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Jock historian

jacquestrap

Ohio Jockstrap Fan
I thought the University model was dubbed the Bike 11.
The waistband was much denser, lasted longer and had less of a tendency to fold over.
I had a couple of them and they were great!
 

JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
JSMike and Coach Bob,

Have you ever come across this all-nylon Bike with a 2-1/4" waistband instead of the 1" waistband on the No. 58 and No. 59 swimmers? The label doesn't show a model number, and the only number identificationi on the box is "Code No. 1089".

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I did not find a model number, but I am attaching a 1953 ad from Scholastic Coach, and another view of the Bike label. JS Mike
 

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JSMike

Jockstrap Fan

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Elasticwrap

Jockstrap Fan
Remember that there was never any entity called "Bike Athletic Company." "Bike Athletic" was simply the name of a product line, first used by the Kendall Company, and later used by other groups that took over the manufacture of the jocks. Here's the timeline I have compiled:

Bike

The 1889 Catalogue of Sharp & Smith lists suspensory bandages from various makers, including S&S's "Cotton Suspensory No. 5."

The July 8 and July 22,1898 issues of L. A. W. Bulletin and Good Roads carried ads for The Bike Jockey Strap Suspensory, Sharp & Smith, Chicago.

The Aug. 5, Aug. 19, Sept. 2, and Sept. 16, 1898 issues of L. A. W. Bulletin and Good Roads carried ads for the Bike Jockey Strap Suspensory, sold by Sharp & Smith, 73 Randolph St., Chicago.

The Aug. 1899 issue of L. A. W. Bulletin and Good Roads carried an ad for The Bike Jockey Strap Suspensory, Sharp & Smith, 92 Wabash Av., Chicago.

The September 1899 issue of Elliott's Magazine carried an ad for The Bike Jockey Strap Suspensory, sold by Sharp & Smith, 92 Wabash Av., Chicago.

The Oct., Nov. and Dec. 1899 issues of L. A. W. Bulletin and Good Roads carried ads for the Bike Jockey Strap Suspensory, Sharp & Smith, 92 Wabash Ave., Chicago.

The June, July, August, October, and November 1900 issues of The L. A. W. Magazine carried ads for the Bike Jockey Strap Suspensory, sold by Sharp & Smith, 92 Wabash Ave., Chicago.

The 1901/02 Wright & Ditson Fine Athletic Goods catalog carried an ad for the Bike Jockey Strap Suspensory No. 5.

The 1906 Spalding catalog carried an ad for the Bike Jockey Strap Suspensory No. 5.

The 1907/08 Spalding's Official Basket Ball Guide carried an ad for the No. 5 "Bike" Supporter.

On December 15, 1909 Sharp & Smith filed a suit, reported on in the Federal Reporter, for "infringement of patent No. 594,673 for a combined jock-strap and suspensory issued to Charles F. Bennett November 30, 1897."

The 1914 Spalding catalog carried an ad for the No. 5 Bike Jockey Strap Suspensory.

In 1916 rights for two patents for jockstrap designs by Charles Bennett were assigned to Sharp and Smith.

The 1916 Schoverling, Daly & Gales catalog carried an ad for the Bike Jock Strap and the Bike "Combination" Supporter.

The 1917 Spalding catalog carried an ad for "Bike" Elastic Supporters, the Original "Bike" No. 5 (Pat. Nov. 30, 1887 [sic]) and the Improved "Bike" No. 7.

The Bike Web Manufacturing Company was founded in 1919. [Per private communication from Elisabeth McGregor, Curator/Archivist, Norfolk Charitable Trust Archives and Collections]

The 1920 Sears catalog carried an ad for the Genuine "Bike" Suspensory and Strap, the Bike Combination Supporter, and the Formal "Bike" Supporter.

The 1920 Spalding catalog carried an ad for "Bike" Elastic Supporters, including the No. 5 Original "Bike."

The Athletic Journal in 1922 and '23 carried many ads for the "Bennett No. 5 Supporter," and mention C. F. Bennett, patentee of the All Elastic Jockey Strap.

