Figure 1.--The "Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune" in a back to school issue (September 24. 1925) also an ad for the famous Hickory underwaist, This was almost as popular in the 1920s as the Dr. Parker Garter Waists. |
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The Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune in aback to school issue (September 24. 1925) also an ad for the famous Hickory underwaist, This was almost as popular in the 1920s as the Dr. Parker Garter Waists. Thie Hickory Waist was for boys and
girls up to the age of 14, but was mostly worn by boys of 12 or younger. The illustration shows a boy about 7 or 8 years old. The waist is cut in athletic style with wide openings for the arms and is low-cut so that it won't show under open-necked shirts or dresses. It has tape-on buttons around the waist for the attachment of trousers or skirts and metal pinning tubes at the sides for the attachment of supporters for long stockings.
Stocking supportes were offered in major mail-order catalogs and widely advertized in major national magazines as well as local newspapers. The newspaper ads seem very common, but are difficult to find as newspaper collections are more difficult to access. It was in The Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune September 24. 1925), page 10. It was an issue that included advertising for various school needs at the start of a new school year. Advertisements like this would have appeared in many other local newspapers at the time. We do not know if there was any regional pattern to the company's advertising.
The back to school items in the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune were on sale at Johnson and Hill Company, a dry goods store. Presumably the manufacturer provided the art work and the retailer placed the ad. Perhaps they shared the cost.
The A. Stein Co. made Hickory 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.
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.
The famous Hickory underwaist was almost as popular in the 1920s as the Dr. Parker Garter Waists. Notice that the ad here just uses the term "waist". This was quite common, but waist had several different meanings. The garment advertised here is an underwaust. This was for boys and
girls up to the age of 14, but was mostly worn by boys of 12 or younger. The illustration shows a boy about 7 or 8 years old. The waist is cut in athletic style with wide openings for the arms and is low-cut so that it won't show under open-necked shirts or dresses. It has tape-on buttons around the waist for the attachment of trousers or skirts and metal pinning tubes at the sides for the attachment of supporters for long stockings.
The ad copy read, "Hickory Waists. Hickory Waists are made of fine quality material. Wash wonderfully. Athletic cut arm holes eliminate bulging or binding. Unbreakable bone buttons stoutly taped on [and metal pin tubes for
supporters at the sides]. Specially Priced for the Occasion at 42 cents."
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