| 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
$32.00
100% Cotton Muslin
$35.00
100% LINEN $55.00
100% Cotton Broadcloth
100% Wool Flannel $62.50
| 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. |
$39.00
100% Cotton Muslin
100% Cotton Muslin
$62.00
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
LINSEY-WOOLSEY $87.50
An authentic, natural color fabric
which makes a stury, homespun shirt,
hunting shirt, or frock.
An authentic, natural color fabric
which makes a stury, homespun shirt,
hunting shirt, or frock.
| Linsey-Woolsey Shirt |