The 1923 Chicago City Directory carried the following listing:

BIKE WEB MFG COMPANY,
Dana E Morrison Pres, Fred
D. Coambs, V-Pres-Treas, Mfrs
Elastic Webbing, Surgical and
Athletic Bandages, Etc,
4113-4125 E Ravenswood av


The 1923 Schoverling, Daly & Gales catalog carried an ad for the Bike Jock Strap, the Bike "Combination" Supporter, and the "Bike" Pink Elastic Professional Supporter.

The 1927 Sears catalog carried an ad for the "Bike No. 55 Elastic Supporter, the "Bike" No. 77 (?) Elastic Supporter, and the "Bike" Wide Waist Supporter.

The 1928/29 Chicago City Directory carried the following listing on page 554:

Bike-Web Mfg Co Dana E Morrison pres Fred D
Coombs vpres-treas knit goods 4115 Ravens-
wood av

The Classified Business Directory at the back carried the following listing:

KNIT GOODS - MFRS
Bike-Web Mfg Co 4115-21 Rvnswd av

In May 1928 Boys' Life magazine carried an ad for Blue Ribbon Athletic Supporters, the No. 106 Tux supporter with a 1" waistband "for everyday wear," and the No. 102 (?) Star supporter with a 3" waistband, by the Bennett-Landon Web Co., Inc. on Oakley Ave., Chicago.

In August 1928 Boys' Life magazine carried an ad for Blue Ribbon Athletic Supporters, the Tux and the Star, by Bennett-Landon Web Co., Inc. on N. Oakley Ave., Chicago.

A 1920s box for the BLW Jockey Strap states, "'The Best Jockey Strap,' No. 5 Blue Ribbon Supporter."

In 1929 the Bike Web Manufacturing Co. of South Bend, Indiana, is acquired by the Kendall Co. of Walpole, MA (from a 1953 address by Henry P. Kendall).

A report ca. 1950 says that Bike at the time of purchase in 1929 was "well established as a manufacturer of athletic supporters and other products made of rubber-and-cotton webbing." Chicago became the headquarters of the Bauer and Black Surgical Dressing Division, which included "the Bauer and Black plant at Chicago, the Bike Web Manufacturing Company at South Bend, Indiana" plus Kendall Ltd. in Toronto, Burson Knitting Co. in Rockford, IL, and later plants in Cuba and Mexico. [Per private communication from Elisabeth McGregor, Curator/Archivist, Norfolk Charitable Trust Archives and Collections]

The 1929 Directory for South Bend, Indiana carries the following listing:

Bike Web Manufacturing Co., Division Kendall Co. of Boston, MA
Mfrs of Elastic Webbing, Kenneth Llewellyn Mngr,
3802 W. Sample, So. Bend, IN Tel 3-6157

[Per private communication from Kristen Madden, Archives Manager, Center for History, South Bend, IN]

1930-32 Bike Web Manufacturing Co.
2500 S. Dearborn St., Chicago

1933-34 Bike Web Manufacturing Co.
41 West 25th St., Chicago
104 E. 25th St., NY

1935-41 Bike Web Manufacturing Co.
41 West 25th St., Chicago

1939 Blue Ribbon Athletic Supporter from Bennett-Landon Web Co., Inc.,
Manufacturers of Athletic Elastic and Surgical Elastic Supporters,
2430-38 North Oakley Avenue, Chicago

1939-43 Dana Morrison, President of Bike Web Manufacturing Co.

1945-47 Bike Web Co.
41 West 25th St., Chicago

1947 Kendall builds a plant in Mexico City, Mexico

1948-50 Bike Web Co.
2500 S. Dearborn St., Chicago

1950 Kendall builds a plant in Toronto, Canada

1952-56 Bike Web Co.
309 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago

mid-1950s Red tracer lines added to waistband

1956-58 Bike Web Co., Division of the Kendall Co.

