Ancestry of a slob

[Lear]

Forgiveness is begged for starting two photograph laden threads in the same day. I could have put them all into a single thread. But these are from a completely different era altogether. My grandfather (side of my mother) is the one in the middle (first 2 shots), carrying a briefcase and wearing the spats (is that the correct shoe description?). He was short even by the standards of those days. Didn't get married until he was close to fifty! Luckily, my father was very tall. The third shot shows him front, forth from right. The briefcase is now in my possession. I've recently had new straps and handle put onto it. It a fab piece of leather

I 'll try to add some shots of how it looks today.

 

[Manton]

Great pics.

I don't think those are spats. Note the wing tips. Spats are not shaped like that. I think those are spectator shoes.

 

[texas_jack]

I like his suit. I wonder if it's mohair.

 

[NH_Clark]

Pan American World Airways... wow.. very nice. Flying used to be something folks got dressed up for.

 

[Lear]

OK, here are pics of the very same briefcase seen in the first two photographs. New handles and straps, plus lots of love and conditioner.

 

[LabelKing]

Did people still wear spats in the '40s and '50s as I assume when these photos were taken?

I would imagine it would have been quite the Old Guard who still wore spats at that time. Spats were kind of like the monocle--somehow they never quite die out and everybody still knows what you are referring to when you mention the two items, even today.

 

[Cary Grant]

Nice bag!!!

 

[Lear]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

Did people still wear spats in the '40s and '50s as I assume when these photos were taken? I would imagine it would have been quite the Old Guard who still wore spats at that time. Spats were kind of like the monocle--somehow they never quite die out and everybody still knows what you are referring to when you mention the two items, even today.
On the reverse of the photograph (many lined up in front of plane) it states that the flight is on January 21, 1958. The other two photographs must have been from around the same period. According to Manton, they are spectator shoes. It would take someone like Manton or Sator to put you right on dates and the fashions of the time.

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

Nice bag!!!
Thanks. It has a look, feel and smell that simply cannot be replicated in any other way. But the nicest thing is that it belonged to my grandfather, and is therefore priceless to me

 

[Lear]

I've been able to go a generation further back from the ones shown above. These are my great grandparents (side of my mother). Not sure of the exact date that it was taken.

It's a scanned, faint copy of the original. I'm afraid I don't know how to sharpen it on the computer.

Just thought the clothing from another age might be of interest.

Or the sharper image (thanks to B. F. Socaspi at The London Lounge)

 

[crazyquik]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I would imagine it would have been quite the Old Guard who still wore spats at that time. Spats were kind of like the monocle--somehow they never quite die out and everybody still knows what you are referring to when you mention the two items, even today.

Totally off topic, but I think you may appreciate this pic.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by crazyquik

Totally off topic, but I think you may appreciate this pic.

That is New York mayor, Jimmy Walker, I believe.

A slim dandy I can appreciate.

 

[crazyquik]

I had never heard of Jimmy Walker until now.

 

[Jferg4350]

Originally Posted by crazyquik

I had never heard of Jimmy Walker until now.

 

[Lear]

Cross-posted: The Fedora Lounge Another photograph from years gone by. My grandfather is the short guy, far left. Funny thing, he had 2 brothers who were both over six foot, which for those days was tall. What he lacked in height, he made up for with a fearsome reputation. A bit dark, I know. I'm just hopeless with the computer. Wouldn't know how to get the black shoes showing clearly. Lear

 

[emmanuel]

I like the briefcase! Love that you have some family history that comes with it! It is funny because I am looking at these pictures and feel like I should have lived during those times or even a bit earlier. (i was born in 1988

) I enjoy looking at your pictures