[TweedyDon]

Now available here, at my Facebook page WaterhollowTweed!

https://www.facebook.com/waterhollowtweed/posts/2114533378865602?__xts__[0]=68.ARBMDAHufJvbQJUdOQv0gOa_igriOerAw5pMJXHsxgR5il7ecp7oGnz5k7OmMUIPkx6a-mygtl6R5tu6691hw52O1tXxPqCnwO2-evgoXB5fK26vtmeHLakpJ0nGDn1U4CsKNxEJMaC4HBG8yBZ5OF9q5aEKUZunZi9k9s3EltVlSDe2weenEA&__tn__=-R

 

[Charles Dana]

People who are familiar with vintage coats have probably encountered the name "Worumbo Mill." Located in Lisbon Falls, Maine, Worumbo was known for making high-quality wool fabric for women's and men's coats.

In an article originally written for the Christian Science Monitor, then re-printed in the May 5, 1973 edition of the Lowell [Massachusetts] Sun, John Gould stated in part: "I suppose the polo coat didn't originate in Lisbon Falls, but our old Worumbo Mill (long gone) had almost a monopoly on weaving the top-grade woolen cloth from which the best polo coats were made....[T]he polo coat was almost a trademark for the Worumbo and Mr. Oliver Moses III, who presided over the manufactory, liked to give some away now and then for advertising."

Mr. Gould stated that Mr. Moses was a Boston Red Sox fan and would bestow a polo coat upon one player each summer. "It was somewhat amusing to be at Fenway Park on a smothering August day and see an outfielder awarded a polo coat intended for sub-zero comfort."

 

[Flanderian]

People who are familiar with vintage coats have probably encountered the name "Worumbo Mill." Located in Lisbon Falls, Maine, Worumbo was known for making high-quality wool fabric for women's and men's coats.

In an article originally written for the Christian Science Monitor, then re-printed in the May 5, 1973 edition of the Lowell [Massachusetts] Sun, John Gould stated in part: "I suppose the polo coat didn't originate in Lisbon Falls, but our old Worumbo Mill (long gone) had almost a monopoly on weaving the top-grade woolen cloth from which the best polo coats were made....[T]he polo coat was almost a trademark for the Worumbo and Mr. Oliver Moses III, who presided over the manufactory, liked to give some away now and then for advertising."

Mr. Gould stated that Mr. Moses was a Boston Red Sox fan and would bestow a polo coat upon one player each summer. "It was somewhat amusing to be at Fenway Park on a smothering August day and see an outfielder awarded a polo coat intended for sub-zero comfort."

 

[derum]

Undoubtedly Brooks Brothers played a major part in popularising the Polo coat in the USA, but there is no evidence to suggest that they defined the coat as we know it now. It's difficult to say that there is an "American" Polo coat specifically, as we don't know who first added the buttons. If there is definitive proof of the origins I would love to see it.
Wrap around coats were still popular in the 30's as seen from this picture, coincidentally alongside a "Hockey" coat which looks to be a derivative of a Polo coat, so we can assume that such coats were not dismissed.

As a nod to great advertising, I think this Kuppenheimer works on so many levels!

 

[Flanderian]

Undoubtedly Brooks Brothers played a major part in popularising the Polo coat in the USA, but there is no evidence to suggest that they defined the coat as we know it now. It's difficult to say that there is an "American" Polo coat specifically, as we don't know who first added the buttons. If there is definitive proof of the origins I would love to see it.
Wrap around coats were still popular in the 30's as seen from this picture, coincidentally alongside a "Hockey" coat which looks to be a derivative of a Polo coat, so we can assume that such coats were not dismissed.

View attachment 23996

As a nod to great advertising, I think this Kuppenheimer works on so many levels!
View attachment 23997

Thanks for the illustrations! The top one is from a series of illustrations in the same style for a retailer named Windsor Tailors. The coat on the right reminds me of one I owned, except mine was SB. Purchased from F. R. Tripler in the late '70's it was a golden-tan wool pile with a satin lining and a belt. Lovely! Hardly see similar coats any longer. O'Connell's had some a few years ago, but the selection has dwindled. Still advertise this greatcoat, but only a couple sizes left -

Edit: For many years Paul Stuart sold a coat they termed their Bearcat Coat. Actually alpaca pile, it's satin lined. You need to possess a measure of swagger to wear anything like this, and had best be slender.

 

[Flanderian]

The Polo coat's origins -

 

[Flanderian]

Apparel Arts, Fall 1934 -

 

[Flanderian]

 

[derum]

Did anybody wear it better?

 

[Flanderian]

Did anybody wear it better?

Not really!

 

[Fading Fast]

And it was only a men's thing:

From 1949's "All the King's Men"

And 1947's "A Long Night"

 

[WillBarrett]

Would love one of these but hardly practical this far south.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[eagle2250]

^^You can say that again, but I think I just did! LOL.

