A muff is a fashion accessory for outdoors usually made of a cylinder of fur or fabric with both ends open for keeping the hands warm. It was introduced to women's fashion in the 16th century and was popular with both men and women in the 17th and 18th centuries. By the early 19th century, muffs were used in Europe only by women.[1] It is also reported[according to whom?] that the fashion largely fell out of style in the 19th century.
Winter 1882, by Francesc MasrieraA muff in five views, 1645–46Black muff with fur trim
It briefly returned in the mid-1940s,[2] and in the 1960s was developed as a motorcycle accessory for attachment as rider-protection and comfort during the cooler months.
In Roman times, the place of the glove was taken by long sleeves (manicae) reaching to the hand, and in winter special sleeves of fur were worn. In Medieval Latin we find the word muffulae, defined by Du Cange as chirothecae pellitae et hibernae ("leather winter gloves"). He quotes from a cartulary of the year 817, of the issuing to monks of sheepskin coverings to be used during the winter. These may have been, as the Roman certainly were, separate coverings for each hand, although the cartulary cited also distinguishes the glove for summer from the muffulae for winter wear. The Old Frenchmoufle meant a thick glove or mitten, and from this the Dutchmof, Walloonmouffe, and thence English "muff", are probably derived.[1]
Modern usageedit
Handlebar muffs are a utility product for motorcycles and scooters to provide increased comfort in adverse weather conditions, to protect the rider from rain and wind chill. With UK commercial-availability in the early 1960s,[3] they are still available in three variations from a UK merchandiser of motorcycle accessories, including dedicated-types for small motorscooters.[4]
Traditionally made from waterproof faux leather and lined for insulation, more-modern, textile-based materials are also used.[3][4][5][6]
When reviewing clothing and riding accessories in a 1966 feature entitled "Tough Weather Gear" for the weekly journal Motor Cycle, regular journalist John Ebbrell described the muffs as:[7][8]
Ugly as sin they may be—but there's nothing more cosier to the fingertips than a pair of handlebar muffs...Material is waterproof plasticized fabric, lined. Fitted in a jiffy, the muffs are sold through Pride and Clarke's and cost 17s 6d.
Writing at his website in December 2010, American motorcycle design innovator Craig Vetter claimed to have "created and developed" from 1971 what he called Hippo Hands, later sold to the public from 1973 by the Vetter organisation.[9][10] These were very similar to a product that was easily available to UK motorcyclists from retail shops/mail order outlets from 1957,[11] with the description handlebar muffs.[3][12][13][14][4][15]
^E-PATTERN - 1940s Beret Hat and Muff Bag Wearing History, Retrieved 8 January 2019
^ abcThe Motor Cycle, 4 October 1962, Pride and Clarke single-page advert Special Offer - Handlebar muffs 12/6, postage 2/6, p.31 Accessed 1 December 2017
^ abcMuffs, Oxford Products, Retrieved 1 December 2017
^Tucano Urbano Handlebar Muffs Review Web Bike World, 22 March 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2021
^Motorcycle Sport, March 1981, p.159 (pp.146-149, 159). Ninety Eight Point Four: Keeping warm on a motorcycle in winter. "A more refined (perhaps the best) handlebar muff is the Hippo-Hands, available from CTA, Unit 30E, 142A Virginia Street, Southport, Lancashire". Accessed 6 April 2020
^The Motor Cycle, 7 March 1957, p.35. Claude Rye part-page advert NEW HANDLEBAR MUFFS Superior black waterproof leathercloth Handlebar Muffs, lined fleece, keep hands warm and dry. Pair 10/6. Deluxe pair 11/9, Post & Pkg. 1/6 M.P.C. Plastic 29/11 pair. P & P. 2/-. Accessed 12 September 2019
^Motor Cycle, 21 February 1963, Pride and Clarke double-page advert Handlebar muffs 17/6, postage 2/6, pp.23-24 Accessed 1 December 2017
^Motor Cycle, 21 February 1963, You say this reader's letters "Heated Muffs Experiment", p.230 Accessed 1 December 2017
^Motor Cycle, 4 November 1965, Pride and Clarke double-page advert, Handlebar muffs 17/6, postage 3/0, p.18 Accessed 1 December 2017
^Motorcycle Sport, March 1981, p.149 (pp.146-149), 159. Ninety Eight Point Four: Keeping warm on a motorcycle in winter. Accessed 6 April 2020
