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Bradley Knitting Company was started in Delavan, Wisconsin, in 1904. It was a major manufacturing facility, and that small town’s chief employer. During peak production, 1200 persons were employeed at Bradley.

Bradley made all kinds of knitted garments, but are best remembered for their knit wool bathing suits. Their specialty was sportswear, and their slogan in the early years was “Slip into a Bradley and Out-of-Doors.”

The Art Deco Bradley plant, built in 1923, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Written by fuzzylizzie


from a 1920s wool bathing suit - Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 1920s wool bathing suit

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from an early 1930s bathing suit - Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from an early 1930s bathing suit

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 1950s set  - Courtesy of hatfeathers

from a 1950s set

Courtesy of hatfeathers

from a 1950s shrug sweater - Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 1950s shrug sweater

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from an early 1960s playset  - Courtesy of vintageclothesline.com

from an early 1960s playset

Courtesy of vintageclothesline.com