DUPRS_0011 CH. Guyot Suspender Adjustors, Clasps and Catches

DUPRS_0011 CH. Guyot Suspender Adjustors, Clasps and Catches

Metal suspender adjusters, clasps and catches

Metal suspender adjusters, clasps and catches. "CH. Guyot" was stamped on the reverse side of some of the metal adjusters.

The adjusters, clasps and catches form the metal parts of men's suspender straps manufactured between 1907 and 1925 based on advertisements in the New York Times.

Selective Surface Collection, West Stanley Park, Historic Chatham Township, New Jersey

Drew University, Department of Anthropology, Drew University Passaic River Survey (DUPRS)

Estimated Manufacture early 20th century based on advertisements in the New York Times

Maria Masucci

Drew University, Department of Anthropology, Drew University Passaic River Survey (DUPRS)

CH. Guyot had factories in Germany, France and possibly Philadelphia. A 1907 advertisement from Ostheimer Bros. 1001 Chestnut St. Philadelphia pictures "Genuine Guyot Suspenders" which suggests these were being sold in Philadelphia but may not have been manufactured there.

Metal

C.H. Guyot suspender clasps

Selling at 60 cents a pair in 1907 (New York Times advertisement) the suspenders with these clasps were advertised as a European style for gentlemen and were priced quite high for the era as a luxury product. The brand had many French and German advertisements and only a few advertisements had photos in the records of the New York Public Library. The advertisements appear to be targeted to upperclass men shown fencing and in pursuits associated with the wealthier class.

Ostheimer Bros in Philadelphia and New York figure in advertisements as distributors of the suspenders and an emphasis is on "Genuine Guyot Suspenders". There were issues about imitations and therefore one had to look for the CH Guyot and stars stamped on the metal pieces.

Suspenders with CH Guyot adjuster clasps like those found in Chatham are in the Webb Cook Hayes Collection at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums Catalog #1934.236.12. They are listed as associated with WWI.
https://rbhayes.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/0D5368BA-68FE-4238-A6F8-476103406830

The significance of these data and objects for the Chatham Township site is that it provides additional chronological placement as well as provides information on what was being produced and manufactured at the Stanley Mill which was located in the area of the site where these artifacts are found. Similar artifacts are visible across the surface of the western mill area and in the same area where remnants of felt are found along with buttons, bricks and metal machine pieces.

The question is why are there such a large number of these suspender adjusters and associated suspender pieces found at the site. Was there men's clothing being manufactured at the mill? Since these are associated with upper class men it is unlikely they are the result of workmen's clothing. This also would not explain the high number of examples present at the site.