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.