Originally Posted by
Jackonicko
Unfortunately, it seems to me that a given amount of cloth was available, overall, for suits in three colours for three customers.
There was sufficient cloth for three three piece suits.
It appears to me that the customer with most 'sway' over the tailor ordered himself a natty little number in brown, three piece, with two spare pairs of trousers, and two jackets, one single- one double-breasted. He would no doubt complain that he did not also get plus fours.
The customer intending to order the brown suit made sure that he sought favouritism with the tailor most likely to be chosen before the tender was issued and the cointract awarded. The customer ordering the light blue suit was far too friendly with the tailor who lost to contract to be popular with the new tailor.