Real Silk Mills - Thimbles and Stocking Mending Kits

1. REAL SILK MILLS (Established 1922) ADVERTISING Thimbles & Stocking mending kits

2. Real Silk Hosiery Mills Inc. was founded in 1922 by J.A. and L.L. Goodman in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The company ran knitting mills which manufactured hosiery, lingerie, and underwear. At its peak, the company's sales volume averaged more than one million dozen pairs of women's stockings a year.

4. Real Silk Hosiery Mills Inc. The Logo pin worn by the Representatives /Sales persons. © J Bockel

5. Real Silk Hosiery Mills was one of the first companies to take out full page adverts in magazines.

7. … . And the ‘Saturday Evening Post ’ These adverts featured sophisticated ladies , showing an acceptable length of leg.

9. … and this 1925 advert focused on a Halloween theme.

10. The style and layout of these adverts copy the outline of the Real Silk Mills logo and representatives’ pin.

15. Another innovative give-away. An advertising card with 17 braided, mending lengths, in 6 popular colours , together with an advertising thimble placed through an aperture in the card ( Patent pending) and a needle. © Barbara Hluboky 2007

16. Real Silk Hosiery Mills, Indianapolis - aluminium advertising thimble circa 1922 - 1930 © J Bockel 2007

18. Company profits declined again in the early 1940s as a result of the lessened need for silk during World War II, although the company was instrumental in the manufacturing of parachutes for bombs as well as hosiery for both male and female military personnel.

19. Die-Cut, leg shaped, advertising Silk thread winders. The colours are Atmosphere, Champagne, Zinc Gray & Indian Skin .

21. Information on the Real Silk Hosiery Mills Company was taken from Company Archives that are available on the internet as well as adverts from the Ladies Home Journal circa 1925, together with valuable contributions from Thimble Collectors Barbara Hluboky (VA), Mary Craft.(TX) & Kit Froebel (TX) --%-- Compiled by Jenny Scharff Bockel, Johannesburg, South Africa, October 2007 and updated May 2008. Not for profit. Purely for the enjoyment and education of thimble and sewing tool collectors everywhere. [email_address] The End