Of all the old painted advertisements that climb up the west wall of 64-70 W. 36th Street, the Bo Peep Manufacturing Company—second ad from the top—has the most fanciful and memorable name.
The company was founded in the 1920s. In the early 1930s, it was situated at 1350 Broadway, off Herald Square. It was located here from 1941 to 1957. It ceased business sometime in the 1970s.
It's ad message is curious and unclear: "Brother and Sister, Individual and Companion Clothes, Play Togs." What does that mean exactly. Brother and Sister probably means they make clothes for little boys and girls. I get that. But how do clothes differ between a single person and a person with a companion?
It means exactly what it says. "Single" and companion" have absolutely nothing to do with relationship status. This refers to individual (single)garments such as shirts, pants, etc., accessory items or a matching set (companion) of clothing, like a suit. Avoid using a 21st century mindset when reading anything more than forty years old. Each of those words have other definitions.
ReplyDeleteThank you for clearing that up. I thought I had an early-20th-century mindset. But clearly, not enough of one!
ReplyDeleteYou guys obviously aren't old enough to remember this, but in the 40s/50s people sometimes dressed their children in outfits that "matched," hence the need for "sister" and "brother" outfits in the same style and fabric. I think that's what the sign referred to. Be grateful that it is no longer fashion-forward to do this.
ReplyDeleteYou have a fantastic site which I've followed from Day 1. Keep up rhe great work.
ReplyDelete