The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18
HEROIC NAMES FOR ooLLARs.
Art. HistOry. Music. and About Everything
Else Exhausted by Manufacturer.

Else Exhausted by Manufacturer
Troy. n. V, April 17.-Whcn, in 1897, the
Rev. Ebenezer Brown. a Methodist preacher.
who had retired from tho ministry on account Of
physical disability and established n dry goods
store in this city, concluded that the sale OF
string collars. then generally worn by men.
would make a profitable branch Of his business,
he founded the industry which has made Troy
famous and is to-day Its mainstay. At that time
George Jones. later proprietor of the NeW
York Times. was Mr.. Browns chief clerk.
After the first batch OF string collars had boon
turned out by Mr.. Brown the styles began to
change and they have been changing with regu-
larity ever since. Each season In each year
brings its quota Of new shapes. Men who have
made 1t q life study vie with one another In pro-
ducing styles In wrist and neck wear which will
meet public approval and a ready sale. A name
is given to every new style. Just when the GUS
tom OF naming collars and cuffs began no one
seems to know. The Oldest manufacturer OF to-
day remember that the finding of suitable and
attractive names for each style was n trouble
some task when they were apprentices at tho
business. When there were few factories, and all
ofthem were In this city. 1t seldom occurred that
there was n clash as to the use OF u trademark.
But as the business increased. as factories
sprang up at other points, and as the public be.
came educated to buying collars and cuffs by
the name bestowed upon them In the factories.
A was important that there should be some sys-
tom. Five or six years ago. after great minds
had run in the snme channel innumcrable
times, each time with the result that collars or
cuffs Of widely different design and make had
the same or q very similar name. the manufac-
turers decided, to employ a registrar OF trade.
marks. AT that time II was estimated that
there had been 25O.O0 styles of collars and cuffs.
list of the names used BY his concern from tho
time OF the factOry's establishment. Most Of
the names were as dead" az the articles which
had borno them. When womcn's fashion plates
| decrecd standing tab collars and cuffs the list or
names swelled. All those new styles for women
| could not 20 unnamed, for confusion would
| surely result. The addition of women's collars
and cuffs therefore caused an increase OF nearly
100, 900 in tho number OF styles.
The registrars lists fill three bulky volumes
| and a fourth Is nearly half full. Twenty years
| ago the names of race horses were popular. At
the time of Maud SIS great, performance n col
lar of the standing kind, and of goodiy height,
which received tho name of the turf queen, had
an unprecedented sale. The names OF actors
were used up fast for mems styles. When the
ludicrously high collar. which met with high
favor during a short life, was In vogue tho
names of mountain peaks were rather pressed
Into service. The Shasta WAS ono OF the lofticst
One manufacturer brought the history OF New
England into use and his collars are called Paul
Revere. Ethan Allen, John Alden, &c. For
another big concern Cooper,s novels pro-
vided Indian names until, the source
was exhausted. Now the firm not only
makes collars. but makes names. which
sound like Indian names TO 1T them. The titles
OF operate and dramatic productions arc given
! " mems wear. TIL names OF actresses went 70