See how a woman wore the suspenders above clothing
using open-crotch underpants. See belts that
hold pads
See how a woman wore a belt in a Dutch ad.
See a classy 1920s ad for a belt and the first
ad (1891) MUM has for a belt.
See how women wore a belt (and in a Swedish
ad). See a modern belt
for a washable pad and a page from the 1946-47 Sears catalog showing a great variety.
More ads for napkin belts: Sears,
1928 - modern belts - modern washable
- Modess, 1960s
Actual belts in the
museum
And, of course, the first Tampax AND - special
for you! - the American fax tampon,
from the early 1930s, which also came in bags.
See a Modess True or False? ad in The American
Girl magazine, January 1947, and actress Carol Lynley
in "How Shall I Tell My Daughter" booklet ad (1955) - Modess . . . . because ads (many dates).
 
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Ads and patents for suspenders to hold
menstrual pads (U.S.A., late 19th century) (Non-menstrual suspenders ads
here.)
Women seem to have always had problems getting their menstrual gear
to work comfortably and problem-free - just think of today - but they must
praise the day tampons and cups appeared when they look at "the
most convenient article for ladies' use ever known," the menstrual
pad suspenders right below.
Belts for pads seem to have been truly unreliable to inspire this device,
but not unreliable enough to prevent its extinction. I have seen no advertisements
for suspenders after the very early 20th century.
As for "Bandage Suspender," in
the ad right below: bandage manufacturers - Johnson
& Johnson (Modess) and Kimberly-Clark
(Kotex) in America, and Paul Hartmann (Mulpa,
WWs, etc.) in Germany (and perhaps elsewhere), to name three - found it
profitable to make menstrual pads. But "bandage" can also reinforce
the pathological feeling about menstruation, even though menstrual blood
and tissue do spring from a kind of wound inside the uterus that heals naturally.
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Brochure from the 1870s advertising
a suspender menstrual supporter.
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Text of the ad, starting under the
title:
In adjusting the Suspender, place the long strap at the back [see
why here]; the short strap in front has our [?] on the under side of
it, the point of the hook or holder being outward.
Catch the end of the bandage in the hook, [?] the point of the hook under
the guard. It is a perfect safety fastening and can not be displaced.
No. 36 for ladies whose bust measure is less than 36 inches.
No. 40 for ladies whose bust measure is less than 40 inches.
No. 44 for ladies whose bust measure is more than 40 inches.
It can be used with any bandage a lady may wear; suspending the same from
the shoulders; and is attached to the bandage, both front and back, by means
of our New Improved Safety Skirt and Bandage Holder.
This Suspender is the most convenient article for ladies' use ever known
[advertisers' exaggerations have a long history]. Every lady knows the inconvenience
and annoyance it gives them to suspend the bandage in the old way, with
a string or band around the waist, as well as the uncertainty of its holding
the bandage at all. Our Improved Bandage Suspender will hold the bandage
exactly in place, will hold it securely, is easily adjustable, and will
give [?][?] relief to the wearer than any thing else she may use for the
purpose. They can be washed as easily as any under-garment without removing
the hooks and slides.
No body will be with out one when she has once tried it or seen it used.
They are sold by our Lady Agents at 60 cents.
QUEEN CITY SUSPENDER COMPANY
Sole Proprietors and Manufacturers for the United States and Canadas[sic?]
No. 179 Main Street, [?] Cincinnati, O.
AGENTS WANTED
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I added to the drawing some lines lost in reproduction.
Brochure reproduced from
"Menstrual technology in the United States, 1854 to 1921," by
Laura Klosterman Kidd, 1994 (Ph.D. dissertation)
Brochure courtesy of L. Bellais
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Below: U.S. patent No. 463, 819, 1891,
granted to Annie Willoughby.
The trough holds absorbent material, sometimes wood
shavings ("wood wool").
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Below: The suspenders at left, simplified, worn under all
clothing.
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A woman could wear the suspenders above
her underclothing wearing the era's open (crotchless) underpants
- see here.
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The drawing at above left -
I added some lines to replace those lost in reproduction, and the word "bag"
and the two pointing lines - shows how the suspenders
sat on the woman's shoulders to support the pad, or in this
case, a bag hanging between her legs that collects
the menses. Eliza Kerwin created this patent No. 514, 717, granted in 1894.
See how a woman wore the suspenders
above clothing using open-crotch underpants.
Reproduced from
"Menstrual technology in the United States, 1854 to 1921," by
Laura Klosterman Kidd, 1994 (Ph.D. dissertation)
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See belts that hold pads, ads for non-menstrual suspenders and how women wore
the menstrual suspenders.
© 2000 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce or distribute any
of the work on this Web site in any manner or
medium without written permission of the author. Please report suspected
violations to hfinley@mum.org
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