Figure 1.-- Here we have a Sears Fall and Winter catalog (1919) showing the wide variety of hose supporters and support garments offered for boys and girls. In 1919 all children wore long stockings, and most boys up to the age of 16 wore knee pants or above-the-knee knickers with black long stockings. Hence, devices for holding up stockings were almost univeral. Sears devoted an entire page to elastics and hose supporters, covering items that women would buy, not only for themselves, but also for their children up into their later teens.

Here we have a Sears Fall and Winter catalog (1919) showing the wide variety of hose supporters and support garments offered for boys and girls. In 1919 all children wore long stockings, and most boys up to the age of 16 wore knee pants or above-the-knee knickers with black long stockings. Hence, devices for holding up stockings were almost univeral. Sears devoted an entire page to elastics and hose supporters, covering items that women would buy, not only for themselves, but also for their children up into their later teens. Although children's supporters were available in both black and white, black seems to have been the preferred color for pin-on garters. The garter waists and shoulder supporters, however, seem to have been made mainly in white. At the top of the page, we note an advertisement for the widely popular Buster Brown Hose Supporters, made in sizes for children, for misses, for young women, and for older women.

Sears

The Sears, Roebuck and Co., huge merchandising firm centered in Chicago was founded by Richard W. Sears (1863-1914) and A.C. Roebuck (1864-1948). Sears had begun a career in mail-order business in Minnesota 1886. In Chicago he and Roebuck joined resources and formed a corporation in 1893 as a mail-order business under title Sears, Roebuck and Company. Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) in 1895 bought Roebuck's interest in firm and became president on Sears's retirement 1908. A retail-store system was added 1925. The first foreign store added in Havana, Cuba during 1945 and becane te first expropriated store in 1960. The Sears-Roebuck brought the production of industry to the fartherest corner of rural America, opening the cornucopia of the consumer age to rural America. All the new things that were changing American life danced across their pages. Through it, a huge Chicago warehouse offers to modernize the farms and small towns of the Midwest.

Chronology

Here we have a Sears Fall and Winter catalog (1919) showing the wide variety of hose supporters and support garments offered for boys and girls. It appeared in the 1919 Sears Fall and Winter catalog.

Long Stockings

At the time, virtually all American children wore long stockings, and most boys up to the age of 16 wore knee pants or above-the-knee knickers with black long stockings. Many boys went barefoot during the summer. Younger boys might wear three-quarter sovls. The most common hosiery at the time, however, was long stockings. Hence, devices for holding up stockings were in great demand.

Variety

There was a wide variety of different devices used to support long stockings. Sears devoted an entire page to elastics and hose supporters, covering items that women would buy, not only for themselves, but also for their children up into their later teens.

Color

Although children's supporters were available in both black and white. Black seems to have been the preferred color for pin-on garters. The garter waists and shoulder supporters, however, seem to have been made mainly in white.

Sizes

There was a rage of sizes offered here. At the top of the page, we note an advertisement for the widely popular Buster Brown Hose Supporters, made in sizes for children, for misses, for young women, and for older women. The children's size was apparently for boys and girls from age 2 to age 12-13. In the oval at mid-page we have a boy of about 12 modeling a pair of shoulder supporters worn over a union suit. But these supporters are also made in larger sizes to fit "Misses" and "Women" who would presumably wear these in lieu of a corset with garters attached.

Types and features

The different support garments had a wide range of features.
Hickory waist and garters: At the lower right we have an illustration of the famous brand of "Hickory Waist and Garters for Girls and Boys." These are essentially garter waists made out of mercerized sateen with pin-on supporters already attached. Smaller children are shown in the illustration, but these waists were made for boys and girls as old as 14. Notice the special flaps or tabs in front to which the supporters are safety-pinned.
Kazoo waists: The panel at the lower left shows three different styles of support garments, all made by the famous Kazoo Suspender Waist company. Kazoo waists were widely advertised in magazines and newspapers, but they were also sold by Sears to reach an even wider consumership. Kazoo made a special point of claiming that their garter waists and suspender waists served the dual purpose of supporting stockings and of keeping children from becoming round shouldered--a major concern in the child-rearing climate of the day. At the left of the panel there are two different styles, one for a boy and the other for a girl. Both are similar in design to the well-known Dr. Parker garter waist, but, unlike the Dr. Parker waist, these waists are gender-specific. The boy's belt is equipped with buttons for the attachment of shorts or button-on knee pants, whereas the girl's waist band appears to lack buttons although she is clearly wearing bloomers rather than the usual long-sleeved, ankle-length union suits worn by most of the boys on this page. Girls wore mostly dresses in 1919 and presumably wouldn't need the buttons. The third figure in the box at the lower left is wearing the famous Kazoo suspender waist, made especially for boys. Notice the fasteners on the suspender straps (two in front and one, not shown, in back) so that the boy can attach these to buttons on his trousers. Older boys preferred suspender waists to ordinary underwaists or garter waists because the suspender part of the waist showed on top of the dress shirt and looked more adult--more like what their fathers would wear to hold up grown-up long trousers.
Other items: This Sears catalog page also has some addtional items that would catch the eye of the thrifty mother with sewing skills. At top left, we see three different kinds of elastic sold by the yard, which women bought for using on homemade underwear of various sorts. They could make round garters from this elastic or use it for petticoats, home-made underwaists, or other purposes. Sears also sold sew-on supporters for women who wanted to replace the garters on their corsets as well as elastic for dressmaking and hat-making purposes. Hose supporters for women in additional styles are shown at the upper right of the page, and at the bottom center, Sears offered a cheaper kind of standard pin-on supporters (for both children and adults)--presumably less durable than the famous Buster Brown or Hickory brands but appealing because of their extremely low cost (only 14 cents a pair). Many of these very cheap garters were assembled by immigrants in city tenements as piece work, thus costing very little because of the cheap labor.

