Who remembers or has "pant" or "Levi" stretchers?

[Blackcloud2]

During some recent home construction, we found a few long-forgotten specimens that I had stashed behind a bedroom closet chest-of-drawers. I remember that my mom (as did most moms in my area) would take our Levis and much later, Lee or Wrangler jeans out to hang on the clothes-line, which were stretched out with these thin metal frames. I mentioned this device and drying practice to some folks at work and as is becoming more and more common, they looked at me like I had just arrived from Mars. Am I a Martian?

[bustedknee]

One of my chores was to put the stretchers down the pant legs.

One day, I made the mistake of calling them "the lazy persons ironing board."

I got the tongue lashing of a lifetime from my mother.

[Lance39]

I think Bustedknee is right: they were more intended for shaping/smoothing than for stretching.

[1 old 0311]

Man I DO remember those. It was a LONG time ago, but hell. I'am old.

[bruce]

I remember the metal frames that my mother put in the legs of our jeans to make them dry straight and flat. We lived outside of Phoenix City, Ala. on a 10 acre piece of land. The house was wood w/ asbestos shingles. My mother would hang them on the cloths line down the hill below the house. I can remember helping her carry the basket of cloths. It took me and my identical-twin brother to do the job. Precious memories.

[Heathen]

I too remember the pant stretchers. There's probably a couple sets of them in my father's house even now. These came out about the same time as the iron on denim patches that Mom attached over worn out knees of the jeans. Funny how those worn out, un-repaired jeans would be considered a fashion item now.

[RDLouks]

Not only do I remember the "Pants Stretchers" but I also remember Wringer Washers, my Mother used one for years. When my Father finally got tired of repairing my Mothers wringer washer he bought her one of the first "Automatic Washers". (No Dryer that was a waste of money) It had to be bolted down to the concrete floor in the basement, or it would dance across the floor until it unplugged itself. Of course it had the "Suds Saver" Option, basically it pumped the wash water into one side of the Concrete Laundry Tub, finished the load. When you started another load it would then draw the soapy water back into the washer.

[Blackcloud2]

RDLouks, that brings up an interesting trivia point when I was working in High School and College as a salesman at the Yuma Western Auto store, the most sold appliance was the basic wash tub with manual crank wringer. We sold most of them into Mexico to legal immigrants (Green Cards), something I'd not thought of in many years! I've often times wished for that old fashioned wringer when washing the car.

[RDLouks]

RDLouks, that brings up an interesting trivia point when I was working in High School and College as a salesman at the Yuma Western Auto store, the most sold appliance was the basic wash tub with manual crank wringer. We sold most of them into Mexico to legal immigrants (Green Cards), something I'd not thought of in many years! I've often times wished for that old fashioned wringer when washing the car.

Here you go BC2: Found a bunch on E-Bay.

[Blackcloud2]

Here you go BC2: Found a bunch on E-Bay.

Nice, and thanks man! However, I just showed it to mama telling her I've been internet shopping for her upcoming wedding anniversary gift and oddly enough she's not as nostalgically pleased as me...probably angry that I spoiled the surprise. Oh well, this isn't my first marriage error, I'll make it up with a new vacuum cleaner or steamer-iron, that'll cheer her up! You just have to know how to handle these gals, they can be sensitive ....