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Jock historian

JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
I would love to see the time line, evolution of the Bike line.
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
 

CoachBob

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.
 

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JSMike

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.
Dear Coach Bob,

These are really great. I have many jock ads, but not like these. Thanks so much for posting them. I would enjoy seeing more, should you be so inclined.

Regards, Bruce
 

Cupjock

Jockstrap Fan
JSMike, thanks very much. I also am fascinated with the history of the jockstrap in all of its forms. This is really great research, and needs to find a permanent home somewhere - Here, on a single landing page?
What do you say, jockstrapguy?
 

JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
JSMike, thanks very much. I also am fascinated with the history of the jockstrap in all of its forms. This is really great research, and needs to find a permanent home somewhere - Here, on a single landing page?
What do you say, jockstrapguy?
Cupjock - thank you for your kind words. I've been accumulating information for a number of years, and never found much opportunity to share it until this website. It may not be permanent (what is?) but it does get the images and history out to a lot of folks. I am really glad that you, and others, have the chance to see what I have come up with.

P.S. I've been having a busy period lately, but I next hope to post some material on the 1950s. Being the 'golden age' of the jock there is a lot to choose from.
 

JSNeil

Jockstrap Fan
JSMike, I read this entire thread, and my brain officially hurts from the tsunami of jockstrap history. Well written, well documented, profusely illustrated. Thank you for sharing with us!
 

JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
Thanks, JSNeil. Sorry for the brain pain. I should warn you that there is more to come. I've gotten behind, but I'm working on my next post for the 1950s.
 

CoachBob

Jockstrap Fan
In the 50's and 60's, back to school meant acquiring PE clothes, if they were not provided by the school. Certainly small town clothing, hardware and sporting goods stores sold PE necessities, but so did the national retailers. Local newspapers offered large display advertisements for gym shorts and often illustrations of jock straps. From left to right: SEARS (JC Higgins jocks were usually made by BIKE); JC PENNEY (Towncraft jocks) had stores in most every small town and were probably the largest supplier of PE clothes; WAL-MART frequently advertised sales on DUKE jockstraps during back to school sales. Even variety store W.T. Grant advertised socks, jocks shirts and shorts along with their pencils and Crayons.
 

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JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
Dear CoachBob - Thanks, these are really great! I will add them to my collection, and give you credit of course. I have very few newspaper ads, but I do remember them from my school days in the 1960s.
 

CoachBob

Jockstrap Fan
Mike, glad you like them. We might be the only two who do! I've got dozens more and a lot of school supply lists noting supporters and some even cups for PE classes. I'll post periodically so that I don't bore those with other interests. Bob.
 

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JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
Thanks Bob. I looked through my files, and found that JC Higgins has been around for quite a while. I'm attaching a page from the 1912 Sears Roebuck catalogue that includes their jock.
 

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JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
Dear Jock Fans - I am sorry for the long delay, but here is some of the material I have collected on jocks of the 1950s, a Golden Age. Military men (including my father) had returned home from the war, and had often been introduced to athletic supporters in the service. Physical education classes in public schools began to rise, and increasingly required boys to wear jocks. Photos and ads were more explicit then than they are now. Here's a sample:

