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Jock historian

yorky2

Jockstrap Fan
Hi, further to the comments above by TallJack I would agree that Litesome were the definitive British Jockstrap- but as he says they are no longer around. They stopped manufacturing about 25 years ago.
I cant recall the ads featuring coal miners, but I do recall seeing their ads featuring international cricketers, speedway stars aircraft fighter pilots (during WW2) as well of course as rugby players.
Litesomes jockstraps were particularly popular with rugby league teams.
 

CoachBob

Jockstrap Fan
The internet blogs are replete with postings relating jockstraps to sports and physical education classes, but comparatively little is written about the history of jocks worn in occupations, on the farm and in the military. For purposes of discussing the military jockstrap experience, I'll start with an inquiry regarding regarding the military suspensory. In the US, the transition from suspensory to jockstrap appeared to occur during WWII, but I haven't found definitive information on suspensory use in the military. I suppose we can assume military use was common noting that most of the manufacturers labeled the garment referring to ARMY and NAVY on the product. Can JSMike or anyone else enlighten me on the use of the suspensory in the military? Was it used for physical training, or was it considered part of the duty military uniform? How did the suspensory acquire the ARMY and NAVY descriptor? Was the suspensory worn with boxer shorts, or as the sole undergarment? I offer this question with understanding that the BDU's and fatigues did not acquire zippers at the fly's until the 1960's and I can not imagine the discomfort having one's dick pushed forward into a zipper all day, but presumably if the military britches had only button secured "barn doors" wearing a suspensory would have been more tolerable. Finally, the size of a suspensory was selected solely based on scrotum size.
 

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D

Deleted member 1568

Guest
Coal miners? I've never seen those ads. I don't suppose you have any to share . . .
Thanks - and thank you for sharing your research. I am pretty certain that Litesome were based in Yorkshire and in addition to Rugby League (and other sports) they also targeted men in heavy industrial work. This was, indeed, a long time ago - I remember seeing their ad with a discreet line drawing of a coal miner - in the heat of the mine any other clothes would be pointless. If only today's RL players wore jocks under their commendably brief shorts!
 

yorky2

Jockstrap Fan
Hi Talljack!
You are correct, the Litesome company was based in Keighley in the West Riding of Yorkshire. I agree re; current rugby league players. Jockstraps have all but disappeared in the pro rugby league teams and were declining from the late 1990s onwards.
For the sake of sentimentality.. and other things, some pics from those days before the decline:
 

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yorky2

Jockstrap Fan
Unmistakeable Litesome on the Salford player:
 

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JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
The internet blogs are replete with postings relating jockstraps to sports and physical education classes, but comparatively little is written about the history of jocks worn in occupations, on the farm and in the military. For purposes of discussing the military jockstrap experience, I'll start with an inquiry regarding regarding the military suspensory. In the US, the transition from suspensory to jockstrap appeared to occur during WWII, but I haven't found definitive information on suspensory use in the military. I suppose we can assume military use was common noting that most of the manufacturers labeled the garment referring to ARMY and NAVY on the product. Can JSMike or anyone else enlighten me on the use of the suspensory in the military? Was it used for physical training, or was it considered part of the duty military uniform? How did the suspensory acquire the ARMY and NAVY descriptor? Was the suspensory worn with boxer shorts, or as the sole undergarment? I offer this question with understanding that the BDU's and fatigues did not acquire zippers at the fly's until the 1960's and I can not imagine the discomfort having one's dick pushed forward into a zipper all day, but presumably if the military britches had only button secured "barn doors" wearing a suspensory would have been more tolerable. Finally, the size of a suspensory was selected solely based on scrotum size.
I have some information, and some guesses to try to answer your questions. The suspensory, a medical device for men recovering from illness or injury, was invented by British Navy doctors in the 1850s. A decade later, Smith Rawson patented his "US Army Suspensory" (to my mind the first jockstrap) in 1863, for the US Cavalry. I can't prove it, but it seems logical that the designation "Army and Navy" stems from this origen. The earliest documented use of the term, 'Army and Navy suspensory' that I have is from an 1891 ad for Flavell's U.S. Army & Navy Suspensory Bandage. I suspect you are correct about WWII being the time of transition form suspensory to jockstrap. My clearly dated sources for military suspensories goes from 1863 to 1932. (I have one reference to a 1952 contract between Johnson & Johnson and the government to produce a suspensory.) During WWII there were a number of companies that produced athletic supporters for the government. As to when and how suspensories were worn by the troops, I have no information. Men are forever reluctant to discuss these kind of details.

I may not get to it tonight, but I'll try to post some images from my collection to illustrate some of these points. And should you come acrosss more information, I would be glad to see it.
 

