Figure 1.-- An advertisement for the Wolverine suspender waist appeared in "The Youth's Companion" June 8, 1905, p. 28. This suspender waist is very similar in construction and design to the Kazoo suspender waist (see the HBC Kazoo page), and indeed I suspect that what is here referred to as the "Wolverine" waist is just an earlier designation of the Kazoo. |
An advertisement for the Wolverine suspender waist appeared in The Youth's Companion June 8, 1905, p. 28. This suspender waist is very similar in construction and design to the Kazoo suspender waist (see the HBC
Kazoo page), and indeed I suspect that what is here referred to as
the "Wolverine" waist is just an earlier designation of the Kazoo. Notice that it is manufactured in Kalamazoo, Michigan, from which the brand name, Kazoo, could possibly derive. This is just a guess, but the closeness of "Kazoo" and "Kalamazoo" seems to me like more than a coincidence.
Wolverine was a brand name of the Sprial Mfg. Co., Kalamazoo, Michigan." We know virtualy nothing about the company at this time.
An advertisement for the Wolverine suspender waist appeared in The Youth's Companion June 8, 1905, p. 28. The publication described itself as "An Illustrated Weekly Paper For Young People and the Family." It was established in 1827. The magazine was published in Boston, Massachusetts, by the Perry Mason Company, 201 Columbus Avenue. It appeared under this title until 1929. It was in the late 19th century one of the most popular weekly periodicals in America and known for the quality of the writing. The magazine catered to teen-age boys and girls especially, containing articles on sports, on hobbies, and on various literary and cultural interests. But it was really a family magazine and had many advertisements for clothing, both adult and children's. The magagazine had a very strict policy about the advertising carried because its readers were mostly children.
In 1905 all boys up to at least age 16 wore knee pants with long stockings, almost invariably black stockings.
Long stockings needed a device to support them.
Underwaists to which hose supporters were attached were somewhat unpopular with older boys, who preferred the more masculine "suspender waist"--a combination of suspenders for trousers and stocking supporters in a single garment that was more athletic in design and less restrictive than an underwaist.
Suspender waists were a support garment to hold up other garments. So-called “suspender waists” were invented at the turn of the 20th century and were popular mainly with boys who wore knee pants and needed a way of supporting their long stockings—almost always black. Although some models of the suspender waist
(such as Kazoo) were manufactured in styles that could be worn also by girls, the main wearers of these waists were boys. They were called “suspender waists” because they combined trousers suspenders with hose supporters and had leather suspender attachments for holding up knee pants in addition to hose supporters
for long stockings. The style did not last very long and was most popular during the 1910s. N.B. Suspender waists are not to be confused with the older style of garter waists (such as the Dr. Parker waist) which also had suspender-like straps over the shoulders, a waist belt (sometimes with waist buttons for outer clothing), and hose supporters. With true suspender waists only the garter part of the waist can be classified as underwear because the shoulder straps would be visible (like ordinary modern suspenders) on top of a shirt.
The Wolverine suspender waist is very similar in construction and design to the Kazoo suspender waist (see the HBC
Kazoo page), and indeed I suspect that what is here referred to as
the "Wolverine" waist is just an earlier designation of the Kazoo. Notice that it is manufactured in Kalamazoo, Michigan, from which the brand name, Kazoo, could possibly derive. This is just a guess, but the closeness of "Kazoo" and "Kalamazoo" seems to me like more than a coincidence. The ad appeals to mothers who want their boys to look neat and tidy with their stockings held up in an unwrinkled fashion and to boys who want to be as comfortable as possible in their active play. I can't imagine boys playing leap frog or marbles being at all concerned about that. Wolverine Suspenders and Hose Supporters\ claim to satisfy both the need for neatness and the desire for comfort and flexibility. The illustration shows a boy stooping down to play marbles, an action that puts considerable strain on both suspenders and hose supporters. Leap frog, another boyish exertion, is also
mentioned as an activity that boys can engage in without being uncomfortable if they wear the Wolverine Suspenders and Supporters.
Note the contruction of the suspenders and hose supporter combination in the diagram within the circle. The suspenders are worn over the boy's shirt and attach to six buttons on his trousers--two in back and two on each side in front just like adult men's suspenders. The front straps of the suspenders continue below the waistline of the trousers inside the legs and attach at the
bottom to two Y-shaped hose supporters for the long stockings. There are buckles on the suspender straps both above and below the waist for adjustment of length. The ad copy read, "Wolverine. Playing Marbles or Leap Frog is easy when a boy wears Wolverine Suspenders and Hose Supporters. They keep the trousers firm and even and hold the stockings neat and trim. A boy can't look untidy or be uncomfortable when he wears Wolverine Suspenders and Hose Supporters. They will outwear two pairs of common suspenders. Price 50 c. Prepaid. Ask your dealer for them. FREE. We will give a beautiful water-colored Wolverine Indian head, with mirror on reverse side, to every boy purchasing a pair of our Suspenders and Hose Supporters. Ask your salesman to write "Wolverine" on your sales slip and send it to us. If your dealer can't supply you, we will send you the Suspenders and Indian head direct. Sizes 4 to 16 years. Always look for the word Wolverine on the buckle. The Sprial Mfg. Co., Kalamazoo, Michigan."
Notice this ad for the Wolverine Suspender Waist made in
Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is essentially the same garment as the Kazoo
Suspender Waist made by the Harris Suspender Company. The ad here is from a slightly earlier period. Our theory is that the Wolverine waist simply got renamed the Kazoo waist when it got transferred from the Spiral Manufacturing Co. of Kalamazoo, Michigan,
to the Harris Suspender Co. in New York. Kazoo is not only a child's
instrument, it is also an abbreviated word for the town of Kalamazoo.
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