muff, handwarmer, muff, fashion, accessory, outdoors, usually, made, cylinder, fabric, with, both, ends, open, keeping, hands, warm, introduced, women, fashion, 16th, century, popular, with, both, women, 17th, 18th, centuries, early, 19th, century, muffs, were. A muff is a fashion accessory for outdoors usually made of a cylinder of fur or fabric with both ends open for keeping the hands warm It was introduced to women s fashion in the 16th century and was popular with both men and women in the 17th and 18th centuries By the early 19th century muffs were used in Europe only by women 1 It is also reported according to whom that the fashion largely fell out of style in the 19th century Winter 1882 by Francesc MasrieraA muff in five views 1645 46Black muff with fur trimIt briefly returned in the mid 1940s 2 and in the 1960s was developed as a motorcycle accessory for attachment as rider protection and comfort during the cooler months Contents 1 History 2 Modern usage 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory editIn Roman times the place of the glove was taken by long sleeves manicae reaching to the hand and in winter special sleeves of fur were worn In Medieval Latin we find the word muffulae defined by Du Cange as chirothecae pellitae et hibernae leather winter gloves He quotes from a cartulary of the year 817 of the issuing to monks of sheepskin coverings to be used during the winter These may have been as the Roman certainly were separate coverings for each hand although the cartulary cited also distinguishes the glove for summer from the muffulae for winter wear The Old French moufle meant a thick glove or mitten and from this the Dutch mof Walloon mouffe and thence English muff are probably derived 1 Modern usage editHandlebar muffs are a utility product for motorcycles and scooters to provide increased comfort in adverse weather conditions to protect the rider from rain and wind chill With UK commercial availability in the early 1960s 3 they are still available in three variations from a UK merchandiser of motorcycle accessories including dedicated types for small motorscooters 4 Traditionally made from waterproof faux leather and lined for insulation more modern textile based materials are also used 3 4 5 6 When reviewing clothing and riding accessories in a 1966 feature entitled Tough Weather Gear for the weekly journal Motor Cycle regular journalist John Ebbrell described the muffs as 7 8 Ugly as sin they may be but there s nothing more cosier to the fingertips than a pair of handlebar muffs Material is waterproof plasticized fabric lined Fitted in a jiffy the muffs are sold through Pride and Clarke s and cost 17s 6d Writing at his website in December 2010 American motorcycle design innovator Craig Vetter claimed to have created and developed from 1971 what he called Hippo Hands later sold to the public from 1973 by the Vetter organisation 9 10 These were very similar to a product that was easily available to UK motorcyclists from retail shops mail order outlets from 1957 11 with the description handlebar muffs 3 12 13 14 4 15 References edit a b Chisholm 1911 p 955 E PATTERN 1940s Beret Hat and Muff Bag Wearing History Retrieved 8 January 2019 a b c The Motor Cycle 4 October 1962 Pride and Clarke single page advert Special Offer Handlebar muffs 12 6 postage 2 6 p 31 Accessed 1 December 2017 a b c Muffs Oxford Products Retrieved 1 December 2017 Tucano Urbano Handlebar Muffs Review Web Bike World 22 March 2011 Retrieved 31 March 2021 Product review Tucano Urbano R317 Muffs Motorcycle News Retrieved 31 March 2021 Motor Cycle 13 January 1966 Equipment for winter riding Tough Weather Gear by John Ebrell pp 32 34 Accessed 1 December 2017 Pride and Clarke Car and Motorcycle Accessory Catalogue undated p 4 Accessed 1 December 2017 Hippo Hands Archived from the original at craigvetter com Archived 1 May 2017 Retrieved 1 December 2017 Motorcycle Sport March 1981 p 159 pp 146 149 159 Ninety Eight Point Four Keeping warm on a motorcycle in winter A more refined perhaps the best handlebar muff is the Hippo Hands available from CTA Unit 30E 142A Virginia Street Southport Lancashire Accessed 6 April 2020 The Motor Cycle 7 March 1957 p 35 Claude Rye part page advert NEW HANDLEBAR MUFFS Superior black waterproof leathercloth Handlebar Muffs lined fleece keep hands warm and dry Pair 10 6 Deluxe pair 11 9 Post amp Pkg 1 6 M P C Plastic 29 11 pair P amp P 2 Accessed 12 September 2019 Motor Cycle 21 February 1963 Pride and Clarke double page advert Handlebar muffs 17 6 postage 2 6 pp 23 24 Accessed 1 December 2017 Motor Cycle 21 February 1963 You say this reader s letters Heated Muffs Experiment p 230 Accessed 1 December 2017 Motor Cycle 4 November 1965 Pride and Clarke double page advert Handlebar muffs 17 6 postage 3 0 p 18 Accessed 1 December 2017 Motorcycle Sport March 1981 p 149 pp 146 149 159 Ninety Eight Point Four Keeping warm on a motorcycle in winter Accessed 6 April 2020Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Muff Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 18 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 955 External links edit nbsp Media related to Muffs at Wikimedia Commons nbsp The dictionary definition of muff at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Muff handwarmer amp oldid 1161279939, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
