Origin of the Collar.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 3, 20 January 1909, Page 5

Origin of the Collar.

It is now beyond doubt that Mr. Hannah Lord Montague was the inventor of the detachable linen collar. Hannah Lord was born in Canada, Columbia County, United States, in 1784. Iler hitsliand was a large man, scrupulously particular m matters of dress—even to the point of fastidiousness —and in those days, before the invention of the sewing machine, and when there were no public laundries, the making ami washing and ironing ot his shirts formed no small item in the work of the household. Mrs. Montague was resourceful, and in casting about for devices to lighten her household duties, she hit upon the idea of a detachable collar, which might be fastened to a neckband on her husband’s shirts, ami washed and ironed separately. In 1829, the Rev. Ebenezer Brown. a retired Methodist clergyman, who had settled in Troy, and started a small dry goods store, quick to take advantage of the popularity of the new separate collar. opened a small workshop in the rear of his store, where his wife ami daughters and one or two other women cut out with scissors, stitched by hand, and washed and ironed the collars, which ha disposed of by peddling. This was 111 reality the first collar shop.