Mid 50s british Cord Jacket Size 40

[Baron Kurtz]

John Collier, Early label, old-style liner/pocket configuration. £45 BIN

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JOHN-COLLIER-TAILORED-CORD-CORDUROY-BLAZER-JACKET-40-BROWN-/230978678715?pt=UK_Men_s_Vintage_Coats_Jackets&hash=item35c766efbb

 

[Two Types]

I think the John Collier brand only came into use in 1958.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

There's some confusion online. Some have it 1954, some 1953 after the buyout of Fifty Shilling Tailors, some 1958.

This ignores the existence of John Collier as a brand owned by Price Tailors (who ran Fifty Shilling Tailors) in London before the 1953 buyout.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Definitive from Competition Commission report dated 1967 (I think)

"United Drapery Stores Ltd. (UDS) was incorporated in 1927 for the
purpose of acquiring five department store companies and one credit drapery
business." …

"The principal businesses in the Men's Tailoring Division of the group
are John Collier and Alexandra. Prices Tailors Ltd., trading as John Collier
(formerly Fifty Shilling Tailors) and Claude Alexander, was acquired in
1953. This business had been started by Mr. (later Sir Henry) Price in 1907
with one small shop at Silsden in Yorkshire. In 1919 a private company
had been formed, and by 1928 this company operated seventy-four retail
shops and a small factory in Leeds. A public company was formed in 1928.
In 1931 the number of retail shops had increased to 112 and an additional
factory had been purchased in Leeds. In 1932 the number of retail shops
had been increased to 232 by the acquisition of a chain of shops trading
as Stewarts Clothiers, and this had necessitated a further increase in the
manufacturing capacity. Thirty-seven shops trading as Claude Alexander
had been acquired hi 1950. UDS told us that in 1953 it was offered a
substantial holding (about 40 per cent) in Prices and that, since expansion
was its policy, it accepted this holding and made a public offer for the
remainder of the share capital. The whole of the ordinary capital of
Prices Tailors was, in fact, acquired. After the acquisition the name under
which most of the shops were trading was changed from Fifty Shilling
Tailors to John Collier. "

 

[Two Types]

Thanks for correcting me. The Alexandra/Claude Alexander referred to in the piece: is that 'Alexandre' whose Milium lined coats are regularly available in the vintage shops/ebay etc?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Yes, Alexandre. The PDF, being a government publication, is full of spelling and grammatical errors. That's Public School for ya!

 

[Two Types]

Today is not a day to be thinking about overcoats with 'Millium' lining!

(definitely a day for the vintage shorts thread!)

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Yes indeed. That Milium lining is absolutely awesome for winter weight stuff, but God, to wear that in Summer! I have seena linen suit with Milium lining. Madness!

 

[Seb Lucas]

Looks very 1959 to me. Wasn't that a similar jacket and colour to that Norman Bates wore? Psycho was shot in '59.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Middle-late 50s, probably erring to the later. The lack of "Milium" liner label suggests an early-ish John Collier piece. By the 60s, they all pretty much carried the "Milium" label