That Small Vintage Knot

[Paul Roerich]

Some of my vintage ties even lack interlining, save for a 3/4" bias strip of wool or linen to reinforce the stitching.

Yep. Some of the 'finest' (read: most espensive) ties of the era were advertised as such.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Several points regarding tie knots. First, while the four-in-hand is a mainstay, it's also kinda a beginner's tie knot. I've heard that some in England even call it a a schoolboy knot. When you see a vintage picture of a tie with a tinny, perfectly symmetrical, diamond shape knot, the chances are it's not a four-in-hand, because that knot's principle characteristic is that it's asymmetrical. Second, there are a lot of alternative tie knots that were once common but have fallen by the wayside as sartorial devolution takes its toll ...

Here are some pictorial examples of classic, largely forgotten tie knots with diagrams which show how to tie them:


The small knot. I've actually seen this one tied onscreen in some classic movies. It uses vert little length, as such it was very common in the 20s and 30s, when ties were short:

This is Pratt, aka Shelby, aka Nicky, aka Milan knot. Again, this knot uses very little length and was very common in the 20s and 30s.

 

[herringbonekid]

that 'twist' in step one of the 'small knot' bothers me.

in the 'Pratt', the right side of the tie is facing in to your neck (!) which results in the wrong side being visible on the thin end (!!) ... no good if your tie is hanging free (unless you're a label whore).

 

[herringbonekid]

...also, when you undo the 'small knot' you're left with a knot in the tie, unlike the four in hand which slides apart when undone.

the four in hand is still the superior knot if you ask me.

 

[Dick Ireland]

I'll have to try those knots, guttersnipe. Thanks!