| Bell & Company Traders |
| The Common Shirt |
| We have developed our shirt from the traditional patterns as referenced in a variety of sources, including: Tidings from the 18th Century, by Beth Gilgun Rural Pennsylvania Clothing, by Ellen J. Gehret Thoughts on Men's Shirts in America 1750 - 1900, by William L. Brown We tailor every area of the shirt --collar, cuffs, sleeves, width, and length-- to fit you properly and comfortably. We use 1/2" bone buttons at the collar and cuffs. After placing your order, we will send an email requesting the measurements we will need to tailor your shirt. Standard sizes from 32" thru 50" chest. Also available up to 65" chest. Contact us before ordering for prices. |
Bleached
Muslin
Muslin
$35.00
100% Cotton Muslin
$37.50
100% LINEN $60.00
100% Cotton Broadcloth
100% Wool Flannel $89.50
| The Gentleman's Shirt |
| Made on the same pattern as the Common Shirt and with the same attention to tailoring. This version features a 2" ruffle on both sides of the front opening and a band cuff that forms a 2" ruffle at the wrist. This shirt makes the statement that you are not of the working classes! Standard length is 32". After placing your order, we will send an email requesting the measurements we will need to tailor your shirt. Standard sizes from 32" thru 50" chest. Also available up to 65" chest...contact us for prices before ordering. |
$45.00
100% Cotton Muslin
100% Cotton Muslin
$67.00
White Linen
White Linen
| If you prefer not to use Paypal, click here for the email order form. |
The Early American Shirt
In this era a man's shirt was thought of as underwear and was intended to covered by a waistcoat and coat. Despite
that, period paintings and narratives clearly show farmers, laborers, and other working men stripped down to their
shirtsleeves as weather and working conditions required. When the workday ended however, these men once again
donned their waistcoats and coats or jackets before going into public, especially into mixed company, leaving only
the collar and perhaps cuffs of the shirt visible.
The pattern of this shirt is composed entirely of squares and rectangles. Small gussets are used at the neck and larger
ones at the underarms to provide shaping and size adjustment.The sleeves are cut full to give freedom of movement
and the tails are quite long, allowing them to be strategically tucked into the breeches in lieu of underdrawers. The
cuffs are narrow and closed with a button (or cuff links) at the wrist end of the cuff. Collars are wide, closing with two
or three buttons and leaving enough to fold over a neck cloth.
Small variations can be found from region to region and from home to home, but, in the main, the pattern saw little
change until around the 1790's. At this time the cuffs widened to 2-1/2 - 3", still closing with a single button at the
wrist end so that the cuff extended down over the hand as far as the knuckles, and this remained the style until the
mid-19th century. Sketches and paintings by Samual Caleb Bingham (among others) show that these long cuffs were
often folded back while working.
In this era a man's shirt was thought of as underwear and was intended to covered by a waistcoat and coat. Despite
that, period paintings and narratives clearly show farmers, laborers, and other working men stripped down to their
shirtsleeves as weather and working conditions required. When the workday ended however, these men once again
donned their waistcoats and coats or jackets before going into public, especially into mixed company, leaving only
the collar and perhaps cuffs of the shirt visible.
The pattern of this shirt is composed entirely of squares and rectangles. Small gussets are used at the neck and larger
ones at the underarms to provide shaping and size adjustment.The sleeves are cut full to give freedom of movement
and the tails are quite long, allowing them to be strategically tucked into the breeches in lieu of underdrawers. The
cuffs are narrow and closed with a button (or cuff links) at the wrist end of the cuff. Collars are wide, closing with two
or three buttons and leaving enough to fold over a neck cloth.
Small variations can be found from region to region and from home to home, but, in the main, the pattern saw little
change until around the 1790's. At this time the cuffs widened to 2-1/2 - 3", still closing with a single button at the
wrist end so that the cuff extended down over the hand as far as the knuckles, and this remained the style until the
mid-19th century. Sketches and paintings by Samual Caleb Bingham (among others) show that these long cuffs were
often folded back while working.
| David , Received shirt today; it could not fit any better if I had came down there and you sewed it on me, it fits fantastic. I intend to order more from your line very soon. You have the best quality clothing I have found so far. I used to order from XXXXX XXXXXXX but you have proven far superior to their company. Thank You Russ |
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Russel Strong Bow
