Thoughts on 1940s/1950s-style T-shirts (undershirts)?

[BigBrother]

Hey all! For years and years I've been very interested in the super short-sleeve style of T-shirt you see on WWII service members, Marlon Brando, and the like (basically how T-shirts were made in the 40s and 50s as far as I can tell). References:

https://maritime.org/pres/potrack/pots.htm

https://www.rollingstone.com/wp-con...do-624-1372448011.jpg?resize=1800,1200&w=1800

https://img.posterlounge.co.uk/images/big/1870228.jpg

https://media.newyorker.com/photos/5ac3a6d7fcbcc5334fdfad94/master/pass/571109_r31901.jpg

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a73c...at&fit=max&s=6def5b687b07c9db1810438fe32119da

I've found nothing pre-made that's cut like this for men today (I even tried women's cuts which did in fact somewhat well, but failed in other parts.) My best approximation is one line of shirts that fit well and I roll the sleeves/am having my tailor permanently fixing the roll.

But do you know anything about these, who might make them today, etc.?

At present my best bet will be to take those same shirts and have the tailor just recut/sew the sleeves to the right length.

Anyway, would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks!!

 

[Edward Reed]

I'm not sure about the sleeve length on these modern day offerings I list below as they seem like most Tees but back in the day they were tube loom weave (no side seam) and very few companies do this today. there is a place in Japan and China that make them still and one place in the US.
Bronson out of China offers a very high quality ring spun tube shirts and I own a few of them. they are thick and very well made. They are branded "NonStock Knitting Mills." I prefer their "embryo" color as it is a vintage off white
https://bronsonshop.com/collections/t-shirts-undershirts/products/non-stock-us-cotton-tube-t-shirt
Shipping can take some time. I bought 2 pair of 1940s army khaki chinos and a few t-shirts and it took about 9 weeks for the package to arrive so be patient with them.

Eastman Leather Clothing Co (History preservations is the USA dealer) also offer ring spun tube T's but at a VERY hefty price...
-U. S. Navy 1930’s & ’40’s Tee Shirt “Skivvy,” Off-White (The sleeves are of the true shorter, quarter-sleeve length of that era,!!!)
and the
-USMC WWII 1943 Tee Shirt “Skivvy”
https://www.historypreservation.com...hirts/u-s-navy-1930s-40s-tee-shirt-off-white/
https://www.historypreservation.com...r-tee-shirts/usmc-wwii-1943-tee-shirt-scivvy/

you can get a thinner 60/40 ringspun American made tube t-shirt at https://www.allamericanclothing.com/made-in-usa/USA200.html
not cheaply made and not thin material. very comfortable very soft and affordable but not nearly as nice as the heavier Bronson NonStock tube Tee

hope this helps. again not sure about the smaller sleeve size but these all tend to conform to the body and if I recall the all American are true to size and the Bronson are about true to size but maybe a tad smaller than US standard size.

 

[Edward Reed]

okay if you are willing to pay the price of about $120 a Tee then it appears the Eastman U. S. Navy 1930's & '40's Tee Shirt "Skivvy," Off-White is the true reproduction seen in your photos! their description says; " The sleeves are of the true shorter, quarter-sleeve length of that era, which is much more flattering than so-called short sleeves we see today..."

 

[Sonero]

Schott has a very nice silhouette for their heavyweight tees. The fit is tailored but the pattern is very unique . The sleeves look like a 50's greaser style cut. Color choices are limited. Cotton quality is excellent.

 

[Old Mariner]

I read this thread out of curiosity, and my undershirts may be a reasonable idea. They seem to be shorter than other undershirts in the sleeves. They are Gildan brand and while a bit more than other name brand type under shirts like Hanes, I find the slight extra cost is worth it. They have held up better. I really don't like taking photos in the bathroom, but as I have no other good mirror at the moment, here is a photo of me wearing one. I wear a small size.

 

[Edward Reed]

View attachment 268546 I read this thread out of curiosity, and my undershirts may be a reasonable idea. They seem to be shorter than other undershirts in the sleeves. They are Gildan brand and while a bit more than other name brand type under shirts like Hanes, I find the slight extra cost is worth it. They have held up better. I really don't like taking photos in the bathroom, but as I have no other good mirror at the moment, here is a photo of me wearing one. I wear a small size.

cool! yes very good approximation of the old style short sleeve! thanks for that. will go get some! your bathroom mirror sacrifice will not go in vain!

 

[Old Mariner]

cool! yes very good approximation of the old style short sleeve! thanks for that. will go get some! your bathroom mirror sacrifice will not go in vain!

Good to know.

 

[Sonero]

View attachment 268546 I read this thread out of curiosity, and my undershirts may be a reasonable idea. They seem to be shorter than other undershirts in the sleeves. They are Gildan brand and while a bit more than other name brand type under shirts like Hanes, I find the slight extra cost is worth it. They have held up better. I really don't like taking photos in the bathroom, but as I have no other good mirror at the moment, here is a photo of me wearing one. I wear a small size.

