Vintage Neckties
Calvin Malvin's mother, being an antique enthusiast, loved frequenting church sales, thrift shops and especially consignment stores where top quality clothing can be found for bargain prices. "I learned to shop in places like this from millionaires," Calvin's mother told him.
Problem was, while his mom was looking for the perfect sweater or dress, there was nothing to interest a kid in such places-just a shelf or two of broken dated toys and puzzles missing pieces. One day, while pretending he was wading through Amazon forests and the garment racks were snake-infested jungle brush, Calvin discovered a rack filled with ties just like the kind his dad wears to the office. Except that instead of being $30 or $40, these ties were priced at $3. The next place where his mom dragged him had even more ties priced even cheaper. Calvin's necktie and bowtie business began when he bought a green tie with knight figures on it, and, near the bottom, his very own initials: "CM" topped by a king's crown. After supper, Calvin learned by searching the Internet that ties monogrammed like his 50-cent discovery were made by the most recognized name in vintage designer ties, Countess Mara.
Born in Rome, 1893, Mara married a wealthy textile manufacturer in 1926. In 1930, she made a bet with her husband that she could design a necktie more interesting than the bland ones he and his business associates wore every day. She did. Her husband was impressed. However, Mr. Whitman died two years later, leaving behind a wealthy but grief-stricken widow. To recover from her mourning, Mrs. Whitman started her own artistic tie business in New York focusing on the posh crowd. By 1940, her bold new style of ties with unusual subjects including animals, athletes, dancing girls, astrological signs, etc., with her characteristic logo of "CM" and a crown, became the rage in wealthy society circles. "Mom!" Calvin said, "I bought a real antique today!"
The next day, Calvin and his friends, Farm Boy and ET (Eddie Travers) convinced their astonished mothers to take them shopping at the consignment shops and Salvation Army store. Which takes us to the next part of our tale-the boys' first Antique Show booth at Brimfield, MA.
"I like the name of your business," a pretty middle aged woman with blonde hair said to the boys approaching their booth: "Tie One On!"
"ET, thought that up," Calvin said pointing to his scraggly haired friend. "But some of the grown up dealers around here are complaining 'bout us. Said we ain't sellin' real antiques."
"I disagree with them. Neckties are an important part of history," the professionally attired woman said. Louis XIV adopted the decorative silk scarf in 1636 from a group of Croatian mercenaries visiting the royal palace and thus the word "cravat" is derived from "Croat." Cowboys wore thin black ties with four-in-hand horse carriage rein knots. In the 20th century, no garment quite reflects American society's whims and pendulum like fashion tastes quite like the necktie: the roaring 20's; the conservative Depression Era and melancholy War Years; the gaiety of WWII Victory and the Big Band Era; the cold war and Eisenhower conservatism; the Psychedelic and Disco 70's, and the return to traditional tastes with Ronald Regan and the 1980's.
"Our ties range from Skinnies to wide, and from subdued to crazy colors!" ET said.
"Oink!" Farm Boy added.
"Farm Boy don't say much," Calvin said, apologizing to the nice lady, "just makes animal noises."
The boys had neck and bow ties in silk, cotton, wool, Rayon, Acetate, Nylon and Polyester. Makers included Wembley, Frank & Meyer, Pulitzer, Signet, Beau Brummell, Hollyvogue and Arrow. They even had designer ties by Salvador Dali, Don Loper, Countess Mara and Tina Leser. The woman was impressed with the boys' wide range of ties and their display of them. Zippy medium-width Forties Era ties were laid over tall leaning racks of Big Band record covers. Thin Fifties ties were draped over Elvis and Buddy Holly records. Super wide and splashy "Peace" and "Green Power" and Jackson Pollack like ties were accentuated by Woodstock era records the boys propped up like tie racks. The three kids even wore neckties over their T-shirts despite the heat of the day.
"Mine is a Peek-a-boo Girlie tie from the 40's and 50's," Calvin said. "All you could see was the girl's head and shoulders when the man's jacket was closed. But when he opened up his jacket … then you could see the good parts! I priced this rare tie at $100."
"Mine is a theme tie with golfers on it," ET said. "They still make ties like this today, but, see how the golfers look more like Arnold Palmer than Tiger Woods. That's how you can tell neckties are old-by looking for out of date designs and discontinued labels. We charge up to $25 for ties like this on account of them being antique!"
"Farm Boy's tie is a 6" wide Peacock tie from the 70's," Calvin explained. It's supposed to be like a male peacock spreading his wings to attract a female. If you want to win an ugly tie contest, or attract a female peacock, buy one from the '70's."
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" Farm Boy said, flopping his garish 70's tie back and forth.
"You boys sold any ties yet?" the woman asked, reaching into her purse for a business card.
Three boys turned into three angry alligators. Their wincing eyes darted back and forth at the condescending dealers set up on both sides of their booth, chuckling.
"No," Calvin said. "But we did sell two records," loud enough for his neighbors to hear."
"Your fortunes are about to change," the woman said, smiling.
Her business card read, "Mary Springer-Outfitter of the Stars-Buyer of Clothing for Hollywood Movies."
Calvin and ET raised their firsts in the air and shouted with joy as the woman pulled out her checkbook and prepared to purchase their entire booth. Farm Boy just crowed out like a rooster.
