Trade Card Tuesday: Life after White

Victorian advertisers like using "before" and "after" illustrations to demonstrate the amazing qualities of their products.  Sewing machine advertisers were no different.  

The White Sewing Machine Company issued  several before and after trade cards to promote their machines. 

The adverts were actually four page booklets.  The front featured an idealized vignette of a happy family with a White sewing machine.

The reverse illustrated the dangers and disadvantages of the competitor's machines:

Flimsy, difficult to use - "Out with you!!!!"

Grandmama is attacking the machine with a poker and Madame is stabbing it with her scissors!

Another reverse image:

Pa has attached a crank to the machine - "Does the crank help?"

Ma - "Yes, a little.  But the old thing will kill us both!"

Jr - "Why don't you get a White?"

Apparently using the wrong sewing machine also makes one incredibly homely!

When the bottom half of the booklet is opened, the miraculous after-effect of the White sewing machine is visible:

Peace and harmony are restored!

Interesting note - the "We have a White" script on the card mimics a design feature found on some White sewing machine cabinets.  The White name is spelled out in raised wooden letters that resemble twigs.

And of course, the White sewing machine makes everyone and everything more attractive!

Trade Card Tuesday: Barbour's Irish Flax Thread

Alas, I have no sewing machine trade cards with adorable Irish lasses or lucky leprechauns.  No St. Patrick's Day greeting postcards, either.  On the other hand (ha!), I do have an Irish card that will teach you palm reading!

(click on the image for a larger view)

Advertising for Barbour's Irish Flax Thread purports to instruct the reader on Character as Indicated by the Hand.  The hand shapes illustrated are (left to right) Square Hand, Square Hand, Pointed Hand and Spatulate Hand.  The card is copyright 1893.  

The reverse of the card explains the character traits associated with each hand shape and describes the qualities of different lines on the hand (see the second Square Hand for a map to the lines).

Barbour's Flax (or Linen) Thread Co. was founded in 1784 in Ireland.  The thread is still available today, although apparently somewhat difficult to obtain.

Trade Card Tuesday: Threading Up

Sewing thread was another popular advertising topic for Victorian trade cards.  Thread companies often used fantasy themes to illustrate the qualities of their thread.  Imaginative vignettes touting the strength, smoothness and colorfastness of thread were common themes.

Here an adorable puppy is reigned in with Willimantic thread - For the Safety of the Public.

The reverse side explains that Willimantic thread is especially designed to be used with sewing machines, as it has the softest finish, and is the "smoothest and most elastic cotton on the market".  Of interest to modern consumers, the card also emphasizes Willimantic thread is made from combed Sea Island Cotton and "is purely an American production", offering sewists the opportunity to "patronize and sustain Home Industries".   

J & P Coats imagined their thread was used by the Lilliputians to tie down Gulliver.  Of note is the extra-large spool near Gulliver's feet that is being used like a winch and the wagon load of spools near his right hand.  J & P Coats thread was manufactured in Paisley, Scotland - not an American product at the time!

Clark's also has advice on How to Keep Husbands at Home, Nights.

The name "Salanger's" appears to be stamped on the card and was probably a store that sold Clark's thread.  The reverse of the card notes Mile-End thread came in a large variety of colors and the black thread was particularly color-fast.  It is also described as the Standard for use upon all Sewing Machines.

Trade Card Tuesday: Tying Up A Valentine

In honor of Valentine's Day: 

The Thread That Binds The Union

President Grover Cleveland married Francis Folsom in 1886 - the first wedding to be held in the White House.  Miss Folsom was 21 years old when she married the 48 year old President.  She became a popular and well-liked First Lady, and advertisers took advantage of her popularity by featuring her likeness (along with the President) in all kinds of advertising - all without her permission!

Be that as it may, this is a charming card with cupids tying the knot for the Presidential couple.  The advertising on the reverse describes Merrick Thread as "the best six cord soft finish spool cotton for machine and hand sewing".  The company also sold ready wound bobbins for sewing machines - and we thought that was a 20th century idea!  The card is copyrighted 1886.

Trade Card Tuesday: Some Early Singer Mfg. Co. Cards

I come from a family of folks who love puns and wordplay.  I think that's why I get a kick out of these early Singer Manufacturing Company trade cards.

NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND

The expression "never too late to mend" is not used much these days, but reminds us it is never too late to apologize or make amends to someone.  On the other hand, maybe the saying just means a Singer sewing machine can make repairs even at night - by candlelight!

WHAT I HAVE SEWED TOGETHER
LET NO ONE RIP ASUNDER

Traditional Christian marriage vows often use the phrase, "What God has joined together, let no man put asunder".  The sentiment expresses the belief that the bonds of marriage, made in sight of God, should not be broken by man.  Or maybe our Singer sewing machine Cupid just believes in a literal joining of husband and wife!

