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The Stein Co. madeHickory Garters.
Hickory Garters were widely used by American children to hold up their long stockings. Hickory was a national brand name. They were sold all over the country in various stores and were widely advertised in magazines. They advertized extensively in national magazines like Parents' Magazine as well as local newspapers. The fact that they were also sold by Sears doesn't rule them out.
Albert Stein, a young Jewish imigrant to New York,
settled in Chicago with his three younger brothers, and in 1887 began to manufacture men's garters in a rented room on Market Street. The Steins were part of the second wave of Jewish immigrants to the United States. It occurred in the mid-19th century and was predominately from Germany. German Jews played an important role in the American clothing and retailing industry. Best known of course is Levi Straus who created denim blue jeans. Other Jewish immigrants founded important department stores.
The firm was one of the most prominent
businesses in downtown Chicago at the turn-of-the 20th century. It was founded by Albert Stein and his brothers. The brothers bought a patent for men's garters to which they gave the name, "Paris Garters" and the brand became famous all over the world as a fashion statement for gentlemen. In 1906 A. Stein & Co. acquired real estate at 1143 West Congress St. in Chicago and became the largest manufacturer of garters in the world. In 1929 just before the Great Depression, Stein & Co. became a public company with stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange. There were also offices in New York.
Albert Stein & Co., the manufacturer
of Hickory Hose Supporters and Garter Waists for children and the world-famous "Paris Garters" for men. In addition to Paris
Garters for men, they also made Hickory Hose Supporters and garter waists for boys and girls. A good example is the hickory garters offered in 1932. The firm also manufactured women's foundation garments and the Perma-Lift Bra, advertised as "the lift that never lets you down." Paris Garters and Hickory Hose Supporters had the slogan, "no metal can touch
you." The Hickory and Paris brands of garters became household words in America.
They were sold all over the country in various stores and were widely advertised in magazines. They advertized extensively in national magazines like Parents' Magazine. They also used local newspapers all over the country. Here a good example is the Bridgeport
Telegram in 1921. The fact that they were also sold by Sears doesn't rule them out. Companies at the time had many other ways of advetising. Colored lithographic cards wee used by many companies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We notice specially printed Stein's staionary advertising the Hickory garters. We do not know if it is companu staionary are distrubted to customers. A reader writes, "I think this stationary is really interesting and unusual. I wasn't aware that manufacturers like Stein & Co. actually used children's writing paper as a way of advertising their product. Also the
rhymes to appeal to kids seem to me worth noting since they refer to different features of Hickory garters.
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