1958-59 Kendall Co., Bike Web Sales Division

1960-64 Kendall Co., Bike Sales Division

1963 Package uses broad orange-yellow-orange bands, and a blue box with white print

1965-70 Kendall, Bike Athletic Products Division

1971 Kendall Co. acquired by Southern Athletic:
Bike Athletic Products, Division of Southern Athletic Inc.

1973 Kendall and Southern Athletic acquired by Colgate-Palmolive Co. and changes name to Bike Athletic Co.;
Begins making the No. 11 jock

1976 Bike moves production to Knoxville, TN

1976-83 P.O. Box 666, Knoxville, TN

1980 Bike Athletic Products, Division of Southern Athletic Inc.,
Knoxville, TN

1980-83 Bike Athletic Co., Knoxville, TN

1983 (84?) Bike moves production to Mexico and the Dominican Republic

1986 Colgate sells Bike to Kazmaier Assoc.

1990 Purchase: Bike Cup Supporter
Bike Athletic Co., Knoxville, TN
Made in USA

1992 Bike makes its 300-millionth jockstrap

1995-97 Purchases:
Bike Athletic Co., Knoxville, TN
Made in USA

2003 Bike is acquired by Russell Athletic Co.
Purchase:
Bike Athletic Co., Knoxville, TN
Made in Macau

2005 Bike makes its 350-millionth jockstrap

2006 Bike Athletic is a subsidiary of Russell Corp.

2009, '11 Purchases
Bike Athletic, A Division of the Russell Corp.
Alexander City, AL
Made in China

2011-12 Purchases:
Bike Athletic, A Division of Russell Brands, LLC
Bowling Green, KY
Made in China
Do you know when Bike was assembling in Jamaica?
 

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Jocked_Jim

Jockstrap Fan
My old Bike 11, which, sadly, I no longer possess. As can be seen, a lot of time, effort and seasoning went into this scrotum sling. I seem to recall these were aka The University.
 

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BillyC

If not commando, then jocked.
My old Bike 11, which, sadly, I no longer possess. As can be seen, a lot of time, effort and seasoning went into this scrotum sling. I seem to recall these were aka The University.
How did you let that gem get away? Hopefully as a VERY worthwhile trade. 😈🐷
 

Bike57

Jockstrap Fan

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Cupjock

Jockstrap Fan
View attachment 119523View attachment 119524
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Found this listing on ebay. It looks like something @CoachBob might have seen before although it's from the 40's. I know he has mentioned the commisions were bad on jockstraps and after seeing the prices here I can see why.
I bought this. I'll post clear pics of every page after it arrives so that all may share the info.
 

n2jocks

Jockstrap Fan
As somewhat of a "closet jockstrap historian" I certainly appreciate this thread. Great research on BIKE. Now that it appears that thethe ALLKINK website has been taken down, I would hope that John (upon his medical recovery) could get with Joe and see if Tom Perdue's fantastic jockstrap history archive could be acquired. I have accumulated quite a few school supply lists noting the PE jockstrap requirements as part of my prior career. I have also prowled around the internet and have downloaded several hundred back-to-school advertisements mentioning and illustrating the obligatory athletic supporter requirement for boys PE classes. I attach a few advertisements to nurture your interests. Keep in mind that in some school districts, students dressed out for PE class starting in grade school. Note the attached PE uniform list for 4th graders (age 9) in a school district in Northern Illinois. Also note the advertisement for jockstraps for 20" waists. These are not for high school boys, guys. If there is interest in this kind of stuff, let me know and I'll post more. BTW: I suspect the 15 cent BIKE jocks are already sold out. Sorry. Bob.
Tom Perdue did close down his Allkink's Jockstrap Locker Room back in the 2000's. But a few guys did resurrect it and it is on line today. It does have his archives as well.
 

Cupjock

Jockstrap Fan
FB23D09E-09B2-489C-A92B-8854FDEC70CB.jpeg
 

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Cups rule

Jockstrap Fan
History of the Jockstrap

The 1920s


The 1920 Kelley-How-Thomson Company of Duluth catalog carried four kinds of Athletic Supporters, including one “Made on the Pfister Model.”

