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This is a good example of the underwear that most boys and girls wore during the early 1920s in America in sizes from 2 to 16 years. These are the popular waist union suits that were made in styles that were sleeveless and with short legs as well as with long sleeves and ankle length legs and also with elbow sleeves and knee length. Not illustrated (but described) are separate shirts and underpants for children from 1 to 12. This underwear is not gender specific and is equally suitable for boys and girls. The model illustrated is made of cotton, buttons down the front, has a drop seat in back which buttons to the waist in the rear, and has reinforcement straps over the shoulders. Two reinforcement straps end in taped-on buttons for fastening trousers (shorts or knickers, or skirts) plus addional straps that run from the shoulders to the sides of the waist and end in metal pin-tubes for fastening hose supporters. Monnig's Clothing Store in Fort Worth, Texas store ad offered waist union suits from three manufacturers: E-Z, Minneapolis and Merode.
HBC has already archived information on the two of the manufacturers in other places--E-Z Mills waist suits (based in Bennington, Vermont)
and Minneapolis Knitting Co. that specialized in the well-known "M" underwaists and waist union suits (the M stood not only for the name of the firm, Minneapolis, but also described the shape of the reinforcing straps which formed a figure resembling an M in their placement on the waist
suit. I don't think we have come across the Merode brand yet. but it was a well known brand of women's and children's underwear, and vintage ads are available on ebay.
Monnig's Clothing Store in Fort Worth, Texas store ad offered waist union suits from three manufacturers: E-Z Nills , Minneapolis and Merode. These store advertisements for underwear were quite common in the 1920s.
This is a good example of the underwear that most boys and girls wore during the early 1920s in America. In the early 1920s the waist union suit was developed and remained popular until the 1940s. This garment (for both boys and girls up until about the age of 13) combined the basic one-piece union suit, the standard form of children's underwear, with the underwaist (with reinforcement straps, waist buttons, and garter tabs) so that a single garment could do duty for two. Wearing one layer rather than two made getting dressed easier, and mothers saved money by not having to buy both a union suit and an underwaist or garter waist. These suits were sometimes referred to as "combination suits." Waist union suits came in both summer and winter styles. The summer style was usually made of nainsook and was like a junior version of adult BVDs. It had short legs and was usually sleeveless so as to be cool.
These waist union suits were offered in sizes from 2 to 16 years.
The popular waist union suits that were made in styles that were sleeveless and with short legs as well as with long sleeves and ankle length legs and also with elbow sleeves and knee length. This underwear is not gender specific and is equally suitable for boys and girls.
Not illustrated (but described) are separate shirts and underpants for children from 1 to 12.
The model illustrated is made of cotton, buttons down the front, has a drop seat in back which buttons to the waist in the rear, and has reinforcement straps over the shoulders. Two reinforcement straps end in taped-on buttons for fastening trousers (shorts or knickers, or skirts) plus addional straps that run from the shoulders to the sides of the waist and end in metal pin-tubes for fastening hose supporters.
Here is the ad copy text transcribed:
"Dependable Knit Underwear for the Children. Our lines of underwear in
Minneapolis, E-Z and Merode for children are most complete, both as to
materials and styles, knee length, ribbed, taped buttons, supporter
tubes; sizes 2 to 8 years, 89 cents; 10 to 12 years, $1,19; 14 to 16
years, $1.39.
Same as above in high neck, long sleeves and ankle length: sizes 2 to 8
years, $1.00; 10 to 12 years, $1.25; 14 to 16 years, $1.50.
Another high neck, long sleeve, ankle length union suit, lightly
fleeced, taped buttons and supporter holders, all sizes 2 to 12 years,
89 cents.
Separate shirts and pants in wool and cotton, for those who do not wear
union suits; shirts, 1 to 4 years, each 89 cents; pants, sizes 1 to 6
years, pair 75 cents 89 cents. Separate shirts and pants, fleece lined,
all cotton shirts: sizes 2 to 12 years, 50 cents and 75 cents; pants,
ankle length, sizes 2 to 12 years, pair 50 cents."
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