History of the Jockstrap
The 1950s


A 1950s Johnson & Johnson ad has a photo of two baseball players, with text reading, “SELL THE SUPPORTERS WORN BY THE WORLD’S CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS.”
A 1950s drugstore display depicts three men over text reading, “Exercise Safely! Bauer & Black SUPPORTERS Protect you from Strains.”
In 1950 Boys’ Life ran 7 ads by The Bike Web Co. The February, March, April, May and September ads featured cartoon boy Billy Bike.
A 1950 ad for Johnson & Johnson V-Front Supporters depicted a baseball player next to a stylized jock, with text reading, “This “V” ends those split-second distractions.”
In 1950 Jantzen made an off-white jock with 4 tracer lines on waistband, 2 tracer lines on legstraps.
In 1951 the Bike Web Co. ran 5 ads in Boys’ Life with the slogan, “Play Safe wear BIKE Athletic Supporters.”
A 2-page Bike ad in 1952 depicts 8 types of jock; the right page shows other products, including 2 cups.
In 1952 the Bike Web Co. ran 8 ads in Boys’ Life, with the slogan, “More athletes have worn Bike Athletic Supporters than any other brand.”
A 1952 ad for The Chevalier “Health Supporter Belt” shows a man wearing a wide-band supporter with a “Detachable Pouch.” From Ronnie Sales, Inc., NY.
A January 1952 ad depicts a Trump V-Front jock from Johnson & Johnson. It reads, “V-FRONT comfort with long PERMOFLEX life!”
In 1953 the Bike Web Co. ran 6 ads in Boys’ Life.
In 1954 the Bike Web Co. ran 5 ads in Boys’ Life. The May ad shows a catcher and a runner sliding into home, and the text mentions “the protective cup supporter worn by the catcher” and the “light, but firm style worn by the runner.”
A 1954 Johnson & Johnson ad for the Faultless Athletic Supporter reads, “Sell the Supporters Worn by Champions.”
January and November 1954 Trump ads by Johnson & Johnson reads, “USE THE SUPPORTERS WORN BY CHAMPIONS.”
A November 1954 Bike Web Co. ad states, “BIKE Supporters stay elastic laundering after laundering.”
The 1955 Boy Scout Handbook for Boys carried a Bike Web Co. ad: “Scouts, Be Prepared! When you compete for these merit badges wear a SUPPORTER; Why wear a supporter? There are a couple of good reasons: 1. It protects you where you need it most. 2. It helps you fight fatigue. Ask any top athlete—he’ll tell you he wouldn’t play a minute without wearing a supporter.”
In 1955 the Bike Web Co. ran 5 ads in Boys’ Life. There are photos of a jock, sometimes a box as well, and text reading, “BIKE Athletic Supporters."
A January 1956 ad reads, “BIKE Supporters stay elastic laundering after laundering.” “BIKE supporter keeps its fit . . . Old-Style supporter needs a knot. . .” From “The Bike Web Company, Chicago, Illinois.”
In 1956 the Bike Web/Kendall Co. ran 4 ads in Boys’ Life. The May and June ads carry the quote, “When you play baseball, wear a good supporter,” with an endorsement of Dick Donovan, Chicago White Sox pitcher. The October ad uses the same format, reading, “When you play football, wear a good supporter,” with the endorsement of Charley Trippi, Asst. coach of the Chicago Cardinals.
The August 1956 issue of Boys’ Life carries a chance to win airline tickets to the Olympic Games in Australia. The ad reads, “LOOK for this Display in drug and sporting goods stores, where you buy your Johnson & Johnson Athletic Supporters. They give you protection with comfort in all sports. Worn by winning teams.”
The January 1957, 5th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook for Boys carries a Bike ad reading, “Scouts, Be Prepared! When you compete for these merit badges wear a SUPPORTER.”
In 1957 the Bike Web/Kendall Co. ran 6 ads in Boys’ Life. They all use the format of “When you play xball, wear a good supporter” and an endorsement (Paul Arizin of the Philadelphia Warriors, Jack Harshman of the Chicago White Sox, Ed Brown of the Chicago Bears).
In 1958 the Bike Web/Kendall Co. ran 3 ads in Boys’ Life, using the same format as in 1957. The February ad carried the endorsement of Cliff Hagan of the St. Louis Hawks.
The April and May 1959 issues of Boys’ Life carried a promotional ad by Johnson & Johnson. For sending in an end flap from any J&J Athletic Supporter along with 50 cents, you will receive 3 color prints of sports action by artist Russell Hoban.

