Researched by Morgan Ploch | July 14, 2024
While menstrual products and feminine hygiene were taboo, the production of sanitary belts was as unexceptional as making socks. Every company that produced women’s stockings, bras, or other undergarments also made sanitary belts. Grants was a large chain of mass merchandise stores in Northeastern America.
- Materials: elastic, safety pins
- Timeframe: 1950s
- Sold for: .21 – .29
- Inventor(s): Often credited to Mary Kenner, but at least 5 earlier US patents were filed and a magazine ad for Kotex sanitary belt was published a year before her patent.
- Item Location: N/A
- Credit: Kim Rosas
- Category: sanitary belts, accessories
Sold by: Grants
A Facebook page reminiscing the company: Known for Values: Remembering the W.T. Grant Company | Facebook
Used with: sanitary napkins
Sanitary belts were used to hold sanitary napkins in place before the invention of adhesive-backed pads. This belt latched onto the pad which would have two long pieces at each edge.