CoachBob

Jockstrap Fan
I have some information, and some guesses to try to answer your questions. The suspensory, a medical device for men recovering from illness or injury, was invented by British Navy doctors in the 1850s. A decade later, Smith Rawson patented his "US Army Suspensory" (to my mind the first jockstrap) in 1863, for the US Cavalry. I can't prove it, but it seems logical that the designation "Army and Navy" stems from this origen. The earliest documented use of the term, 'Army and Navy suspensory' that I have is from an 1891 ad for Flavell's U.S. Army & Navy Suspensory Bandage. I suspect you are correct about WWII being the time of transition form suspensory to jockstrap. My clearly dated sources for military suspensories goes from 1863 to 1932. (I have one reference to a 1952 contract between Johnson & Johnson and the government to produce a suspensory.) During WWII there were a number of companies that produced athletic supporters for the government. As to when and how suspensories were worn by the troops, I have no information. Men are forever reluctant to discuss these kind of details.

I may not get to it tonight, but I'll try to post some images from my collection to illustrate some of these points. And should you come acrosss more information, I would be glad to see it.
Thanks JSMike. I'll move the discussion into the WWII military jockstrap in the next few days. Bob.
 

JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
OK guys, I've come to the 1960s at last. Many of you will remember that decade, perhaps the last glorious era of the jockstrap. Do post your responses, memories, or further information.

The 1960s

In 1960 the Bike Athletic division of the Kendall Company (Chicago, IL) had a US Marine Corps contract to make their standard Bike “No. 10” athletic supporter with a special USMC label for the Marines. The label reads, “No. 10; U. S. M. C.; Small.”

1960 B&W photo of U.S. Olympic Trials shows 3 runners in mid-stride, one with the leg straps of his jock visible beneath his shorts.

Around 1960 I remember my brother’s two Bike cup jocks that he wore for Little League. They were mostly cotton, solid off-white, with the bicycle wheel logo on the front label. The pouch closed with two metal snaps. The plastic cups were black, with green cushion around the edges.

A 1961 ad has a drawing of a football player labeled “Bill George” of the Chicago Bears, with text reading, “BIKE’S Tips from the Experts sports column.” From “The KENDALL Company, BIKE SALES DIVISION.”

A 1961 ad has a drawing of a swimmer labeled “Johnny Weissmuller.” Text reads, “BIKE’S Tips from the Experts, Sports Column.” At the bottom is a depiction of a box. From “KENDALL.”

An April 1961 ad reads, “Another reason to buy BIKE Bulk Pack! Bike #10 now color-coded for easy sorting.” There is a photo of 12 jocks; all with two red tracer lines on the waistband, indicating size Medium. The bottom reads, “BIKE; The KENDALL Company, Bike Sales Division.”

A 1963 ad depicts the “No. 10 BIKE Athletic Supporter; Contains 4T-280 Heat Resistant Rubber.” The text reads, “No other brand outlasts BIKE…the supporter that’s made with more live rubber! More live rubber means longer life for this practically laundry proof supporter. Even the stitching stretches, so it delivers full support and protection month after month. Feathered knit edges all but do away with chafing. And the poro-knit pouch is extra cool.” The bottom reads, “BIKE; The KENDALL Company; Bike Sales Division.”

A February 1963 ad for Bike Athletic Supporters in Scholastic Coach shows a football helmet and a jockstrap and states, “Two Pieces of Equipment No Good Coach Ever Skimps On.” “Now Color-Coded for Easy Sorting.” Kendall Company, Bike Sales Division.

In 1965 I bought my first athletic supporter for 7th grade P.E. It was a Bike No. 10, in a cardboard box. It was off-white (no tracer lines) and had a white label on the front of the waistband with the bicycle wheel logo.

A 1965 ad in Boy’s Life shows a young man diving into a pool, wearing swim trunks. The text reads, “Where The Action Is . . . BIKE Should Be.” From Kendall.

April 1967 AMG photo for the film, The Temptor, in Physique Pictorial shows Joseph McDaniel, age 22, wearing only a jock. An August 1967 AMG photo for the film, The Lineman and the Athlete, in Physique Pictorial shows a man wearing tennis shoes and a jock.

October 1968 B&W photo of U.S. Olympic jumper Bob Beamon shows the leg straps of his jock beneath his shorts.

July 31, 1969 Technical Crew Debriefing Manual for the Apollo 11 mission included Buzz Aldrin’s account of lost jocks: “There’s only one exception to that—our athletic supporters. I had no idea where they were. Finally we said to heck with it, and if they weren’t there, why we’d get along without them.”

September 1969 ad in Boy’s Life reads, “Going to gym? Take a Bike. Going to swim? Take a Bike. Going to play basketball? Take a Bike. Bike. The supporter the pros use. Not only protects . . . but helps you perform better.”

October 1969 saw the publication of Jock magazine, with a photo of the NY Mets on the cover.

The October 1969 issue of Scholastic Coach carried a Bike ad with a lavishly colored depiction of David and Goliath. David carries his sling, and is wearing only a jockstrap as he prepares to fight the Philistine giant, Goliath. I saw this magazine at my high school, and wanted to steal it. I didn’t, but it haunted me for decades. Finally, in 2018, I bought a collection of SC magazines, and found the ad again. Thank you, eBay.