Is there a specific Gilden model number you choose ?

 

[Old Mariner]

Is there a specific Gilden model number you choose ?

I don't recall. I just looked for Gildan white crewneck shirts in my size. I wanted to replace my Hanes ones which were thinner and wearing out rather quickly. I bought mine online via Walmart from what I can remember. I may be able to dig through my order history and it may still be there. Give me a bit and let me see if I can find the link.

 

[Old Mariner]

Here: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Gildan-M...65-4bab-8e88-7f3ad3f749fd&selected=true&la=12

Hope that long link works ok.

 

[Sonero]

Here: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Gildan-M...65-4bab-8e88-7f3ad3f749fd&selected=true&la=12

Hope that long link works ok.

Great. Thank You

 

[Old Mariner]

Great. Thank You

Sure. Hope the shirts work out well for you.

 

[BigBrother]

@Edward Reed Sorry it took me so long to get back to you on this thread- Eastman I believe was the leather jacket company whose t-shirt I found months ago when perusing for A2s, etc., and loved reading it about as it did, indeed, appear to be what I was looking for... though at quite the hefty price!! (In fact I do recall observing at the time it was overseas, either England or Germany, most likely England, so yeah, it was almost certainly Eastman. Hell, how many A2 manufacturing WWII-style t-shirt-selling outfits can there be, right? ) I think Eastman redesigned their site recently though because I recall the layout being different... or maybe I had read the History Preservation site. Yeah, on second thought, I think it was them originally because I recall the ~$90 price tag, presented as such and not in pounds.

Anyway, this thread has been great (shocking on Fedora Lounge, right? I love this place) because it clued me into what the operative property here is- quarter-length sleeves. Gives me great search fodder (though I doubt I'll find much these days) and interesting knowledge in general which we all on here love.

What's funny is the quarter-length sleeve aspect might've already been there for me on Eastman's or History Preservation's site the first time I saw it, but if so, I didn't recall it. Maybe then, if so, it's a case of taking a good review for something to click!

Thanks so much for the info. I'm having my tailor perma-roll some sleeves for me but failing that, or maybe as just another experiment, I plan to have her try to quarter-length one of my t-shirts to see how it feels and looks.

Also, just did some searching for "quarter-sleeve undershirt" based on the History site's description, and came up with this vendor. Interesting. They sell Eastman, Real McCoy's, and more:

https://standardandstrange.com/coll...ees/products/loopwheeled-athletic-tee-white-1

 

[BigBrother]

Also for what it's worth, leaving here some more repros I've found and interesting articles:

https://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/us-army-and-usmc-1940-s-vintage-us-army-white-t-shirt.html

https://www.atthefront.com/product-p/ususwt.htm

http://www.90thidpg.us/Equipment/Articles/Tshirts/index.html

https://www.uso.org/stories/1974-ho...t-shirt-the-most-popular-garment-in-the-world

Per that second to last link, WWII Impressions also used to make one but I can't seem to find it now.

 

[Sonero]

I just ordered two 8.5oz T shirts from Bravestar Selvedge in LA. They haven't arrived yet but they weigh in at 8.5 oz each and the measurements are clearly marked so I expect a nice fit $25 per.

Iron Heart now offers an 11oz T Shirt for an obscene amount of money.

 

[BigBrother]

@Edward Reed another thing- where did you find that long pic with all the Eastman info? A) It looks much more like what I remember reading months ago, but B) doesn’t seem to be on their site now.

Thanks!

 

[Edward Reed]

@Edward Reed another thing- where did you find that long pic with all the Eastman info? A) It looks much more like what I remember reading months ago, but B) doesn’t seem to be on their site now.

Thanks!

at https://www.historypreservation.com...hirts/u-s-navy-1930s-40s-tee-shirt-off-white/ under the t-shirt image on the left click on "Click for Additional Images"
Same for the Eastman website but at the t-shirt image just click the Magnifying glass that has the + symbol in it for the extensive popup
https://www.eastmanleather.com/tees/459-us-army-plain.html (WWII army T-shirt)
https://www.eastmanleather.com/tees/288-us-navy-plain.html (WWII Navy T-shirt)

 

[BigBrother]

Great! I wonder if the Army and Navy ones are identical with simply different labeling.

 

[Edward Reed]

Great! I wonder if the Army and Navy ones are identical with simply different labeling.

from what I gather from various forums they are identical but the Navy had a more elaborate label stamp whereas the Army had just the shirt size number stamped. I suppose at that price point it would make a difference to serious reenactors as to what they were wearing but no one would actually see it anyway.

 

[BigBrother]

Yeah, was wondering if Eastman goes to the trouble of changing the specific stitching, etc. On the one hand, I feel any half-reasonable company would just make one high quality reproduction and change the labeling, on the other, I don't think anyone would esteem our pursuits as even half-reasonable, or our vendors by extension