Antiques Roadshow

[skants]

A very nice lady showed Michael Aspel some old gentleman's swimwear -very skimpy with tie sides! She cheekily asked Michael to model them! Not the sort of thing you expect from almost the most respectable programme on British Television-can't imagine that sort of thing happening in the States ! Have to admit it was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise . Anyone else see it?

[Captain Jock]

Yes, I did see this. I would think they were very fashionable and quite revealing for their day!

[The Bondsman]

They were called "V's" (pronounced "veese), out here, and were originally designed to be worn OVER the onepiece woollen neck to knee costume, ...I guess to disguise or conceal any "bumps" of male genitalia that might cause embarrassment!
(Can you imagine??? :confused:)
I'm not totally sure the folks involved in demonstrating this garment fully understood it's history.
They were never worn by themselves, unless sometimes in an all-male enclosure, where here in OZ, curiously, total nudity was allowed too.
There are many pics of lifesavers and other beach guys wearing "V's" over their woollens on Aussie beaches here in the early 20th century.

[skants]

Bondsman
I take my hat off to you (perhaps I should say take my briefs off to you!) -anyway I didn't know that -very interesting, glad I raised it now.
Many thanks
Skants :)

[The Bondsman]

Bondsman
I take my hat off to you (perhaps I should say take my briefs off to you!) Skants :)
Now Skants, if you have been reading my stuff here on site you will know very well that if you take your briefs OFF at all, my interest will suddenly wane! ;)
Leave 'em ON and you've got my FULL attention! :D
Glad to have been of interest.

[The Bondsman]

Found this old pic to give you all an idea of just how vees were worn. They certainly don't seem to be helping with concealing much do they?
The guy on the left is Alick Wickham, who introduced the swimming style called "The Australian Crawl", (now known worldwide as "freestyle") to Australia from his native Solomon Islands. The bloke on the right is Dick Cavill, who perfected it in Australia into the world winning style.
Amazingly, no-one thought of swimming in this way before!
Alick's vees are a little different as they seem to have no ties at the side, but pull up like modern speedos. Dick(sic!) features the tie-sided vees, ....or should THAT be his vees feature his dick!!!.
Hefty lads for early swimmers!
Can you imagine what "firm" arousal sights such as this must have brought to the groins of gay boys in those days of men totally covering up??? ;)