The December 1920 issue of Outing magazine carried ads for the Mizpah Supporter No. 44 and the Sanito Suspensory from The Walter F. Ware Company of Philadelphia.

A 1921 photo of basketball star Charles “Chuck” Taylor shows the waistband of a jock above his shorts. (AllKink)

The YMCA magazine, Association Men, carried ads for the Mizpah Jock No. 44 from Walter F. Ware Company of Philadelphia, from 1921 through 1923.

A circa 1922 box for the Johnson & Johnson (of New Brunswick, NJ) “Suspensory Bandage” states: “Should be worn by all men for Comfort, Health and Cleanliness.” (AllKink)

A 1922 ad read, “Mizpah No. 44 Supporter: Gives you a feeling of real comfort and the assurance of perfect protection while exercising or playing games of any kind. All elastic. Perfect fit. Will not chafe. Perfect pouch. Patented opening in front. May be boiled to cleanse.” There is a drawing of the supporter. It was sold by The Walter F. Ware Co. of Philadelphia, PA for 75 cents. This ad appeared in the A&E documentary “Unmentionables: A Brief History.” (AllKink)

The March 1922 issue of Hunter-Trader-Trapper carried an ad for the Mizpah Jock No. 44 from Walter Ware of Philadelphia.

A March 1922 ad for a Meyers Manufacturing Co. suspensory read, “You Can Tramp All Day: You can do the hardest work or play without strain, chafing or pinching if you wear a Separate Sack Suspensory. The S.S.S. has no irritating leg straps, no oppressive band on the sac, no scratching metal slides. It is made just as nature intended . . .. With the S.S.S. you always have a clean suspensory every morning. Each outfit has two sacks, you can clip one fast to the supporting straps while the other sack is cleaned.” There is a drawing of the suspensory. The cost was $1.50. (AllKink)

The 1922 and 1927 Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. catalogs carried Athletic Supports and Suspensories.

A 1923 Baker, Hamilton & Pacific Company catalog carried Abdominal Guards of aluminum, and Jock Straps.

In 1924 P. Goldsmith Sons Co., Athletic Goods Manufacturers of Cincinnati published their Goldsmith Guaranteed Foot Ball Equipment catalog. It includes a detailed drawing of the No. 257 Athletic Supporter with an “aluminum form fitting guard inserted in a jersey pouch.” The drawing states, “Patented June 27, 1922.”

A 1924-25 House Hasson Hardware Co. catalog includes a page of baseball equipment, including two Reach “Jock Straps.”

In 1926 James Philip “Foulproof” Taylor of Brooklyn, NY developed an aluminum cup for boxers. He advertised the Taylor Foulproof Cup by inviting men to hit him in the groin while wearing his product. He was invited by the NY State Athletic Commission to demonstrate his device in June of 1930. It became popular, but was imitated by others who reaped the profits. Taylor died around 1970.

The 1927 Honeyman Hardware Company catalog carried Reach Supporters and Jock Straps, metal cups, Bike jock straps, Blue Ribbon Jock Straps, and Pfister’s Supporters.

An August 27, 1927 full page ad in The Saturday Evening Post for the Bauer & Black Pal (for safety in sports) and O-P-C (for everyday wear) Athletic Supporters reads, “Only a man who has worn one can understand that ‘neat, fully dressed feeling’ which one get from wearing an athletic supporter. . . College athletes today are required to wear an athletic supporter even for the mildest sports. But the exertions of the office and workshop, when multiplied over the day, are frequently more severe than those of the athletic field.” The top of the ad depicts three fully-dressed businessmen. At the bottom are depictions of the 2 boxes.

