Belgian para smock and pants sizing

Hi everyone! A thing that has kept me puzzled for years is the weird size system of the 50´s smocks and trousers. Or actually systems, as there appears to be two different ways to mark the size that the Belgians used.

Example A, the simple 1, 2, 3 and so forth:

T.1 42/50
T.2 44/52
T.3 46/54
T.4 48/56
T.5 50/58
T.6 52/60

Now these numbers could indicate chest circumference divided by two (the common European system), as in 84-100 cm, 88-104 cm, 92-108 cm etc.. None of these numbers seem to tell anything about the length of the jacket and sleeves seem to just grow a little bit as the sizes get larger.

The really odd system is the markings that most Jigsaw smocks and trousers use:
602-0242
602-0243
602-0244
602-0245
602-0246

It seems to me that the first six numbers never change, only the last one. Could it be that the last digit is actually the T. number as in the earlier example?

If there´s anyone out there with any info on these I´d really appreciate to to learn something about this stuff.

Hello

you have forgotten the size 7 (54/62)

Salutations

belgium_one wrote:Hello

you have forgotten the size 7 (54/62)

Salutations

Not forgotten, I just didn´t bother to continue the list onwards (I think I have seen size 8 also).

Then there´s the odd system used on some jigsaw trousers, simply 78 for example which I guess is the waist size they are meant to fit.

Did you find out anything additional on this? I too am trying to decipher the older sizing.
Your theory on the chest measurements is plausible
I think the T.1 - T.x is where you would determine height, similar to British convention,
But I have nothing to support that.


eg the British Army used 9 sizes for the 1953, 1960 and 1968 pattern combat smocks. Sizes 1, 2 and 3 were for a person up to height 5ft 7, Sizes 4 to 6 were for a person from 5ft 7 up to 5ft 10, were for 5ft 10 up to 6ft 2

I do not think that the older Belgian size system made any allowance for height. I have never encountered any jigsaw garments other than the T sizes already described. By the nature of their design, smocks are quite forgiving in fit. A tall thin person still ends up with sleeves of the right length if he gets a smock with a bigger chest size than he would normally wear.
The British on the other hand, were always happy to complicate things: see the variations in sizes available for the battle dress uniforms.

OLD BRITISH SIZE CHART

Battle Dress Blouse Sizes

Size Waist Breast Height

#1 32-33 32-33 5'3-5'4
#2 30-31 29-30 5'3-5'4
#3 31-32 33-36 5'3-5'4
#4 30-31 33-36 5'5-5'6
#5 31-32 36-37 5'5-5'6
#6 34-35 38-39 5'7-5'8
#7 32-34 35-36 5'7-5'8
#8 35-36 37-38 5'7-5'8
#9 37-38 39-40 5'7-5'8
#10 31-32 36-37 5'9-5'10
#11 33-34 38-39 5'9-5'10
#12 35-36 40-41 5'9-5'10
#13 33-34 38-39 5'11-6'0
#14 35-36 39-40 5'11-6'0
#15 37-38 42-43 5'11-6'0
#16 34-35 39-40 6'0-6'2
#17 37-38 43-44 6'0-6'2
#18 38-39 43-44 6'0-6'2
#19 35-36 40-41 5'5-5'6


Battle Dress Trouser Sizes

Size Waist Inseam Height

#1 32-33 28 5'3-5'4
#2 30-31 28 5'3-5'4
#3 31-32 30 5'3-5'4
#4 30-31 30 5'5-5'6
#5 31-32 30 5'5-5'6
#6 34-35 30 5'7-5'8
#7 32-34 30 5'7-5'8
#8 35-36 30 5'7-5'8
#9 37-38 30 5'7-5'8
#10 31-32 32 5'9-5'10
#11 33-34 32 5'9-5'10
#12 35-36 32 5'9-5'10
#13 33-34 32 5'11-6'0
#14 35-36 32 5'11-6'0
#15 37-38 32 5'11-6'0
#16 34-35 32 6'0-6'2
#17 37-38 32 6'0-6'2
#18 38-39 32 6'0-6'2
#19 35-36 30 5'5-5'