item details
NameUnderpants
ProductionCanterbury of New Zealand Ltd; manufacturer(s); 1950s; Christchurch
Classificationunderwear
Materialsrubber, wool, fibre, cotton, synthetic fibre, braid
Materials SummarySynthetic woollen fibre underpants with cotton thread stitching, cotton material border of the 'Y', fibre label and elasticated braid waistband
DimensionsOverall: 380mm (width), 335mm (length)
Registration NumberGH016215
Credit lineGift of Bridget Daldy, 2008
Overview
This pair of men's underwear is an excellent example of the classic 'Jockeys' worn by generations of New Zealand men since the mid-1930s.
Jockey briefs were invented by Arthur Kneibler who designed underwear for the American firm, Coopers. The first Jockey Y-fronts went on sale in America in 1935 and were an instant hit, and exported to the world. They were the first male underwear to offer adequate support. Kneibler had adapted the jock-strap, and they became known colloquially as 'Y-fronts'.
In 1940, Canterbury firm Lane Walker Rudkin successfully won a licence to manufacture the new Jockey Y-front range of men's underwear from America. New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world to manufacture this iconic international brand.
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