a guide to heritage clothing, canvas bags, steel bicycles, and Japanese web shops
The Archival blog started in 2006 as a place to presevere ephemeral print, digitized scans and new digital catalog content. Originally, I posted scans of my own outdoor clothing catalogs from the US and UK. Later, I expanded to include images from Japanese web shops selling Japan-only garb by US and European outdoor labels like …
Exemplary outerwear I’ve been on an ebay shopping spree for Montgomery Ward catalogs (the Archival bible). I’ve secured a few new Fall editions from the 1940s which I’ll be reprinting here–in bits–in the next few months. Copies of the 1930s catalogs are more tricky to source. Inspired by Spokesniffer and Reference Library, I’m capturing auction …
We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a Sunday afternoon paddle by canoe on the McKenzie River. The promise of fish and fine riparian views outweighed our reluctance to venture out into the drizzle. What care we when we have the best waxed cotton outerwear for the worst Oregon Spring in recent memory. Rick’s …
Cabela’s is one of the biggest outdoor suppliers in the country. Like LL Bean, their catalog still holds some gems, but it’s their old offerings that are really attractive for being short and sweet.
In 1959, four young men made the first ascent of Denali (Mt. McKinley) via the West Rib. “Pete Sinclair, a fine rock climber from the Dartmouth Mountaineering Club.” Photos used with the permission of the American Alpine Club.
This spring mountaineering season: Pull on your knickers, grab your rucksack, lace up your tallest boots, help your pals with their bowlines-on-a-bight, and head for the hills. Here in Oregon, I’ll limit archivally-equipped outings to big, basic mountains – South Sister would be ideal, but the bold could go for Three-Fingered Jack, named after an …
by Tom Bonamici The Mazamas were founded in 1894. The first meeting took place on the summit of Mt. Hood – if you made it to the top, you were deemed worthy of membership. I’m particularly fond of the campsite with several wall tents, which an Archival Clothing contact lived in for over a year …
Manufacture Francaise d’Armes & Cycles courtesy Pillpatt (agence Eureka) Thanks to one of my favorite Archival finders, Robin E., who pointed me to this flickr set featuring pages from Manufacture Francaise, a French firearms and clothing catalog from 1921. Per an auction note for a related item: “Manufacture Francaise produced an annual catalogue with over …
Ed. note: Friend and Archival Clothing contributor Tom B. returns from summer break with a brief visual blurb on the classic style of his alma mater’s historic outing club. During my time in college, I was very active in the Dartmouth OutingClub, the oldest collegiate outing club in the country. It’s aterrific organization, running freshman …