Sears Ad Copy

Here is the Sears ad copy for the parts of the page relevant to boys and girls support devices:

Buster Brown hose supporters

Top of page. The Sears ad copy read, "Strength where strength is needed and it gives where it ought to give. Buster Brown Hose Supporters are correctly made from the best material and leading authorities recommend Buster Brown as the best supporter on the market. Made along practical lines. Has wide non-elastic top which gives strength where it is needed, and you can make the adjustment to sizes without the metal cutting the fabric or lessening the elasticity. The bottom is made of extra wide elastic which has no great strain to stand, but which gives freely to every movement of the body. Has rubber snap buttons. All metal parts are heavily nickel plated. Comes in white or black. State color. Shipping weight, per pair, 3 ounces. 25 T 5023 Children's size. Length about 8 1/2 inches. Price per pair, 19 c. 25 T 5025 Misses' size. Length, about 10 1/2 inches. Price per pair, 21 c. 25 T 5027 Young women's size. Length, about 12 inches. Price, per pair, 23 c. 25 T 5029 Women's size. Length, about 14 inches. Price, per pair, 25 c."

Shoulder hose supporters

Oval in center of the page. The Sears ad copy read, "Good quality non-elastic webbing with elastic hose supporters attached. Black or white. State color. Shpg. wt. 3 oz. 25 T 5048 Children's size. Each 23 c. 25 T 5050 Misses' size. Each, 25 c. 25 T 5052 Women's size. Each, 28 c." [HBC Note: Notice the long-sleeved, long-legged union suit worn underneath the shoulder supporters. Long underwear was usual in 1919 because of the lack of central heating. Boys often wore their long stockings on top of long underwear, which could make the boy's legs look somewhat lumpy.]

Hickory Waist and Garters for Girls and Boys

Lower right panel. The Sears ad copy read, "The Hickory Waist will appeal to mother as a sensible and comfortable child's waist. Made of mercerized sateen that will wear and launder well. It has a front breast strap that will always hold the waist in place. The garters are made of white rubber, with cushion clasps that will not tear the stockings. Easily adjusted buckle. Comes in sizes from 2 to 14 years. State age. Shipping wt., 8 ounces. 25 T 5033. Price, each 65 c." [HBC note: These Hickory Garter Waists use "white rubber" supporters rather than elastic ones. A question: Were rubber supporters stretchier and stronger than the more typical elastic supporters? This innovation doesn't seem to have been widely accepted, and most Hickory garters over the years were made of elastic rather than of rubber. I suspect that the rubber was less durable and probably somewhat more uncomfortable than elastic.]

Kazoo waist for small boy

Lower left panel. The Sears ad copy read, "Kazoo Waist for the small boy. Scientifically made. Can be easily adjusted to fit the figure. Acts as a body brace, hose and trouser support. Strongly made throughout of heavy lisle elastic webbing with nickel plated adjustment buckles. Sizes 2 to 12 years. State age. Shipping weight, 6 ounces. 15 T 5056 Price, each 59 c."

Kazoo Waist for girls

The Sears ad copy read, "Serves as a perfect brace as well as a hose support. Growing girls should wear a waist that will prevent the shoulders from drooping. Made of strong white elastic with durable trimmings. Ages 4 to 14 years. State age. Shipping wt., 6 oz. 25 T 5053 Price, each 59 c."

Kazoo [Suspender] Waist for boys

The Sears ad copy read, "Properly constructed in every way. Hose supporters at attached to hose directly in front, thereby preventing the shoulder straps from slipping from shoulders, also keep child from becoming round shouldered. Made of strong eleastic webbing with durable suspender buckle and non-elastic buttonhole ends. Sizes, 6 to 16 years. State age. Shipping weight, 6 ounces. 25 T 5057 Price, each 59 c."

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Created: 9:59 PM 2/3/2006
Last updated: 9:59 PM 2/3/2006