Trail Hands buying new clothes

[Niederlander]

Gentlemen,
          I've always read that trail hands would buy all new clothes when they hit the cow towns, primarily because they wanted to impress the girls, each other, etc.  My personal theory is the primary reason they bought all new clothes was because after wearing them twenty four hours a day for three months, in all weather, they were probably rotting away by the time they got there.  My guess is they probably burned their old ones shortly after they bought new ones.  What do you folks think?

[River City John]

What about a profession that has all but disappeared nowadays:

Ragpicker


RCJ

[Niederlander]

Could be, but I doubt even most rag pickers would have wanted those clothes!  They had to smell pretty bad by that point.

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[St. George]

I wrote on this some time back - think years...

The cowhand had 'maybe' two shirts, one pair of trousers, his boots, hat and his saddle.

After river crossings, rain, wind, blistering sun and dust storms, the elements took their toll.

He'd buy a bath, haircut and shave, new clothes (whatever was on the shelf) and quite often, new boots.

If he had more money, some 'paid for' fun, and 'maybe' a new saddle - he needed little else.

Most went back home if they didn't stay around town and most went back pretty broke to do it all over again.

Scouts Out!

[Forty Rod]

I wrote on this some time back - think years...

The cowhand had 'maybe' two shirts, one pair of trousers, his boots, hat and his saddle.

After river crossings, rain, wind, blistering sun and dust storms, the elements took their toll.

He'd buy a bath, haircut and shave, new clothes (whatever was on the shelf) and quite often, new boots.

If he had more money, some 'paid for' fun, and 'maybe' a new saddle - he needed little else.

Most went back home if they didn't stay around town and most went back pretty broke to do it all over again.

Scouts Out!

I've been told that this is where the term "hand-me downs" originated:  'hand me down" whatever was on the shelf.

It's also why gents would not wear anything with creases, a sure sign that he bought something off the shelf and couldn't afford the price or time for "made to order" clothing.

[Jeremiah Jones]

Could be, but I doubt even most rag pickers would have wanted those clothes!  They had to smell pretty bad by that point.

There has always been poor people that would be happy to get anything.  A little lye soap and the ragpickers would be smiling.

[Navy Six]

Reminds me of the scene in "The Outlaw Josey Wales" when the old grandma has to put on the clothing of one of the Commancheros they  just killed--"It smells like a family of hogs have lived in these clothes". I think I got that quote pretty close.