Used between the 1890s and 1970s, the sanitary belt played an extraordinarily large role in the 20th century and was the precursor to disposable menstrual pads when they came to prominence in the 1980s. The belts are essentially a waistband of elastic that would sit on a person’s waist with two clips attached, one at the front and one at the back. A towel would be attached via the clips in order to pass from front to back and would soak up the menstrual blood. These belts were pretty much the only option up until the 1970s, yet few people know about them today.

Used between the 1890s and 1970s, the sanitary belt played an extraordinarily large role in the 20th century and was the precursor to disposable menstrual pads when they came to prominence in the 1980s. The belts are essentially a waistband of elastic that would sit on a person’s waist with two clips attached, one at the front and one at the back. A towel would be attached via the clips in order to pass from front to back and would soak up the menstrual blood. These belts were pretty much the only option up until the 1970s, yet few people know about them today.

These safety pins are unlikely to have been sold alongside the Dr White's belt, but will have been purchased separately and used by the owner to secure a pad to the belt.