The Fifty Shilling Tailors (makers of these trousers) were founded in 1905 by a gentleman called Henry Price and at one time there were 399 stores spread across the country. In 1958 the company was renamed’John Collier’ but by the late 1980’s, both names had become history. Henry Price (later Sir Henry) made his name, and brand, by producing a complete suit for fifty shillings (£2.50) which enabled working class men to dress smartly and affordably. He amassed a large amount of antiques during his lifetime which were sold at Sotherby’s for £4.1 million in 2000. In 2011 we see there is a British rock band called The Fifty Shilling Tailors, how and why they chose that name we are not sure. These trousers were almost certainly part of a Ministry of Defence(M.O.D.) contract, as the M.O.D. used reputable manufacturers to produce military items through what is now called ‘procurement’. As for a date of manufacture, we think WW11 or maybe a little later.