American Support Garments: Sigbee Underwaist (1891)


Figure 1.--This Sigsbee advert for a child's underwaist looks likeit as carried in a newspaper. We know it was published in 1891 based on a 1890 patent. Sigsbee claims thr it was very durble and thus perfect for boys. It is not clear, however, what was revolutionary about it.

We have not yet found many 1891 clothing advertisements. For some reason we have found some stocking supporter items. This reflects the growing importance of knee pants which were commonly worn with long stockings. Notice how all the boys in the illustration on the previous page are wearing long stokings. Thus there was a need for support garments. The primary purpose was to support long stockings, but they were also used to hold up pants. We note the Sigbee underwaist made up to size 30 inches, children 12 years of age.

Manufacturer

We know little about the manufacturer at this time. Sigsbee Waists were manufactured by the Sigsbee Manufacturing Co, Ayer, Massachusettes. The waist was patentented in 1890 and we note an 1891 advertisement. We do not note any operations after the turn-of-the 20th century.

Publication

We are not sure where this adverisement was published. It looks like ot may have been a newspaper advert.

Illustrations

Notice that the illustration. Strides were being made in lithography, bt the illustrtion here is still a fairly simple line drawing with limited shading. Shading is needed tho produce realistic looking illustrations. By the end of the decde we begin to see more shading and even photographs. The process was still quite expensive. It is only after the turn-of-the 20th century that the process was perfected and costs came down.

Long Stockings

Long stockings were widely worn by American children, both boys and girls in the late-19th and early-20th century. We have not yet found many 1891 clothing advertisements. For some reason we have found some stocking supporter items. This reflects the growing importance of knee pants which were commonly worn with long stockings. Notice how all the boys in the illustration on the previous page are wearing long stokings. Thus there was a need for support garments. The primary purpose was to support long stockings, but they were also used to hold up pants.

Underwaist

Underwaists were another type of support garment. Underwaists (sometimes called panty-waists) were worn by younger boys and girls to support additional underwear (such as bloomers or panties) or outer clothing (such as trousers or skirts). These bodices tended to be worn by boys only until about age 10, although some models came in ages for boys as old as 12. Some models were specifically for girls and others for boys, but the great majority of styles could be worn by both boys and girls. They tended to be made of elastic knitted fabric (and therefore rather form-fitting) or of cambric material and a bit looser. They nearly always were equipped with reinforcement straps, waist buttons, and garter tabs for attaching hose supporters. The popularity of underwaists declined in the later 1930s and early 1940s although they were still available, usually in the preferred knitted style, up until about 1945. When long stockings stopped being worn by school children, the main function of the underwaist ceased to exist.

Age

Sigsbee made underwaists for children 1-12 years of age. The sizes were 20-30 inches. .

Gender

Sigsbee indicates that their underwaist was for children, this mean both boys and girls. The illustration shows a boy. The ad copy stresses that it was especially suitable for boys because it was made so durable.

Chronology

We do not see the term underwaist being used much in the 1880s. We wee a patent for an 'underwais' in 1883, but most companies manufacturing what might be called underwausrs used different terms.

Ad Copy

The ad copy read, "Revolution in Children's Wear. The Sigsbee underwaist. Just the waist for boys, necause they cannot tear off the buttons, nor tear out the button-holes. The simple and novel device for attaching the elastics is the best for the purpose ever invented. Being supported from the shoulders, the weight is divided euall. Box plaits over the hips allow ample fullness to insure a perfect fit, preventing all pressure, and allowing the vital organs to dvelop naturlly. Easily launderd. Wears longer. Sold by Dry Goods Dealer everywhere, Sizes 20 to 24 inm 55 cts. Sizes 25 to 30 in 60 cts, Age 1 to 12 years. Mailed to any part of the United Sttes on receipt of 5c. additional for postage. Pat. Sept. 23, 1890. Sigsbee Manufacturing Co., Ayer, Mass."







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Created: 4:46 PM 8/3/2005
Last updated: 4:46 PM 8/3/2005