The 1950s saw the following jocks (mostly courtesy of Allkink’s Jockstrap Locker Room):
All-Star Athletic Supporter for boys, of “heat resistant rubber, nylon stitched.” The box also reads, “Exercise Safely – Always Wear An Athletic Supporter.” From Frost Co., Shirley, MA.
Bard Sani Jock with flannel-lined pouch and plastic cover, for incontinence.
Bike No. 10, off-white;
Bauer & Black PAL, off-white with a rare double line of blue stitching at top of pouch, white label with blue and red lettering on waistband;
Bauer & Black No. 5, “worn to protect the delicate cords and muscles of the ‘vital zone’ against painful blows and strain,” off-white, white label with blue & red lettering on waistband;
Champion No. 81, narrow label with red lettering at top of pouch; Champion, off-white, 1 gold tracer line on waistband, narrow white label at top of pouch, from Champion Supporter Co., Cincinnati, OH;
Champion Model 88, swim jock, 1 gold tracer line on waistband, sold for $1.10 at Bursch Rexall Drugs, Henning, Minnesota;
Champion model 490-BF with 6” waistband, vertical fly, detachable pouch and leg straps, covered metal stays;
Champion Model 490-BF wide band abdominal supporter, vertical fly, removable pouch, metal stays in 6” waistband;
Dolphin swim jock from Shillington, PA, label on waistband depicts a dolphin;
J. B. Flaherty Company’s “Bub” Duribilknit No. 61, white label with green & red lettering on waistband which reads, “Genuine Surgical Elastic; Freshly Knitted Athletic Supporter; Will Outlast 3 Low Price Supports; The Worlds Best;”
J .B. Flaherty’s “Bub” Special swim jock, white label with read & green lettering;
J. B. Flaherty’s “Bub” Duribilknit No. 641 cup jock, white label with red & blue lettering on waistband, pouch closes with 2 metal snaps;
J. B. Flaherty’s Flarico No. 47 swim jock, white label with red and blue lettering on waistband;
J. B. Flaherty’s Flarico No. 110 Athletic Supporter, “Made With Formula 921 X Heat Resistant Rubber, Permoflex and Fleshelastic Understraps,” white label with black and red text on waistband;
Johnson & Johnson Coach, with a pouch of “all-webbing elastic for maximum support and protection”;
J & J Trump V-Front Athletic Supporter “used and endorsed by The World Champion New York Yankee Baseball Club;”
Wilson Preshrunk GRID Interlock Athletic Supporter, white label with red and blue text on waistband, from Wilson Sporting Goods, Chicago and New York;
Guelph Elastic Protex hockey jock from Ontario, Canada, off-white, blue tracer lines on waistband, gold label on front panel over pouch;
Wellinger & Dunn cup jock made in Toronto, Canada, off-white, white label on waistband, pouch closes with one metal snap.
 

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JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
More riches from the Golden Age of Jocks, the 1950s.
 

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JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
A last selection of jocks from the 1950s:
 

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Oldschoolbiketen

Jockstrap Fan
Dear Jock Fans - I am sorry for the long delay, but here is some of the material I have collected on jocks of the 1950s, a Golden Age. Military men (including my father) had returned home from the war, and had often been introduced to athletic supporters in the service. Physical education classes in public schools began to rise, and increasingly required boys to wear jocks. Photos and ads were more explicit then than they are now. Here's a sample:

