Backs of waistcoats

[Skeeter Lewis]

Since waistcoats were made to be worn as part of a suit, would they, in the period, always have had a raw silk backing (or a cheaper substitute)?
Repro western waistcoats seem to have the same fabric front and back.
I'm going on the theory that waistcoats were never made as stand-alone garments.
What say you?
Skeet

[GunClick Rick]

Any of them i ever saw in antique stores had silk or whatever lining,like old uniforms,but just what i saw..A buddy of mine had some old kin that traveled with stage shows and such with a baby grand piano by railroad,there was a map inside the piano of the Grand Trunk Raiload,someone in the family moved them to an old folks home and ran off with what they could carry,the piano was still in the house and the basement full of props in trunks,everything had that lining in them,we found out going to visit them one day and everything was gone we even found a huge horse hair tapestry with crossed rifles and bird dog that said Remington on it,the family gave it to me and i gave it to a feller that built a trophy room..OOPS

[Skeeter Lewis]

Clicker, it's the outer back i mean, not the lining.

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[GunClick Rick]

You'll have to make me one so i get it right

[Mean Bob Mean]

I don't have a reference in front of me so pulling this outta my hat from what I recall reading and am happy to be corrected:

I think "work" vests that were not made to be part of a suit might well have been made of one type cloth or, self backed, as its called.  

Men coverd their shirts, with overshirts or vests so likely vests were common of all descriptions and types.  Toss in how many were hand sewn and I doubt you got what you wanted as much as what was available, so if you had one bolt of cloth . . .  

Remember, vests were also called waistcoats and were worn stand alone, or under not a suit coat, but rather, a heavier overcoat when outdoors, for some time.  This is why so many waistcoats/vests were of differing material/pattern.  Matching suits, or ditto suits, were less common earlier, more so later (especially since one of the garments--trouser, coat, vest--might wear out before the others so mismatched outfits were common).  

If the backing wore out or was torn it could easily be replaced as well.  

I am betting just about any vest, coat, etc. combo as long as the cut and material is accurate would fit right in to the old west.  

[Shotgun Franklin]

I agree with MBM. As it's hot in Texas most of the year photos tend to exclude the heavier coats and Vests are often seen in photos. Very many at least appear to be of one fabric, front and back. I've seen a photo of Rangers posed in camp and one man had an open vest, the rest were all buttoned up. There are photos of Cowboys out working with only a shirt but not in town. I at least wear an open vest at shoots and at work. When it hits 100 or above I'm just not man enough to wear a buttoned up vest.