 

[drpeter]

I found this thread after doing a search for Worumbo. This morning I had a great find at my local Goodwill. A lovely checked sportcoat (medium-sized, subdued grey-and-green plaid) cut in the classic sack style -- undarted, three-button front, two spaced buttons on each cuff, half-lined with a satin lining, and lapel notches that have the lower notch point rounded, while the upper point is sharp. Everything about this jacket says high quality. There are the standard lower pockets with flaps and a breast pocket slightly angled. Inside there are two labels: On the left, there is a black label which says Worumbo in Gothic letters and below that America's Finest in copperplate. On the right there is a cream label with a little crest containing a W at the top, and below that Wolper's in big medieval-style letters, then lower still, Chelsea, Mass, in similar, but smaller letters. The jacket does not show any signs of having been worn very much, no gaps anywhere, loose buttons, frayed armholes or the tell-tale arched sag in the bottom, at the back. I am quite sure the cloth is 100% wool. It has a nice flannel-like hand, fits me perfectly, and feels almost as comfortable as an old Shetland sweater. My total cost: $9.00 plus tax. I felt it was a great value.

I am doing some research on the labels, which is how I found this thread. The net did not give me anything for Wolper's so if anyone knows of this shop or company, I would appreciate hearing about it. In the meantime, I plan to use a clothes steamer to refresh the coat and smooth out some minor wrinkles. And then a light pressing with a warm iron and a protective cloth should make it look splendid.

I learned long ago how to press shirts and slacks, and after learning how much damage dry cleaning can do to woolens, decided to air and brush them after each wear -- and steam wool suits and sportcoats occasionally. I also learned how to press them with a warm iron and protective cloth. Useful skills, I think, if one is to take care of clothes that should last a long time.

All told, a good day of thrifting. I even found a nice Resilio silk tie with a repeating crest pattern. Maybe that darned virus is good for thrifting. 10 AM - 11 AM is senior hour at our Goodwill, and it is very quiet these days.

 

[drpeter]

I looked up Worumbo Mill and found some fascinating history. It's a regular bit of Americana. The Mill was the victim of multiple floods and two fires, the second fire essentially stopping production of woollen cloth completely and closing down the company. There have been attempts by the town of Lisbon Falls to clean up and re-develop the site. I also found it noteworthy that two novels (and films based on them) had material related to the Mill: Bernard Malamud's The Natural and Stephen King's 11/22/63. Here is an article about all this:

https://nasser.bangordailynews.com/2016/07/11/home/the-life-death-of-worumbo-mill/

 

[Peak and Pine]

I looked up Worumbo Mill and found some fascinating history. It's a regular bit of Americana. The Mill was the victim of multiple floods and two fires, the second fire essentially stopping production of woollen cloth completely and closing down the company. There have been attempts by the town of Lisbon Falls to clean up and re-develop the site. I also found it noteworthy that two novels (and films based on them) had material related to the Mill: Bernard Malamud's The Natural and Stephen King's 11/22/63. Here is an article about all this:

https://nasser.bangordailynews.com/2016/07/11/home/the-life-death-of-worumbo-mill/

The town of Lisbon Falls where Warumbo was located is not far from where I write. Your article mentions author Stephen King. He and I share the same birth place. Literally. The exact same building, a building that sounds like people shouldn't be born there: the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary, two years apart.

 

[drpeter]

Good heavens, @Peak and Pine! There is more than coincidence working here, are you sure it isn't some cosmic synchronicity, LOL? This story could be the beginning of another King-style novel. And what a place to be born in -- if I were you, I'd be continually checking my eyes and ears. Anyway, it's fascinating information.

I have travelled a bit in Maine, mainly because my ex-wife Barbara was from Durham NH, and we got married in Perkins Cove, Maine, at what used to be the Whistling Oyster restaurant back in 1981. Not sure if it is around anymore, restaurants tend to come and go. In the old, misguided days of my youth, I used to go jogging in the company of my wife's sister's husband (does that make him my brother-in-law?) all over Durham and Portsmouth. In another misguided attempt, I tried to swim in the Atlantic, at the Agonquit beach and nearly froze to death even though it was August and warm on the beach. I just wanted to be able to complete my "swimming in all the oceans" life list -- Indian Ocean, Pacific and then Atlantic, now all done. (I exempted myself from the Arctic and Antarctic, there's no way sane people are going to swim in those waters, LOL). And so it goes.

 

[Peak and Pine]

^ Highly entertaining, @drpeter. Incidentally, it's Ogunquit, wjtn an O (worked summers there In high school.)

 

[Fading Fast]

.... In another misguided attempt, I tried to swim in the Atlantic, at the Agonquit beach and nearly froze to death even though it was August and warm on the beach....

My girlfriend's family lived in Maine for several years, so to her, swimming in Maine in the summer makes sense, but No. It. Does. Not.

Maine water is for boating and fishing, it's not until you get to, at least, Massachusetts and, for my taste, south of New Jersey, that the Atlantic is for swimming.

 

[drpeter]

^ Highly entertaining, @drpeter. Incidentally, it's Ogunquit, wjtn an O (worked summers there In high school.)

I stand corrected -- I knew there was something odd the way I spelled it, and should have looked it up...