Chart, The Newman - Berlei Type Indicator, cardboard / plastic / metal, Berlei Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia / I Newman & Sons, Inc, New York, New York, USA, c. 1930

American version of The Berlei Type Indicator which Berlei developed in association with the US retailer, I Newman & Sons, Inc, which had stores in New York, Boston, Chicago and New Haven. The indicator was patented on 31 December 1929.

The chart was designed to be hung on a wall of a corsetiere and approximated the shape of the female torso. It was predominantly black in colour with a khaki green border and headed, "The/NEWMAN - BERLEI/Type Indicator". It enabled a fitter to determine the client's precise bust, waist and hip measurements so that she could be fitted with a foundation garment. The chart featured a moveable disc for indicating bust measurement and a moveable pointer for indicating waist measurement. Hip measurement sizes were printed on the border surrounding the moveable disc. An instruction sheet with illustrations was pasted onto the back of the chart and is headed, "How to Use The NEWMAN - BERLEI Type Indicator".

Overall the chart is very similar to P3645-28/2, Berlei's first version of The Berlei Type Indicator, with some slight variations. The names for the five body types vary slightly, in this case "Type L.H (Large Hip) Type S.B. (Sway Back) Type L.A. (Large Abdomen) Type A (Average) and Type S.B.W. (Short Below Waist)", as do the colours for the silhouettes and corresponding areas on the moveable disc. They are pink (Large Hip), green (Sway Back), yellow (Large Abdomen), orange (Average) and grey (Short Below Waist). On the instructions sheet it also states that clients would need to consult the P.N. Fitting Guide.

Made: Berlei Hestia Ltd; Sydney; 1930

The number "0050" stamped on the top of the back of the item, and the word "Inaccurate" is written in red pencil.

P3645-28/3

1930

570 mm

405 mm

10 mm