History of the Jockstrap
The 1950s


A 1950s Johnson & Johnson ad has a photo of two baseball players, with text reading, “SELL THE SUPPORTERS WORN BY THE WORLD’S CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS.”
A 1950s drugstore display depicts three men over text reading, “Exercise Safely! Bauer & Black SUPPORTERS Protect you from Strains.”
In 1950 Boys’ Life ran 7 ads by The Bike Web Co. The February, March, April, May and September ads featured cartoon boy Billy Bike.
A 1950 ad for Johnson & Johnson V-Front Supporters depicted a baseball player next to a stylized jock, with text reading, “This “V” ends those split-second distractions.”
In 1950 Jantzen made an off-white jock with 4 tracer lines on waistband, 2 tracer lines on legstraps.
In 1951 the Bike Web Co. ran 5 ads in Boys’ Life with the slogan, “Play Safe wear BIKE Athletic Supporters.”
A 2-page Bike ad in 1952 depicts 8 types of jock; the right page shows other products, including 2 cups.
In 1952 the Bike Web Co. ran 8 ads in Boys’ Life, with the slogan, “More athletes have worn Bike Athletic Supporters than any other brand.”
A 1952 ad for The Chevalier “Health Supporter Belt” shows a man wearing a wide-band supporter with a “Detachable Pouch.” From Ronnie Sales, Inc., NY.
A January 1952 ad depicts a Trump V-Front jock from Johnson & Johnson. It reads, “V-FRONT comfort with long PERMOFLEX life!”
In 1953 the Bike Web Co. ran 6 ads in Boys’ Life.
In 1954 the Bike Web Co. ran 5 ads in Boys’ Life. The May ad shows a catcher and a runner sliding into home, and the text mentions “the protective cup supporter worn by the catcher” and the “light, but firm style worn by the runner.”
A 1954 Johnson & Johnson ad for the Faultless Athletic Supporter reads, “Sell the Supporters Worn by Champions.”
January and November 1954 Trump ads by Johnson & Johnson reads, “USE THE SUPPORTERS WORN BY CHAMPIONS.”
A November 1954 Bike Web Co. ad states, “BIKE Supporters stay elastic laundering after laundering.”
The 1955 Boy Scout Handbook for Boys carried a Bike Web Co. ad: “Scouts, Be Prepared! When you compete for these merit badges wear a SUPPORTER; Why wear a supporter? There are a couple of good reasons: 1. It protects you where you need it most. 2. It helps you fight fatigue. Ask any top athlete—he’ll tell you he wouldn’t play a minute without wearing a supporter.”
In 1955 the Bike Web Co. ran 5 ads in Boys’ Life. There are photos of a jock, sometimes a box as well, and text reading, “BIKE Athletic Supporters."
A January 1956 ad reads, “BIKE Supporters stay elastic laundering after laundering.” “BIKE supporter keeps its fit . . . Old-Style supporter needs a knot. . .” From “The Bike Web Company, Chicago, Illinois.”
In 1956 the Bike Web/Kendall Co. ran 4 ads in Boys’ Life. The May and June ads carry the quote, “When you play baseball, wear a good supporter,” with an endorsement of Dick Donovan, Chicago White Sox pitcher. The October ad uses the same format, reading, “When you play football, wear a good supporter,” with the endorsement of Charley Trippi, Asst. coach of the Chicago Cardinals.
The August 1956 issue of Boys’ Life carries a chance to win airline tickets to the Olympic Games in Australia. The ad reads, “LOOK for this Display in drug and sporting goods stores, where you buy your Johnson & Johnson Athletic Supporters. They give you protection with comfort in all sports. Worn by winning teams.”
The January 1957, 5th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook for Boys carries a Bike ad reading, “Scouts, Be Prepared! When you compete for these merit badges wear a SUPPORTER.”
In 1957 the Bike Web/Kendall Co. ran 6 ads in Boys’ Life. They all use the format of “When you play xball, wear a good supporter” and an endorsement (Paul Arizin of the Philadelphia Warriors, Jack Harshman of the Chicago White Sox, Ed Brown of the Chicago Bears).
In 1958 the Bike Web/Kendall Co. ran 3 ads in Boys’ Life, using the same format as in 1957. The February ad carried the endorsement of Cliff Hagan of the St. Louis Hawks.
The April and May 1959 issues of Boys’ Life carried a promotional ad by Johnson & Johnson. For sending in an end flap from any J&J Athletic Supporter along with 50 cents, you will receive 3 color prints of sports action by artist Russell Hoban.

The 1950s saw the following jocks (mostly courtesy of Allkink’s Jockstrap Locker Room):
All-Star Athletic Supporter for boys, of “heat resistant rubber, nylon stitched.” The box also reads, “Exercise Safely – Always Wear An Athletic Supporter.” From Frost Co., Shirley, MA.
Bard Sani Jock with flannel-lined pouch and plastic cover, for incontinence.
Bike No. 10, off-white;
Bauer & Black PAL, off-white with a rare double line of blue stitching at top of pouch, white label with blue and red lettering on waistband;
Bauer & Black No. 5, “worn to protect the delicate cords and muscles of the ‘vital zone’ against painful blows and strain,” off-white, white label with blue & red lettering on waistband;
Champion No. 81, narrow label with red lettering at top of pouch; Champion, off-white, 1 gold tracer line on waistband, narrow white label at top of pouch, from Champion Supporter Co., Cincinnati, OH;
Champion Model 88, swim jock, 1 gold tracer line on waistband, sold for $1.10 at Bursch Rexall Drugs, Henning, Minnesota;
Champion model 490-BF with 6” waistband, vertical fly, detachable pouch and leg straps, covered metal stays;
Champion Model 490-BF wide band abdominal supporter, vertical fly, removable pouch, metal stays in 6” waistband;
Dolphin swim jock from Shillington, PA, label on waistband depicts a dolphin;
J. B. Flaherty Company’s “Bub” Duribilknit No. 61, white label with green & red lettering on waistband which reads, “Genuine Surgical Elastic; Freshly Knitted Athletic Supporter; Will Outlast 3 Low Price Supports; The Worlds Best;”
J .B. Flaherty’s “Bub” Special swim jock, white label with read & green lettering;
J. B. Flaherty’s “Bub” Duribilknit No. 641 cup jock, white label with red & blue lettering on waistband, pouch closes with 2 metal snaps;
J. B. Flaherty’s Flarico No. 47 swim jock, white label with red and blue lettering on waistband;
J. B. Flaherty’s Flarico No. 110 Athletic Supporter, “Made With Formula 921 X Heat Resistant Rubber, Permoflex and Fleshelastic Understraps,” white label with black and red text on waistband;
Johnson & Johnson Coach, with a pouch of “all-webbing elastic for maximum support and protection”;
J & J Trump V-Front Athletic Supporter “used and endorsed by The World Champion New York Yankee Baseball Club;”
Wilson Preshrunk GRID Interlock Athletic Supporter, white label with red and blue text on waistband, from Wilson Sporting Goods, Chicago and New York;
Guelph Elastic Protex hockey jock from Ontario, Canada, off-white, blue tracer lines on waistband, gold label on front panel over pouch;
Wellinger & Dunn cup jock made in Toronto, Canada, off-white, white label on waistband, pouch closes with one metal snap.
I love the photo of Stan Musial. He is wearing Jockey Midway Briefs. Very early boxer briefs. I own a dozen pair, all made in the USA prior to 1990. I love American made jocks and underwear. Both a dieing breed.
 

