Men's patterns can be hard to date, but I'd guess this one is from the early 20's. The term jumper is unusual. My Women's Institute booklet Miscellaneous Garments, with a copyright date of 1917, uses the term jumper in its discussion of making garments for men and boys. It seems to be a regional term for what we call a barn or chore coat. The term shows up in the Winter 1929 catalog from Charles Williams Stores (based in New York City):
The Chicago-based Montgomery Ward catalog for the same time features the same garment but consistently calls it a jacket, never a jumper.The version with the banded bottom makes this a relative of the working blouse. With a size 30 chest, this jumper would probably have been made for an older boy.
Here is a card of buttons that dates to roughly the same period or a little later. These buttons have been dyed a shade of blue that will match chambray and denim very well. Twelve buttons is more than you generally need for a single shirt, so you'll have some spares on hand. Remember that this is long before electric washing machines with spin dry cycles; buttons sometimes cracked going through the ringer.
Here is a card of buttons that dates to roughly the same period or a little later. These buttons have been dyed a shade of blue that will match chambray and denim very well. Twelve buttons is more than you generally need for a single shirt, so you'll have some spares on hand. Remember that this is long before electric washing machines with spin dry cycles; buttons sometimes cracked going through the ringer.
Originally posted on 8/3/2008; re-posted on 3/14/2010 with updated content and new graphics.
