Dear Roderick,

I'd agree with Frances Kemmish's mail. The most probable interpretation is
that 'warehouse' refers to a storeroom at the back of a shop, and that a
'warehouse coat' is the kind of cotton blend coat which were commonly
worn by shopkeepers from ?1920s until the 1960s-70s in the UK. You still
occasionally see them worn by older shopkeepers in more traditional grocers,
ironmongers, etc. - anywhere where items may have to be retrieved from a
dusty back room.

They are three-quarter length and typically light brown in colour. Of course
today almost entirely replaced by the matching bright shirts, trousers and
baseball caps of the modern DIY superstore...

Dan Hicks
University of Bristol

----- Original Message -----
From: Roderick Sprague <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2000 8:56 PM
Subject: Coat Terminology


> HistArchers
>
> In a list of men's coats from a 20th century London publication, the
> following types of coats are listed:  jacket, waistcoat, overcoat, and
> warehouse coat.  My question is, what is a warehouse coat?  The only hint
> is that it is listed next to overalls.  Can any of our friends from Great
> Briton enlighten me.
>
> Rick