CoachBob

Jockstrap Fan
A novel issue, but one which created a lot of discussion among the Physical Education teaching corps was whether cups should be a required part of the school PE uniform. Starting about the 1950's, about the time lawyers were starting to pursue liability cases for PE class related injuries. many school districts initiated some risk reduction measures such as removing climbing ropes, eliminated pyramid gymnastics and requiring jock cups and even mouth pieces for boys PE programs.

In the era when I taught, most PE instructors used common sense and required or suggested that cups be worn when contact sports were scheduled, but I was aware teachers or schools where cups were required in ALL PE classes, regardless of activity. It seemed that the ex-military PE instructors were more inclined to follow department uniform requirements, but the new PE teachers, still in their probationary year were the most strict.

While the cup requirement was mostly intended for high school age boys, I found a few old school supply lists documenting that even some junior high students had their "boy parts" protected during their physical education class experience.
 

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TominRichmond

Jockstrap Fan
I was introduced to Bike jocks in 7th grade gym class during the 1960s, and though it went underground for years, I have loved them since. Currently I am most interested in the history - when jocks began, and how they changed over the years. I have collected images of jocks, their boxes, and their ads, from the 19th century to the present. My start in this was Allkink's Jockstrap Lockerroom site by Tom Perdue, that I came across in the 1990s. Since then, I believe I have found the invention of the modern jock a decade before the legendary invention of Charles Bennett in 1874. Though I am only an amateur historian, I have tried to be careful about documentation, and I welcome questions about history.
I went to the U.S. Patent and Trademark gov web site maybe 10 years ago. I found an 1868? patent for an "athletic modesty girdle", which I had read was an article of contention for the City of Chicago baseball players. Not sure my search terms are *exactly* correct.
 

JSMike

Jockstrap Fan
As far as I know, there have never been any ads for jocks on TV. I recall in the 1970s-80s jocks were mentioned on M*A*S*H, and on Magnum PI. In 1993 an episode of "Grace Under Fire," Grace takes her son, Quentin, to buy his first cup supporter, and there is a funny scene of the male clerk, Russell, demonstrating how to put it on. More recently, in 2018, an ad for a laundry detergent depicts two boys dangling a jockstrap in front of the nose of their sleeping father. They hope he will wake up in disgust, but instead he seems to enjoy it. There was a Twitter storm of protest at this "dirty" commercial, but as one person put it, anyone who has raised boys knows this is the kind of thing they do.
 
D

Deleted member 963

Guest
Thanks John. I added the third paragraph from my short article, which clarifies Charles Bennett's role. I appreciate the opportunity to offer some otherwise unknown history of the jock.
Oh
 

Strapncap

Jockstrap Fan
As far as I know, there have never been any ads for jocks on TV. I recall in the 1970s-80s jocks were mentioned on M*A*S*H, and on Magnum PI. In 1993 an episode of "Grace Under Fire," Grace takes her son, Quentin, to buy his first cup supporter, and there is a funny scene of the male clerk, Russell, demonstrating how to put it on. More recently, in 2018, an ad for a laundry detergent depicts two boys dangling a jockstrap in front of the nose of their sleeping father. They hope he will wake up in disgust, but instead he seems to enjoy it. There was a Twitter storm of protest at this "dirty" commercial, but as one person put it, anyone who has raised boys knows this is the kind of thing they do.
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
 
D

Deleted member 1568

Guest
Fascinating - in the UK Litesome were THE jock makers - alas, no more: some of their ads featured coal miners wearing nothing else
 
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