I need help identifying these
 

I am going through bags of sewing scraps from a lady who seemed to be sewing in the 1970s and 1980s. She died before I knew the person donating these. I found these two items (photo below) and don't recognize what they are for.

One is marked Small, the Other Medium, and both are stamped Cory Jane Originals, Indianapolis 2, IND. This might be pre-zip codes, making it before 1963. Each is 5/8" wide, and were held by [amazingly aged] rubber bands into their circular shape, but I suspect they were flat originally. They feel like they might be made of Bakelite.

Found several examples for sale on Etsy/Ebay ... here's one. Apron hoops for making aprons.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Orig...0691965?_ul=AR

It is an apron hoop. Here is one with a tag on it:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1072167...ane-apron-hoop

Oh how cute. now you can make aprons for Christmas!! hurry up!!

I put them in the sun to see if they would relax. OK, I know you folks have identified these correctly, but I still don't know how they were used. . .did one stay in the apron waistband and that is how you "put it on"?

Okay, I see from the label in this link that it is a stay-in item--who knew? Thanks, all of you.

could they be for belts, just waiting for holes and a buckle

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*** Yes, they are apron hoops.
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yes--you took your fabric, turned it up for some pockets and then did a casement for the hoop to go into and voila! an apron!

All you needed was a straight piece of fabric with a hem and a casement to slip the hoop into. (I like the idea of turning up enough to make the big pockets--would have made a good clothespin apron.) "In those days" we ironed everything and it was a lot easier to iron a straight piece of fabric than one gathered onto a waistband. The plastic hoop went around the waist--quick and easy!

They are apron hoops. This was the first project I made in home ec in 7th grade. That would be 1954. I've been hooked on sewing ever since. Quiltingshorttimer is exactly right.
Sue

Have never seen anything like this. Everyone I knew wore the full length.

I did the same in 1965 in 7th grade--and our teacher made us use gingham so we could make our turns on straight lines.

yes , Apron hoops easy to put Apron on and off..

I didn't identify them from the pics, but I remember apron hoops. Boy, y'all got off easy making aprons in home ec. We made sheath dresses with darts and an 18 inch zipper down the back and were hand hemmed! I did learn a lot from that project though.

I don't think they are bakelite, but you can test them by holding them under hot water (running is best as I remember) and then quickly smelling them. Real bakelite usually gives off a chemical odor. There are some more definitive tests that you can do, but that's the easy one.

So how will you use them now that you have some ideas on what they are?

When new they are very flexible and you would put this in the waist band and they would just slip around your waist, easy on and easy off.