Men's Detachable Collars, Fashion of the Day
A continuum of the story:
"An Old Chest and it's Treasures" |
The story continues for the Old Trunk found on the Old Orcutt Farm in the Town of Chemung, NY. At the time I wrote the story on the trunk, I had removed several items that were in dire need of cleaning, and tucked them away until I found the time to carefully wash, dry, iron and starch them. Well, what better time than during the Pandemic isolation to complete jobs that were waiting in the queue, as I call it. The first of two jobs was a collection of stand up detachable collars. I don't know much about them but it appears they became fashionable before the Civil War, 1860's era and stayed in fashion in various shapes and sizes through the Victorian era into the 1920's. The other collection will be added shortly.
There were 10 collars in the trunk and some in remarkable condition, while others were slightly stained and tattered, no doubt the result of the little mice that shared space in the trunk for years.
If you read the story on the Trunk in Historical Echoes, "An Old Chest and it's Treasurers", you will remember the mystery man, with the initials on the trunk, E.C. We decided E.C. was Elijah Converse, Esq. from Titusville, cousin to the Orcutt Family. At first I thought the stamp on the back of a few of the collars was a manufacturers stamp. Only after looking closer did I realize the name on the back of the collars was none other than, Elijah Converse. Since the letters were written in 1866 I would have to assume that the style of the collars would have to reflect the earlier styles. I'll let you decide for yourself. I never knew there were so many different styles, shapes and sizes! I've included photos of the collars from the trunk along with charts with some of the years and styles.
- Mary Ellen Kunst
There were 10 collars in the trunk and some in remarkable condition, while others were slightly stained and tattered, no doubt the result of the little mice that shared space in the trunk for years.
If you read the story on the Trunk in Historical Echoes, "An Old Chest and it's Treasurers", you will remember the mystery man, with the initials on the trunk, E.C. We decided E.C. was Elijah Converse, Esq. from Titusville, cousin to the Orcutt Family. At first I thought the stamp on the back of a few of the collars was a manufacturers stamp. Only after looking closer did I realize the name on the back of the collars was none other than, Elijah Converse. Since the letters were written in 1866 I would have to assume that the style of the collars would have to reflect the earlier styles. I'll let you decide for yourself. I never knew there were so many different styles, shapes and sizes! I've included photos of the collars from the trunk along with charts with some of the years and styles.
- Mary Ellen Kunst
Photos of the old collar collection found in the trunk.