The 1927 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogue sold six kinds of jocks: “The “Bike” No. 55 Elastic Supporter: Made of fine elastic with attractive woven stripe. V seam front allows greater elasticity (34 cents);” “The “Bike” No. 77 Elastic Supporter: Has soft mercerized mesh, elastic front, 3-inch waistband, 2-in. leg band of fine quality elastic. (48 cents);” “The “Bike” Wide Waist Supporter: Has 7-inch mercerized special weave waistband and 3-in. leg bands. Excellent supporter, abdominal brace is desirable (62 cents);” “The Supporter and Protector for Basket Ball, Football and Baseball: 3-in. elastic abdominal elastic band and two 3-in. elastic leg bands. Jersey knit pouch contains a light aluminum guard ($1.89); two “Athletic Elastic Supporters”: “Improved Chicago Snap Front: Can be put on without removal of garments. Snap fasteners for securing sack and waistband opening. Elastic web waistband and understraps; open mesh sanitary cotton and linen front. May be washed in warm water without injury” (79 cents); and “The Strap Supporter: Recommended for athletes and swimmers. Light, cool and comfortable. Fits well, no buckles or narrow bands to cause discomfort. Made of good quality elastic webbing” (39 cents). This catalogue also featured 4 kinds of Suspensories.

The 1927 Supplee-Biddle Hardware Company of Philadelphia catalog carried “A Full Line of Elastic Bandages and Supporters.”

The 1927 Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Company catalog carried Reach Supporters, Belknap’s Supporters, and Bike Supporters.

The 1928 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue sold “Elastic Supporters: Belt band six inches wide, additional support over the abdomen” (55 cents) and “belt band three inches wide” (39 cents). It also featured “Supporter Shirts: Combined shirt and supporter for players. Permits absolute freedom. Can be used as bathing shirt. Crotch strap is adjustable and prevents shirt from pulling out of trunks. This is one of our great bargains. Shirt will launder easily” (43 cents).

In 1928 Boys’ Life carried two ads (one in May, one in August) for the Blue Ribbon Athletic Supporter, from the Bennett-Landon Web Co. Text reads, “PLAY SAFE; No well informed man attempts any sport or pastime without the protection and comfort afforded by an athletic supporter. So comfortable are Blue Ribbon supporters that thoughtful men are wearing them every day . . . All elastic—no buckles, buttons, nor tapes to tie—just slip on.” Both ads include a “BLW” logo. A 1920s box for the Blue Ribbon supporter carries the words, “Jockey Strap” next to the BLW logo.

Also in 1928 Boys’ Life carried ads for the Pal Athletic Supporter by Bauer & Black of Chicago (in May, June, July, August and September).

The January 5, 1929 Spalding Athletic Goods catalog carried the following: Elastic Supporter – Particularly for wrestlers; Supporter and Abdomen Protector (with cup); Aluminum Supporter - Plain cup; Aluminum Cup Supporter; “Mike Murphy” Athletic Supporter; “Bike” Elastic Supporter; Elastic Supporter; “Rugby” Elastic no buckles; No. 9; Narrow waist band; “Bike” Elastic Supporter; Morton Style Supporter – Best Canton flannel; Aluminum Abdomen Protector; and Spalding Swimming Supporter. There are drawings of all these supporters and cups. (AllKink)

In 1929 Bauer & Black (a Division of the Kendall Co.) ran ads for the Pal Athletic Supporter in 4 issues of Boys’ Life (April, June, August, September): a slogan at the top; a drawing of a single athlete over the words, “Pal Athletic Supporter;” texts read, “Feel safer. Free from the instinctive fear of injuring delicate cords;” “Knit of fine wool over elastic threads;” “At all drug stores . . . one dollar;” “Perhaps some of you think that an athletic supporter is needed only by grown men, but that’s not true. It’s just as important for boys:” Bauer & Black also ran ads in Popular Science magazine (in July and August).

The 1920s saw the manufacture of a jockstrap by the W. H. Brine Company of Boston.

A 1920s photo shows W. B. Hobert posing in a jockstrap and Roman sandals.

The 1920s also saw the marketing of the “Selzwel Elastic Athletic Supporter: Made of Finest Elastic Material to Conform to Your Person” by Selzwel Products Co., NY, NY. (AllKink)

In the 1920s Bauer & Black of Chicago marketed the Thor Suspensory.
Why they make leg straps thin nowadays compared to the 1920s
 
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