Basic Blue -- Backside View

This tie is SO ordinary, so plain, so basic blue, that I decided to show you the backside, rather than the front, in order to demonstrate a point about the construction of some older ties.

The tie is made of wool, virgin wool, to be sure, but wool all the same. It has no pattern, no design, nothing hand painted or otherwise imprinted on it. Certainly no brocade woven into the fabric of the fabric (ha!). So why even bother to scan and post it?

Because it is indubitably old. The construction alone, says so. Note how it is unevenly folded over in back, with one side wide, the other narrow. This occurs on both the wide and narrow ends of the ties. This type of construction is typical of 1930's era ties, which are almost ALWAYS constructed that way, and some early 1040's ties, as well. But by later into the 40's, most ties were constructed with a more evenly divided fold in back, although many 40's ties still had a slight overlap, one side over the other.

Another clue to this tie's age is the lack of any type of lining. Most later ties had a lining of some sort inside, for stiffening, if nothing else.

The label reads as follows:

Fortmann's
Charmeen
by
Superba
100% Virgin Wool,

The tie is in great shape, given its age, and makes a fine example of simplicity in form and function.

Red Sections on White

Easter is past, from the standpoint of a church musician. All of those extra services (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday) and Holy Week recitals (two of those), choir rehearsals, extra anthems (3 for Easter Sunday), and all the extra practicing that went along with it. All done and over with for another year. Phew!

So I managed to find time to scan and blog a tie this afternoon. Last week? Not a chance!

Continuing the color theme from the past two ties posted, we go with another stunning red exemplar. This is another of the ties purchased on eBay. I actually got this tie, and the last red one posted along with two other ties, all for $2.00 plus $4.00 for shipping. Which goes to show that bargains can be had, if one shops carefully and consistently.

Admittedly, all four ties are in less than perfect condition. Mainly, they've lost most of their resiliency, and are somewhat limp. But look at the design of this beauty! Look at the color! Look at the pattern! It all comes together to make a truly stunning design.

The fabric is lovely, with a great brocade pattern woven into it, which is probably most visible in the short end, and perhaps on the narrow piece to the right, as well. Click the image to bring up a larger version in your browser, to see it better. The brocade pattern consists of small roughly rectangular shapes, spaced in even rows and columns across the tie.

The tie has no extant labels to transcribe. Enjoy!