Very Short History: Detachable collars were invented in 1827 in Troy New
York as a solution to "Ring-Around-the-Collar". Collars have been made of cotton, linen, paper and
paper/cloth laminate. In 1862 (a time when detachable collars were the height of fashion, but paper collars were
out of fashion) machinery was invented to laminate paper and cloth, a process previously done by hand. These
laminated collars are referred to as "Linene" collars. Celluloid was patented in 1870 and was used for
collars and cuffs shortly ?? thereafter. They were typical by the mid 1880s, if not before.
White Starched Linen, Cotton, Linene or Celluloid collars for use with collarless / detachable collar
shirts.
"Linene": These are made the same way as they have been made since 1862. They
are linen material laminated onto a stiff cardboard. They are very stiff and have material texture to them. The
stud holes become soft and bent after a few time and they cannot be cleaned. They can be wiped off with a LIGHTLY
damp sponge or cloth, but that usually doesn't do much.
"Celluloid": This is an early form of plastic (1870s). They are very stiff,
but they have MINIMUM MATERIAL TEXTURE to them, unlike the "Linene" or "Cotton". Each collar is
fashioned from interlined acetate, a material made of white linen and a thin layer of acetate, giving the product
the style of a fine cloth collar and the durability of a plastic one. A Buckley collar will never wilt under the heat
of the stage lights or a difficult sermon. Other desired features include reinforced buttonholes, smooth, finished
edges, and easy cleaning with soap and water. They will last longer than the "Linene", but not as long as
the Cotton or Linen.
"Linen": NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. These are the Stiff, heavily
starched, Thin collars that are most often seen in antique stores, museums, etc. The are made from a thin linen and
then heavily starched and ironed, with a special machine, or machines) designed for this (it starches the inside of
the collar and irons the collar to be curved and go around the neck). They can be cleaned, BUT only re-starched and
properly ironed with the machine designed to starch and iron collars. They last longer that "Linene" or
"Celluloid" collars, but not as long as the thicker cotton collars.
"Cotton": These are made from a medium weight cotton material. They are
basically a standard collar that has been made detachable, they ARE NOT a Starched (Stiff) Linen Collar. They
come UN-STARCHED and are therefore SOFT ** NOT STIFF **. They can be worn as a soft detachable collar,
especially for those who do not like stiff collars or they can be starched with spray starch (I suggest heavy duty
spray starch) and ironed. If you can find powdered starch you could soak them and then iron them, making them similar
to the old Starched Linen Collars except thicker. CAUTION, they do not bend well after they are Heavily Starched and
should be ironed with the proper curve to go around the neck. To properly starch and iron a collar requires a special
machine, which I have heard that only one place in the U.S. still has one in use. I DO NOT know who has the machine,
don't ask if I find out I will put the information here. These collars can be washed either by hand or in a washing
machine. They are the longest lasting of our detachable collars.
STUDS / BUTTONS. Either Buttons or Studs can be used to attach the collar to the
shirt.
We normally stock all the collars shown in all the sizes listed below, except for "
Special Order" ones.
"More styles are in Development". Collar styles will be dated for time
period as soon as we can.
Size / Measuring: DO NOT ORDER BY MODERN SHIRT NECK
SIZE. Measure the band on the shirt you will be wearing the collar with. The size in inches is measured
from the end of one of the front button holes closest to the collar opening, around the collar to the end of the other
front button hole closest to the opening. The Collar Size is normally 1/2" to 1 1/2"
larger than the shirt Neck size (IE: Shirt Size = Neck-Size x Sleeve-Length).