The 1960s saw the following jocks:

All-Star Athletic Supporter, “Nylon Stitched, Heat Resistant Rubber,” with a sewn-in foam cup;
Bike No. 10 Athletic Supporter, white label, red lettering, and blue bicycle wheel logo;
Bike No. 59 swim jock, white label, red lettering, blue bicycle wheel logo;
Boston Athletic Supporter by George Frost Co., Shirley, Mass. is solid off-white, a white label with blue text on the waistband, the box states, “In all athletic activities, moderate or strenuous, every man should wear an athletic supporter for health protection, avoidance of fatigue and for peace of mind.”
Champion Model 88 Swim Supporter from Champion Supporter, Co., Cincinnati, OH, narrow waistband;
Champion No. 93 cup jock, white waistband, white label with orange text, off-white pouch;
Double K cup jock, 1 tracer line on waistband, white label which reads, “Double KK”;
J.B. Flaherty Company’s “Bub” Duribilknit No. 119 heavy-duty cup jock, wide waistband;
J.B. Flaherty’s Flarico No. 110 Athletic Supporter, black and orange box;
Fruit of the Loom Athletic Supporter;
Futuro V-Guard Athletic Supporter with “Contoured “V” Front, Pre-Shrunk-Interlock Pouch;”
Futuro Sports-3 Athletic Supporter, white label with blue text;
Hawthorne jock sold by Montgomery Ward;
Healthknit jock, white label with red lettering;
Jantzen jock, blue/red tracer lines at top and bottom of waistband, white label;
MacGregor jock, green label with white lettering on waistband, double line of red stitching;
MacGregor Grid Athletic Supporter, double line of blue stitching at top of pouch;
MacGregor cup jock has two tracer lines on waistband (red, blue); white plastic cup with green cushion edge;
J.C. Penney Towncraft jock, white label with blue/white design, blue & red lettering;
Sears Athletic Supporter, white label with red lettering on a 3” waistband;
SMC No. 10 jock, 1 red tracer line on waistband, white label with red lettering;
Steichen’s Model SA-10 cup jock, white label, pouch closes with 2 metal snaps;
Cooper DJSL hockey jock, solid white, lacing ties in front, white label reads, “Cooper,” made in Canada;
Litesome Cricket cup jock, 2 tracer lines at top and bottom of waistband;”
Jim Sport cup jock with terrycloth pouch, 3 black tracer lines at top of waistband, made in Spain;
Longdon jock with “Action Cush’n” pouch to lift & separate, made in Canada;
Wellinger & Dunn WinnWell cup jock with a cotton flap-style pouch holding a plastic cup, made in Canada.
 

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StrappedMan

Jockstrap Fan
What a great photo. That jock looks really cool and classy in a retro way. I’d love to get my hands on one of those.
 

Oldschoolbiketen

Jockstrap Fan
Most of my collection of boxed, nos jockstraps start in this era. I also have a lot of nos from the 70's and 80's. I would love to find an unopened school pack someday. This is the golden age for me. I really enjoy the history lesson. Thanks again.
 

JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
Here are some wide band supporters with detachable pouches, and descriptions of their use.
 

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JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
Here are more images from the 1960s.
 

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JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
More from the 1960s.
 

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easlgrundle

Jockstrap Artist
Yes I remember that commercial there was also an episode of Coach dedicated solely to jockstraps he became a spokesman for a brand and they had a poster of him in his jockstrap at the end he had a whole roomful of jockstraps in their boxes I always found him attractive Craig T Nelson hoping to see the episode again it's on a station called antenna but I haven't seen that one episode yet, hope that they air it
edit: that link is down, roku link works for now

Coach S03 - Ep20 Hayden Fox for Universal Jocks

A colorful selection of athletic supporters, and some jockstrap slingshot target practice.

The video upload is left right flipped, so are these screenshots. I can edit the post with unflipped, or move it to a gallery if needed.
 

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JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
Thanks for posing these. Did you guys notice that the jock package the poster man is holding is actually the US brand, Defender? Their black packaging with a photo of an actual man wearing the jock was quite distinctive.
Coach S03 - Ep20 Hayden Fox for Universal Jocks

A colorful selection of athletic supporters, and some jockstrap slingshot target practice.

The video upload is left right flipped, so are these screenshots. I can edit the post with unflipped, or move it to a gallery if needed
 

JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
More on supporter belts and detachable pouches.
 

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StrappedMan

Jockstrap Fan
Wow! You have such an amazing collection. Just when I think you can’t possibly have more to show us you’ve posted something else. Really enjoyed the Defender “package.”
 

JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
Wow! You have such an amazing collection. Just when I think you can’t possibly have more to show us you’ve posted something else. Really enjoyed the Defender “package.”
Thanks - I'm glad you enjoyed them. I have always appreciated Defender's frank depiction of a real man wearing a jockstrap. They were made in Philadelphia, though I'm sorry to say that they are no longer in business.
 

StrappedMan

Jockstrap Fan
I’m surprised you’re able to find surviving examples of all these jocks. I guess it’s a good thing that lots of people never throw anything away.
 

Strapncap

Jockstrap Fan
Coach S03 - Ep20 Hayden Fox for Universal Jocks

A colorful selection of athletic supporters, and some jockstrap slingshot target practice.

The video upload is left right flipped, so are these screenshots. I can edit the post with unflipped, or move it to a gallery if needed.
Thank you for finding the show and sharing
 
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