Threadwinder.info - Susan Bates Clipson Crochet Hooks

     
To the right is C. J. Bates & Son's booklet, advertising their new Clipson Crochet Hook and providing a handful of patterns to be made with that hook. "Susan Bates" is their "fanciful" trademark (first used Jan. 1, 1937) of their needlework tools line. The term "Clipson" was first used on Dec. 9, 1949 and its patent (#2,608,076) was applied for on December 24, 1949. The booklet fails to mention the patent, but mentions "Reg T.M."s for its "Micro Ground" finish (registered May 8, 1945) and its "in line" head (registered Feb. 1, 1949). Therefore I believe the booklet was published in December 1949.

Although the "in line" term was registered in 1949 and first used in 1947, the Bates' "crochet needle" shape was patented (#2,402,388) on June 18, 1946.

The crochet hook set holder and most of the hooks are marked "Pat. App'd For". However a few of the hooks are not so marked, implying they were made after the patent was granted. Therefore I believe the set was made around Aug. 26, 1952, when the Clipson stitch-retaining hook was patented.


On the left Clipson packages are arranged from oldest on the left to the newest on the right. The one on the far left is marked "Pat App'd For" meaning it was made on or after Dec. 24, 1949, but probably before the Clipson trademark was registered on Dec. 5, 1950.

The second picture on the left shows the back-side of the 2 oldest packages. The oldest one listing the color codes of the enamelled Clipson knobs.

The second package indicates that the "Fantastically New! Clipson Crochet Hook" is a "Reg T.M." meaning it was made on or after Dec. 5, 1950, but probably before the Aug. 26, 1952 patent. The backside is shown in the second picture on the left.

The third package contains a crochet hook with a cheaper-to-produce molded-plastic knob and clip. The package is marked "size color coded", apparently a different color code than the earlier enameled knobs. This package sports a zip code so it is dated on or after Jul. 1, 1967, when non-mandatory zip codes were instituted.

The next package is the same as the last one, except it no longer has the color-coded marking. There is minimal evidence that the color-coded Clipson plastic knobs/clips were short-lived, including the relative rarity of packages with the color-coded indicator and hooks of the same size with differently colored plastic knobs/hooks.

the last package of "Steelite" (partially covered by the last price tag) Clipson Crochet Hook dates on or after the term "Steelite" was first used -- Dec. 1, 1971. Steelite is C. J. Bates & Son's term for their nickle-plated steel crochet hooks and knitting needles. The term was registered on Nov. 21,1989 and cancelled May 28, 1996. Scanty evidence leads me to believe the Clipson Hooks were discontinued shortly after the December 1971. The Clipson trademark expired on Nov. 31, 1993.

To see and/or print any of the above patents, individually copy the patent #'s to: pat2pdf.org, fetch, and download. Click on pictures to see enlarged versions.