1900'S HENLEY STYLE UNDERSHIRT...

today's post will feature one of the oldest Henley style undershirt from my collection .this early 1900's 100% Merinos wool Canadian beauty ,features an interesting collar with a concealed flap for additional warmth .this example is thought to be from around 1910 .

John Penman started his company in Paris, Ontario in 1868. The company's grew quite fast ,acquiring  several mills such as, the Peninsular Knitting Company, Thorold, Ontario, the Coaticook Knitting Company, Coaticook, Quebec, and the Norfolk Knitting Company, Port Dover, Ontario.Their products included underwear, socks, blankets, and flannels. The company was incorporated as the Penman Manufacturing Company Limited in 1906 and it was at this time that John Penman relinquished control of it. Penman died in October 1931. A strike began on January 1949 at the Penman's textile plant in Paris that lasted three months hurting its business. Penman's became a subsidiary of the Dominion Textile Company of Montreal in 1965. During the following 2 decades one factory was closed after the other. By September 1987 the Dominion Textile Company sold the business to the TAG Apparel Group of Mississauga. In March 1990 the TAG Apparel Group, owner of the Penman's sportswear plant in Cambridge and the Harvey Woods underwear plants in Woodstock and London was placed in receivership because of the company's failure to pay several million dollars in loans marking the end of the Penman's saga.......

Original shirt as shown on the 1906 ad above....

Close up of the cuff.....

Nice 2 tones purple and grey 100% merinos wool.....