapel SB suit (the ones in the store date to the middle 1950s) issued to airmen travelling in civvies. A somewhat similar idea to the demob suit, but since they are uniform pieces, i suppose, there would be no choices for the "airmen, travelling", whereas the chaps demobbing had a little bit of choice.

bk

huh that's interesting, I saw the original ebay auction posting and had never seen that stamp before, but have seen many suits listed as demob. I never knew the visual differences in tags/stamps/documentation between the cc41 and demob items. Does anyone have a clearer image of a demob stamp?

 

[LondonLuke]

There's a store here in London which has a few "Suits, Airmen's, Travelling". This is a grey flannel 2 piece notch lapel SB suit (the ones in the store date to the middle 1950s) issued to airmen travelling in civvies. A somewhat similar idea to the demob suit, but since they are uniform pieces, i suppose, there would be no choices for the "airmen, travelling", whereas the chaps demobbing had a little bit of choice.

bk

You couldn't tell us the name and location of that store could you please?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

huh that's interesting, I saw the original ebay auction posting and had never seen that stamp before, but have seen many suits listed as demob. I never knew the visual differences in tags/stamps/documentation between the cc41 and demob items. Does anyone have a clearer image of a demob stamp?

Ben might have a pic. I think he owns one or two demob suits.

You couldn't tell us the name and location of that store could you please?

Blackout II on Endell Street, WC2. Rip-off prices. Saxby also had a few in. I think Shaul-Ike Cohen bought 'un from him.

bk

 

[benstephens]

Yes, I am working on it, I tried scanning it but they are a little blurry. I am also trying to find some de-mob labels I had. They were with a chaps paybook. He obviously cut them out. As Baron says, they are similar to the labels in battledress etc.

You should also have a size lable (39 Regular) for instance in the pockets, normally showing a contract number.

Kindest Regards

Ben

 

[Howard Hughes]

BEN/ALL MAKER

Whatto Ben/All,

First, the suit I mentioned, which I thought was "Horne Bros", isn't.
That's what happens to ones memory when one reaches a certain age, I suppose.
It turns out to be a "Rochester House Clothing" piece.
Does anyone know anything about this company ?

Second, I re-measured the Demob I used for reference, and the sleeves are a good inch and a half longer than the one which started this thread.
I do now remember that I had to turn the legs up though, and I am a 31 inside leg, that must be where I went wrong.

Toodleoo All
HH

 

[benstephens]

No, Rochester House clothing is a new one on me. Is it American or British?