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We also note a ad from Good Housekeeping Magazine (March, 1917) for a little boy's summer waist union suit. This ad for an "Allheneeds" appeared in the Good Housekeeping Magazine (March, 1917). This little boy's summer waist union suit was made by the Frederick H. Sprague Co. and manufactured in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The company's brand is called "Allheneeds". The company also had similar "Allsheneeds" for girls. The "Allheneeds" brands carries the implication that this summer underwear supplies everything the boy needs--both union suit (undershirt and underpants) and waist for supporting trousers and long stockings. Curiously, the ad shows the boy wearing calf-length short socks and no hose supporters are shown in the illustration; but also prominently displayed (and
described) is the patented garter tab that allows the boy to wear hose supporters either outside or inside his underwear. Another interesting feature of this suit is its provision for the boy's growth. The shoulder straps have two buttons instead of one so that the straps can be expanded with growth. Another "growth" feature is the wide waist band with waist buttons sewn around the top of the band.
This ad for an "Allheneeds" appeared in the Good Housekeeping Magazine (March, 1917), p. 120. Good Housekeeping first appeared May 2, 1885. It was one of of several popular women's magazines established suring the 1880s and 1890s. The magazine provided information about running a home and raising children. This the modern Good Housekeeping conytinues today. The Good Housekeeping seal of approval was developed to assure housewives of a product's value. Letters from readers were an important facet. The early magazine, however, also included a broad range of literary offerings. Good Housekeeping was founded by journalist-businessman Clark W. Bryan in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The magazine moved to Springfield, but by 1911 the circulation was only 0.3 million. This changed when it was purchased by the William Randolph Hearst and moved to New York. The citculation was soon in the millions of copies. Many well known writers have contributed to Good Housekeeping, including Somerset Maugham, Edwin Markham, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Frances Parkinson Keyes, and Evelyn Waugh.
This little boy's summer waist union suit was made by the Frederick H. Sprague Co. and manufactured in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The company's brand is called "Allheneeds". The company also had similar "Allsheneeds" for girls. We note other ads for Allheneeds, suh as a 1915 ad.
The "Allheneeds" brands carries the implication that this summer underwear supplies everything the boy needs--both union suit (undershirt and underpants) and waist for supporting trousers and long stockings. Curiously, the ad shows the boy wearing calf-length short socks and no hose supporters are shown in the illustration; but also prominently displayed (and
described) is the patented garter tab that allows the boy to wear hose supporters either outside or inside his underwear. This option is allowed because the short legs of the suit come down rather low, almost to knee level, and if the stockings were fairly long and worn with the hose supporters on top of the union suit, there would be an uncomfortable bunching up. Some summer union suits were manufactured with a little opening just below the garter tab
large enough for the garter to be passed through it. This special kind of garter tab with a slit below it would give a boy the option of wearing his supporters either inside or outside depending on the length of the stockings worn. See, for instance, the ad for Sexton waist suits.
Another interesting feature of this suit is its provision for the boy's growth. The shoulder straps have two buttons instead of one so that the straps can be expanded with growth. Another "growth" feature is the wide waist band with waist buttons sewn around the top of the band. With such a wide waist band, the buttons can be lowered after the boy has grown a year or two so that the trousers would not ride up too high. Trousers in this case would undoubtedly be knee pants. We can judge the length of the knee pants the boy would wear by the length of the union suit legs, which are unusually long by modern standards.
Another feature here is two side buttons which allow the boy to dress and undress more quickly. An advantage of the union (as opposed to separate shirts and drawers), as explained here, is that the boy, having undressed for bed, would find "his clothes altogether in the morning." It is implied, I suppose, that smaller boys would have trouble locating the different parts of their underwear if the parts were not physically connected. This is analagous to attaching strings to winter mittens so that boys would not lose one of the pair during outdoor play. Of course the boy would have to attach hose supporters to the tabs if he were wearing long stockings and then detach them if he switched to short socks (as in the illustration). Very small boys (up to about age 6) might be allowed to wear short socks with knee pants and thus go around with bare knees, but boys older than 6 years old would more likely have been expected to wear long stockings, even in summer, as a matter of propriety. The back of the waist union suit has three buttons for the drop-seat which can be unfastened for bathroom purposes.
This waist union suit comes in sizes from 2 to 10 years old, basically the sizes of boys' underwaists if they wore them. This garment obviously eliminates the extra layer of the underwaist and is therefore much cooler for summer wear.
A similar garment is available for girls although its specific features are not described. It undoubtedly had the patented garter tab so that hose supporters could be worn either inside or outside the underwear. I suspect that the girls' model had bloomer knees rather than
straight legs.
Here is the text transcribed: "Mother, Ask your dealer to show you the wonderful, patented "Spraguemade" ALHENEEDS. For the little boy. Reg. U.S. Patent Office. Made of dainty, high-grade white pajama check, it combines underwear, waist and garter-supports in
one complete, hygienic fine-fitting garment. It has buttons for trousers, adjustment at shoulders and hips for two years of growth, wide waist band for setting down the buttons as the boy grows, patent tabs so that hose supporters may be worn "inside or out." All buttons are sewed close upon reinforcing strips that run directly to the shoulders and prevent side strains and sagging of outer garments. Cut low at neck and under the arms, Allheneeds allows full freedom for the boy to romp without pinching or chafing his delicate skin. All seams are felled. Button-holes are reinforced. The garment is finally finished for comfort, good looks and amazingly long wear. An exclusive feature: By turning two side buttons [under the armpits] your boy can undress himself quick as a flash and his clothes will be altogether in the morning! For the little girl: ALSHENEEDS is equally attractive. Only undergarment of the kind for girls; does for them what Alheneeds does for boys. Fits in naturally at waist line. Closely sewed buttons prevent sagging of skirts. Wondrously satisfactory. Fred'k H. Sprague Co., 5 Main St., Fitchburg, Mass. Also makers of the famous "Spraguemade" wash suits, rompers and blouses. If you cannot get them in your store, write us."
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