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Collection

85/2909 Swimsuit, 'Speedo', mens shorts, teal green, wool / cotton, made by MacRae Knitting Mills, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia, worn by B.C. Worbeys, Australia, 1938. Click to enlarge.
  • Image 1 of 2, 85/2909 Swimsuit, 'Speedo', mens shorts, teal green, wool / cotton, made by MacRae Knitting Mills, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia, worn by B.C. Worbeys, Australia, 1938. Click to enlarge
  • Image 2 of 2, 85/2909 Swimsuit, 'Speedo', mens shorts, teal green, wool / cotton, made by MacRae Knitting Mills, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia, worn by B.C. Worbeys, Australia, 1938. Click to enlarge

Mens teal green ‘Speedo’ swimming trunks

Designed by Speedo Australia Pty Ltd in Australia, Oceania

This pair of daring, bare-chested, wool jersey men's swimming costume trunks with a modesty skirt were made in Australia by Speedo Australia Pty Ltd and worn by B.C. Worbeys in 1938. First seen at the 1936 German Olympic Games, these swimsuit shorts quickly took over from the one-piece suits with shoulder straps. Speedo began manufacturing its brand of racing suits in 1929 and was very successful in setting up alliances with surf lifesaving clubs around Australia. Nylon tricot replaced wool in...

Summary

Object No.

85/2909

Object Statement

Swimsuit, 'Speedo', mens shorts, teal green, wool / cotton, made by MacRae Knitting Mills, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia, worn by B.C. Worbeys, Australia, 1938

Physical Description

Pair of mens teal green wool jersey swimming trunks, waist high with cream machine knitted cotton belt threaded through waist band casing and fastening with cream plastic double ring buckle. 'Speedo' label sewn on at right hip.

Marks

Black fabric label at inside centre back: `Speedo/SWIM SUIT'. White fabric label: `624'.

Short URL

https://ma.as/46830

Dimensions

Height

370 mm

Width

440 mm

Production

Designed

Speedo Australia Pty Ltd Australia, Oceania

Made

Speedo Australia Pty Ltd Australia, Oceania 1938

History

Used

Worbeys, B C Australia, Oceania

Notes

Mr B C Worbeys used the swimsuit in 1938 when he left school. He donated the swimsuit to the Australian Costume and Textile Society in 1981. The Society donated their collection to the Museum in 1985.

Source

Credit Line

Gift of Mr B C Worbeys through The Australian Costume And Textile Society, 1985

Acquisition Date

5 May 1993

Cite this Object

Harvard

Mens teal green 'Speedo' swimming trunks 2019, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 17 February 2020, <https://ma.as/46830>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/46830 |title=Mens teal green 'Speedo' swimming trunks |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=17 February 2020 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}
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