Prison garment?

[Monsieur Hulot]

When I bought this, it was told me this is a prison garments, but I am no longer sure, think rather it is workwear. broad arrow marked, size 14

[Mervyn Mitton]

If it is prison dress - then I don't think British. You are probably right that it is a general fatigue uniform.

Where do you think it is from ? Mervyn

[Monsieur Hulot]

Hello Mervyn.

I bought this on ebay several years ago, have not been able to find any information about it.

I will post picture of the stamp later.

Erik.

[Monsieur Hulot]

Pictures of stamps, first pants, then coat.

And it is M not 14.

Edited January 21, 2014 by Monsieur Hulot

[Mervyn Mitton]

Erik - the mark on the pants appears to be the Broad Arrow for the British Board of Ordanance. This would make

them British. I thought I could see the date 1962 in the numbers - but probably wrong. Mervyn

[Dave Alexander]

To me numbers look like 27062, if this helps.

[peter monahan]

My fairly untutored eye suggests late nineteenth, early twentieth century, by the styling but that doesn't mean much, given governments' penchants for not changing things. I assume it is wool, which again to me suggest earlier - pre-1960s anyway - rather than later, due to cost. Not sure when denim became the fatigue material of choice but I would guess sometime after WWI. Are the buttons bone, metal, rubber or plastic?

Also, the brass eyelet on the trousers is odd - perhaps it came with a draw string waist rather than belt or braces? That might lend weight to the prison story, as I can't imagine any military fatigue uniform in the Commonwealth that wouldn't use braces or a belt. OTOH, the number of pockets seems odd for a prison uniform too - most have NO pockets, for obvious reasons. The long pocket on the right hip has to be for a specific object/purpose and may be a significant clue.

The broad arrow was used by the Canadian military, with a 'C' around it. Not sure what our prison service used but a broad arrow is quite possible. Might also have been used by other Empire/Commonwealth countries.

Interesting puzzle!

Peter

[Monsieur Hulot]

Garment made ​​of coarse woven linen, as coal sacks, dish buttons made of galvanized iron.

[Odulf]

Definetely Government Issue clothing. On the trousers I see a long pocket stitched on the leg, to fit a pencil, rule, or any other tool. Could also be simple working rig for an official or military yard/workshop, juvenal institute, or such like. I think that I may have seen something similar in the Chatham Dockyards museum, with a white woolen jacket with toggles.

[peter monahan]

Sounds as if the consensus is 'working dress, government issue'. The galvanized iron buttons and linen suggest, to me, no later than 1930s, but I'm not a textiles/costume expert.