Height x Width: 38 x 28 1/2 in. (96.52 x 72.39 cm) Weight: 0.6 lb.
Type:
Employee Gear
Date:
c. 1930-1940
Description:
Sturdy work aprons were useful in different postal crafts for keeping clothes clean and holding tools. Postal clerks donned aprons, although there is no evidence of one standard apron. Union publications from the early twentieth century show advertisements for aprons and mention their use.
The Hercules brand name first appeared on a boiler in the spring 1908 Sears catalog. Over the next 40 years, Hercules became one of Sears' most widely used brand names and was applied to products such as work clothing, appliances, and even insurance. The two products most closely tied to the Hercules name were heavy-duty coveralls and home heating systems. The coveralls apparently matched the strength of their mythical namesake, as Sears offered a lifetime guarantee on them.
Sears sold Hercules work clothes for boys and women and offered a complete line of Hercules uniforms. During World War II, many women working at defense plants wore Hercules work clothes.
Hercules' last appearance in the Sears catalog was a cotton bandana sold in the fall/winter 1964-1965 catalog.
References:
"The Union Postal Clerk," August 1909, vol. V, p. 23.
