Historical information

These wool undervests were purchased by Edith Bender for her husband Edwin, prior to 1963. Edwin would catch a ‘Red Rattler’ train along the North Shore line to go to work in Pitt Street., Sydney. Edith was concerned Edwin would catch a cold in the unheated train or in his unheated office, so she brought these woollen undervests for him to wear to work. Edwin would wear the undervests under a woollen suit and with a woollen overcoat.
Edwin passed away in 1963, at which point Edith stored the undervests away. They were passed to Edith’s daughter when Edith passed away in 1980. They were then passed to Tanya Davis on the death of her mother. Tanya donated the undervests to the National Wool Museum in 2021.

Physical description

2x cream wool undervests. Henley style with short sleeves and three buttons at the front. Labels from the maker ‘Braemar’ have been stitched to the neckline of both vests. An additional label is stitched under the first button on the front of both undervests.

Inscriptions & markings

Label stitched to neck of vest: BRAEMAR /
MADE IN SCOTLAND /
OPTIMUS /
PURE WOOL /
TREATED TO RESIST /
SHRINKAGE /
QUALITY /
B. OPTIMUS

Label stitched to front buttons of vest: MADE IN SCOTLAND /
FOR FARMER’S /
SYDNEY

Attached swing tag: BRAEMAR /
The WASHING of WOOLLENS /
PREPARE a bath of good bar or flake soap, thoroughly dissolved in water not hotter than the hands can bear. Squeeze the garments through the hands several times in the bath. Don’t rub them on a board. Rinse in warm water until soap is thoroughly removed. Wringing should be done in the hands. Stretch well to width and length and dry at once, preferably in the open air Stretch again in the hands when dry.

Attached swing tag. Reverse: IMPORTANT POINTS /
Do not use soda or washing powders. /
This garment must not be subbed on a board, or subjected to mechanical friction.