OshKosh B'Gosh is looking for the oldest pair of adult or children's bib overalls made by the company. Oshkosh began in 1895 as the Grove Manufacturing Co. producing bib overalls for railroad workers and farmers. It produced a "J&C" brand of overalls, named after the company owners J. Howard Jenkins and James G. Clark. The company became the OshKosh B'Gosh brand in 1911.
Entries will be judged by a team of researchers and OshKosh officials in June. Those with the "oldest" candidates will be asked to send in their bibs for final authentication. The winner will receive $1,000 in OshKosh B'Gosh merchandise or the cash. He or she must be willing to lend their bibs to the OshKosh Public Museum for one year.To participate, you should send by May 31 two sharp-image photographs showing f full-length and a close-up shot of the garment's front. Photos should have a name, address and day and evening phone numbers printed on the back. Each submission should be accompanied by a brief paragraph outlining the history of the bib, including any pertinent family background.
Send to: OshKosh B'Gosh Oldest Bib Search, c/o Public Relations Dept., 112 Otter Ave., Oshkosh, Wis. 54901.