Figure 1.-- This advertisment for the Buck's Feelswell Waist is dated 1895, although we don't know the source of the ad. It was probably a magazine ad. Some Buck's ads appeared in the 'Ladies Home Journal'. One of the interesting points is that the George N. Buck Company, in Mattoon, Illinois, for which the waist is named, may well have been a predecessor (or possibly competitor) of the Kerns Manufacturing Company which also manufactured hose supporters and children's garter waists in the same town.

The dominant form of hosiery for American children in 1895, both boys and girls, was long stockings. We note catalog offerings and advertisements for hosiery, mostly long stockings. Black long stockings were especially popular. We notice other colors as well, usually colors to match a suit. Most were dark colors. White was not very commonn, although this was changing. Socks were not very common, in contrast with Europe. Boyys might go barefoot and thus nit wear hose, but if they wore shoes they almost always wore them with long stockings. Holding up the stockings was a problem, especially with shorters pants ad skirt lengths. As a result a variety of stocking supporters were developed. We also notice a range of items need to hold the stockings up. A page in the 1895 Ward's catalog offered several different styles of hose supporters and waists.

Hosiery

The dominant form of hosiery for American children in 1895, both boys and girls, was long stockings. We note catalog offerings and advertisements for hosiery, mostly long stockings. Black long stockings were especially popular. We notice other colors as well, usually colors to match a suit. Most were dark colors. White was not very commonn, although this was changing. Socks were not very common, in contrast with Europe. Boys might go barefoot and thus nit wear hose, but if they wore shoes they almost always wore them with long stockings. We do not yet have a hosiery cstaloh item but are looking for one.

Stocking Supporters

Holding up the stockings was a problem, especially for active children. And children were wearing shorter pants and skirt lengths. As a result a variety of stocking supporters were developed. We also notice a range of items need to hold the stockings up. We have found both catalog items and advertisements offering various brands and styles.

Ward's waists and stocking supporters

Wards offered quite a range of waists and stocking supporters. The differnt styles are pictured here as well as interesting details on size ages, material, and color. The Ward's page is interesting because it is one of the earlier advertisement we have for these garments. They certainly were offered earlier, but we have not yet been able to acquire ads from the 1870s or 80s. Ward's also mentions that a waist was a "shoulder brace", an allusion to a beneficial affect on posture.

Buck's Feelswell Waists

We see quite a few adverisements for Buck's Feels Well waist in the late-1890s. The company patented it in 1895 and immediately advertised in the Ladies Home Journal, the major mass publication magazine reaching American homes. The ad here pointed to three reasons the waist was more healthful and compfortable than other waists on ther market at the time. Feelswell Waists were made by George N. Buck Manufacturing, Matoon, Illinois. We note the ad in the Journal (July 1895, page 21). We do not know much about the company yet, but it may have been the forerunner of the Kern Manufacturing Co since it is also in Mattoon (a very small town). After the turn of the 20th century we do not see many references to the company or the Feelswell Waists.

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Created: 6:14 AM 4/27/2012
Last updated: 6:14 AM 4/27/2012