Vintage Mid-Century BUSTER BROWN White Sailor Suit 6-pc Family Set - Sizes 5-14
13 March 2024
Description

Vintage Mid-Century BUSTER BROWN White Sailor Suit 6-pc Family Boys Set - Sizes 5-14 100% Premium Cotton Made in USA Excellent used condition - like they were worn once or twice for a family photo and then stored away. Talk about a piece of history! Finding the iconic mid-century version of the Buster Brown suit is so difficult. Buster Brown was a children's clothing line from ~1900s - 1980s/90s based on the 1902 comic book character of the same name. It hit its popularity height in the 50s and 60s, with very successful ad campaigns, encouraging people to dress their kids in the brand head to toe. The 1965 ad above shows the all-white sailor suits in different versions, with the red and blue double striping in various configurations. The short sleeve top on the girl on the far right is identical to the Type A garments below. The items have the tagline "Top Quality in Color Fastness", which seems less likely to have after those dates. The one Hanes item is a Fleecie, of unknown date. It's unknown whether the pieces are all from different eras and were just collected to get a size that each child could fit. I've attached a copy of my US trademark research. The boy & dog label & font match the 1961 trademark filing from Buster Brown Textiles, but there is record of use from 1959. I could not find an identical Hanes logo, but it is closest to the one registered in 1970 with sans serif font. I approximate the date range as ~1940s-1970s, with the most likely being the 1960s, which fits pretty cleanly with the 1965 ad and with the Ronel Shank from Auburn, Washington State (described at the end). ~~~~~ Set includes: **Type A** Short sleeve sailor shirt Removable triangle inset affixed with silver "Gripper" brand snaps 100% Premium Cotton *A1 Size 5 Weight 38-43 lbs Height 41-43 inches *A2 Size 6 Weight 38-48 lbs Height 41-46 inches *A3 Size 6x/7 Weight 49-54 lbs Height 47-48 inches **Type B** Long Sleeve Sailor Jacket Elastic red white & blue cuffs at neck, arms, and waist Snap button close branded "Gripper" with red white and blue silver buttons 50% Polyester, 50% Cotton Made in USA RN 23462 CA 00301 Machine Wash Hot Tags are stamped with the word "SECONDS" *B1 Size 12 Weight 74-87 lbs Height 55-58 inches *B2 Size 14 Weight 88-100 lbs Height 59-61 inches ** Type C** Hanes Fleecies (clearly designed to be a cheaper copy of Type B Exterior feels like sweatsuit material Interior feels like fleecy material Unbranded Zipper Close *C1 Size 6x-8 Weight 88-100 lbs Height 59-61 inches Name: Ronel Shank on a sewn-in label The two records on the internet of "Ronel Shank" 1.) A 59 year old man from the state of Washington who graduated Thomas Jefferson High School in Auburn, WA in 1983 (putting his birthday ~1965). If he wore the youngest of these pieces, it would date them closer to the early 1970s. 2.) 89 year old in Kent, WA born in June, 1934. If he wore the oldest of these pieces, it would date them closer to the early 1950s https://www.fastpeoplesearch.com/ronel-shank_id_G2933293217539986144 https://www.fastbackgroundcheck.com/people/ronel-shank/id/f7488748762084431699

Dimensions

Assorted - see longer notes

Acquired from
Auction House
For sale
Yes
Answered within 2 days
By Delia
Mar 16, 02:17 UTC
Fair Market Value
$600 - $900 USD
Suggested Asking Price $1,800 USD
What does this mean?

Hi Cassandra,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
As previously discussed, I reached out to two former colleagues - one works for an auction house that specializes in vintage and antique clothing, the other is a dealer who specializes in mid 20th Century clothing, particularly menswear. Both loved this collection.
In terms of value, they felt an circa 1960 Buster Brown sailor shirt in good condition would have a fair-market (auction) value of $50-75 (typically one would retail for about $150), with older shirts being worth a bit more. Because this seems to be such a large "graduated" set in both size and date, the collection would be valued at more than simply $300-450, or six times the fair-market value for a single shirt. When the condition is additionally factored in, an appropriate fair-market value for the collection would be $600-900; if you are considering selling this, you could ask (but might be expected to haggle down from) a starting price of $1800.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A set of 6 vintage Buster Brown sailor suit jerseys
American, probably circa 1960s, comprising
TYPE A: short sleeve sailor shirt with removable triangle inset affixed with silver "Gripper" brand snaps, 100% premium cotton
*A1: Size 5, Weight 38-43 lbs, Height 41-43 inches
*A2: Size 6, Weight 38-48 lbs, Height 41-46 inches
*A3: Size 6x/7, Weight 49-54 lbs, Height 47-48 inches
TYPE B: long-sleeve sailor jacket with elastic red white & blue cuffs at neck, arms, and waist; snap button close branded "Gripper" with red white and blue silver buttons, 50% polyester, 50% cotton. Made in USA RN 23462 CA 00301 Machine Wash Hot Tags are stamped with the word "SECONDS"
*B1: Size 12, Weight 74-87, lbs, Height 55-58 inches
*B2: Size 14, Weight 88-100 lbs, Height 59-61 inches
TYPE C: Hanes Fleecies (clearly designed to be a cheaper copy of Type B Exterior feels like sweatsuit material Interior feels like fleecy material) with unbranded zipper close C1: Size 6x-8, Weight 88-100 lbs, Height 59-61 inches
Name: Ronel Shank on a sewn-in label
CONDITION: Client describes the condition as "likely worn once or twice then stored away."
PROVENANCE: Acquired at auction
$ 600-900 for the set*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia

Cassandra harter Mar 16, 19:48 UTC

How exciting! Absolutely contact with whoever you need. I'm okay with additional time. ♥️ Thank you!

Cassandra harter Mar 16, 21:30 UTC

FYI: I have now purchased the authentic paper ad I referenced in my submission pictures from a vintage magazine. And will of course be then including that with the set. I thought it would be perfect to include as a verified example of their authenticity and historical importance. Additional details about that ad can be located on the listing here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1059438618/1965-buster-brown-textiles-childrens

Cassandra harter Apr 12, 18:14 UTC

I absolutely loved getting to read all your notes! I'm sorry it's taken me a month to say so. Is there any way I could speak to your auction house friend? I'm not sure if that's kosher here, but I'd love to connect. Thanks so much.

Delia Apr 15, 10:43 UTC

Hi Cassandra,
Thanks for your note. Some of the specialists we speak with on the side are hesitant to be in touch directly and we don't give out their information. The best I can do is to forward your contact information to them and give them the option of being in touch. Is that OK to do so?
Delia

Cassandra harter Apr 15, 12:02 UTC

Absolutely! And that makes perfect sense. It's always good to be hesitant and protective with online information. If you would please pass my contact information along to the both of them, I would be most grateful. I'm not sure what you have access to so I'll write it here:

Cassandra Harter
[email protected]
https://periwinklepackages.com/
https://posh.mk/B93yXJaBOIb

Thank you for your kindness! 💗

Delia Apr 15, 16:30 UTC

Thanks - forwarded - fingers crossed!

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