More of Those Indispensable Notions

First up - for the non-sewer, Bee's Universal Button Fasteners, consisting of a sharp pointy staple and a metal backing plate.  Since this envelope is still sealed after all these decades, the mystery of how to curve those sharp points into the grooves on the plate will forever remain one.

Next up - from April 9, 1895, the Singer Safety Patent Garment Ready Opener Hook.  (Say that fast!)  The particular charms of this hook include being wringer-proof, a very real problem that vintage clothes buyers can attest to.

It Hooks, and Locks!

There is a problem with snaps.  They don't always hold like they should, especially under pressure.  This could become quite embarrassing when it was your skirt placket and your undergarments began to show.  What would people think?  Hooks and eyes were not much better, especially when they have become mangled from ironing and washing.

Wilson's Patent Fastener to the rescue!  This little item was guaranteed not to fail.

It came on a card inside an envelope and is one of my treasures from the early years of the 20th century.

This is a Stickup

From 1914-1916 it was fashionable to have collars that were high in the back which complemented upswept hair held up with combs.  This was made possible by little items like this which were sewn inconspicously into the collars to hold them up.  Collar supports were not new, having been used for years earlier to support Edwardian lace collars, but these were the longest they would get.  See some examples below from the American Woman magazine of June 1915.

Slide Fasteners

Here is a neat package I found at an estate sale.  It's pretty self-explanatory and I wish we had the range of zippers shown today.  From the early 1940's.  I believe you can click on the pictures to see them larger.

Here is a very interesting article explaining the early years of Talon, Inc and the development of the modern zipper.  Here is a link to a book celebrating Talon, Inc's first 50 years.  An interesting article chronicling the later years of Talon, Inc.  Talon, Inc may even play a part in discovering what happened to Amelia Earhart!  And, of course, the Wikipedia entry on zippers.