Harveys Outfitters - Price list 1964.
 

Looking for an other item I came across this uniform price list dated 1964. I did buy my first uniforms from them. I lived in Bedfordshire at the time and there was no outfitter near me to buy from. So it was a trip to London.
They don't seem to exist now probably gone the way of many businesses - they did supply all types of military uniforms so I assume someone must still do this.
Where did others buy their first uniforms from.

Neville - Hawkey01

I was pointed to Harveys in 1954 when I joined Caltex and thought them good, old fashioned outfitters who didn't try to flog unnecessary gear. I think the whole lot; blue and white uniforms and boilersuit came to about £40. After joining P&O I used Silvers whose salesman (even more low key) attended in the Royal Docks and at Tilbury, very gentlemanly and convenient.
Ian

All my uniform came from Paisleys, Jamaica Street, Glasgow.
There was also a small Millers branch in the city centre too.

Miller, Rayner and Haysom £100 the lot in 1952.

I got mine from Rapstones in Hull, it lasted until it became too small, when I started farm work and grew quite a lot.

Fenecks, Union St., Plymouth. My father had used them for his dress uniform when in the RN during WWII so it was natural for me to follow suit. They used to get business from the R.M. barracks just down the road in addition to the R.N., and a couple of army regiments in the area. No longer in business though, perhaps the family died out.

Gieves used to have a branch in Plymouth but they are gone too.

I am sure I got mine in 1963 in Water Street in Liverpool, pointed there from the AEI basement office just across the road. I have just looked on Google Maps and though the buildings look vaguely familiar, I can't see any evidence of an MN Outfitters.

I wore it on every ship, but on Safmarine, the 'whites' morphed to 'greys'. I joined my last ship, a tanker waiting at anchor at RasTan. in late evening, and sailed as soon as we were aboard. I turned up for breakfast smart in my greys complete with insignia of rank, only to find myself somewhat over-dressed. I kept the greys though as you see in my avatar !!!


David
+

When Joe Feneck died, his daughter carried on for some years.
I bought a uniform there in 1972. Joe eyed me up and down (I was slim then, and 6 ft 4 ins,)and said he "Had just the thing in his back room." He brought out the jacket, which fitted perfectly, and fitted me out with trousers to match. The jacket had been made for a chap who hadn't collected it, so Joe said if he came back he would sort out something else for him.

My Dad bought all his uniforms before and during the War from Gardiners of Aldgate, London. I used to pop in to buy him a new MN tie for part of his Christmas present.

1970 S M Bass in Hull. Ten years later the jacket and trousers still smelled of the small cigars Sam smoked. I doubt if he is still open.

Only suit i ever bought was from BURTONS when i got married in 1966 .

Tony

Yes Ray , sent there by Frank MacNeilage ?.

Greenbergs, Liverpool. Total cost was just under 100 pounds (including a V-neck Wooly Pully, apparenly of Dutch Navy origin), so Mr. Greenberg allowed me to pay using two postdated cheques, below the 50 pound limit of my guarantee card! Years later, I bought some stuff from Miller Rayner in, I think, Southampton.

David - Maybe you went to Holt's Mutual. When I joined BF/OTT in 1980, they were based near Hamilton Sq. in Birkenhead and were in the process of shutting down. They were virtually giving away stuff! We, mostly all, bought BF ties to replace the unattractive OTT ties that we had been given. Holt's Mutual was subsidized by the company and also sold secondhand stuff. If, for example, during the course of a voyage someone had put on weight, they could pop in and exchange their uniform (if in good nick) for a bigger size with stripes and all. They closed down because virtually no ships were coming into Birkenhead/Liverpool anymore. I think that my Dad went there when he first went to sea in the 50's as I seem to remember him mentioning an additional Battledress style jacket, those being all the rage then.

Rgds.
Dave

It was a trip up to South Shields for me. Mercantile Marine Office for my Discharge Book and Wm Wood & Son for uniform and kit - 1st October 1964

Paragon Street .No longer there. Across the road PRD. They made the Hull Trinity House uniforms.

Sid many thanks for your speedy reply to my post of 01 June 2017, I'm relieved Hull is still there.

Fenecks was my Naval Robber and I was unfaithful to him and also bought from Greenburghs. Burtons in Plymouth made excellent doeskin tiddly suits at competitive prices and I once had a made-to-measure from them. Throwing caution to the winds.

Sam Bass also provided the Uniform for ABP when was there.

Eyup E S did i see you down Hessle road buying a cowboy outfit from Boyes?

No. Have not been down essle Road in about 40 years.Dont live in Hull.
Alan

Neither have I but I'm sure it bears little resemblance to the wild-west days of 1970's when the fish dock was booming and trawlermen came ashore with pockets bulging with pound notes.

S.m. Bass is no longer in Hull but they moved to Manchester some years ago and they are still going strong supplying uniforms etc. they have a web site try SM Bass.

Howard

Mine came from Martins on Market St. Manchester. Long since gone.

Aquired mine from a lad in Govan, Glasgow, he had gone to sea as a deck cadet in 1960 and found out it wasn't for him, lasted me well. Future purchases was always from Paisley's Glasgow.:)