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1920s antique GOODWEAR chicago il MEN\'S TAILORED CLOTHES sales ad WOOL SAMPLE
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four-page sales recruitment circular measuring approximately 8.5 x 11 inches, issued by GOODWEAR Chicago, Inc., West Adams Street at Peoria, Chicago, promoting their made-to-measure tailored clothing line and recruiting district salesmen.
This is a highly graphic and persuasive early 20th-century advertising piece, featuring bold red “Now! GOODWEAR Tailored to-Order Clothes” typography and heavy emphasis on the striking $23.50 price point. The circular outlines the company’s proposition for independent salesmen, including commission structure, bonus incentives, and income projections.
Highlights include:
Discussion of production volume (600–1,000 suits per day)
Commission breakdown (including $5.00–$6.50 per suit and bonus structures)
Promotional language emphasizing long-term stability rather than “last-hour appeal”
Testimonials and imagery of successful district salesmen
Signature of the General Manager (printed)
A particularly desirable feature is the original fabric sample swatch still attached on the interior page. The text instructs readers to test the wool by crushing, burning, and even boiling it in caustic soda — a wonderful period marketing touch. The circular states the fabric is “100% pure wool.”
This example appears to date to the 1920s based on typography, pricing structure, and sales language typical of post-WWI American mail-order tailoring firms operating out of Chicago.
Condition:
Folded as issued. Age toning throughout. Minor edge wear and light handling. Fabric swatch remains firmly attached. No major tears noted from images provided.
A strong example of:
Chicago tailoring history
Early direct-sales business models
Mail-order menswear
Textile sample ephemera
Salesman recruitment advertising
Desirable both for advertising collectors and for textile / menswear history collectors.
Authentic period piece related to family, historyor local heritage - well-suited for historical collections, genealogical /genealogy research, or museum acquisition.Vintage or Antique.
CONDITION: See listing description and photos.
- International buyers are responsible to pay VAT or other Taxes to their countries as required.
- collects and remits sales tax on behalf of several states.If you are a dealer, you can write to to file a form to become tax exempt.
LOC:
LOC2: PAPERBOX33-TMKTK-F260208BDS75G
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