AND THE DEVIL CAME AND SOWED TARES

This card has my favorite wordplay, since the word tares is now about as antique as this sewing machine.  The phrase about the devil sowing tares comes from one of Jesus' parables in the New Testament.  In the story, the devil sowed weeds, or tares, in a man's field of wheat.  The story as told by Singer is just a little bit different, though!

The reverse of each of these cards lists the number of Singer sewing machines sold in the years between 1862 (12,489) and 1880 (538,609).  The last date is a good indicator the cards appeared sometime after 1880, which is about the time trade cards started becoming a popular advertising medium.

Trade Card Tuesday: Domestic Sewing Machines Vol. II

In December, I shared some Domestic Sewing Machine trade cards along with some info about the company's history and their advertising themes.  Today I have some more Domestic cards, but they're more about charming illustrations than hard-sell advertising.

This is one of my favorite cards.  Do you think they're playing "house" under the sewing machine?  

Two young ladies making doll clothes with the Domestic sewing machine.

A paper doll and her outfits.

This card is dated 1901.  It is still considered a trade card, but about this time postcards started usurping the popularity of trade cards and this type of advertising started to fade away.  I think we can agree the advertising copy still rings true today.  Don't you agree having just the right sewing machine makes you a happy camper and in turn, makes your home happy?   

Trade Card Tuesday: A Toast with St. Nicholas

I have not seen many Victorian trade cards that feature Santa Claus (or St. Nicholas) and sewing machines.  There may be a few cards or postcards with pictures of Santa and toy sewing machines, but I just haven't seen any cards with the Jolly Old Elf and a regular machine.  Santa does show up in late 20th century ads for sewing machines - I guess we can thank Madison Avenue for convincing our loved ones we'd like appliances as Christmas gifts!

Sewing and blogging time will be almost non-existent for me over the next several days, so I'll leave you with my Christmas greeting - St. Nicholas and my namesake sharing a moment of repose over a glass of bubbly.

The card is framed, and I can't remember if there is actual advertising copy on the reverse, but I love the image!  My DH collects Santa Claus figures and images, so this card speaks to us on several levels.  If you look closely at the angel, you'll see he is holding a scythe (an image often associated with Father Time) and an hourglass is near his feet.  Perhaps the image is meant to symbolize the week of good cheer between Christmas and New Year's.  

Wishing everyone a Joyous Christmas and Happy New Year!

Trade Card Tuesday: A Puzzlement

Victorian trade cards often used puzzles to help peddle their wares.  The cards below are examples of rebus puzzles - word play using pictures, letters and words to illustrate a common phrase or saying.

These cards are all from the Standard Sewing Machine Company of Cleveland, Ohio.  The company formed in the late 1880s and was bought out by Singer in the 1930s.

The last card is a little different from the first 3, and a little harder to figure out.

Let me know via the comments if you need a hint!

If you enjoy rebus puzzles, here's a link to a nice collection.  If you need some hints, scroll to the bottom of the page for a link to the answers!

Trade Card Tuesday: Singer Costume Cards #2

Last week I shared some cards produced by The Singer Manufacturing Co. for the Columbian World Exposition in 1893.  The cards were designed to be a souvenir of the world's fair and featured Singer sewing machine owners from around the world.  The cards proved extremely popular, leading Singer to issue another set of costume cards in 1894.

Archangel (now Arkhangelsk) is a city in northern Russia, not terribly far from Finland.  Can't you just imagine living a semi-nomadic lifestyle in the frozen tundra, but having a Singer sewing machine to help you stitch all those heavy wool and fur fabrics?  

Next in our travels:  a Singer sewist from Boulogne-ser Mer.  Her costume is rather subdued, but the headpiece is wonderful!  I wonder how that was constructed?

I'm enjoying the traditional headwear illustrated in this group of cards!  

The "chimney pot" hat became symbolic of Welsh traditional dress in the mid-1880s.

Here is the only non-home sewing machine illustrated in this set of cards.  This looks like it could be a Model 18, which has been put to use creating headwear!

I've rambled on enough for today, but I'll leave you with one final image to admire.  In addition to the wonderful costumes, this card also hints at a tradition common to many sewists - enjoying music while stitching.  Wouldn't it be great to have one's family supply music to make the stitching merrier?  Could this be the 19th Century version of the iPod?

Trade Card Tuesday: Singer Costume Cards #1

Since I discussed the Columbian World Exposition of 1893 last week, I thought this week would be a good opportunity to present some wonderful trade cards produced by the Singer Company.

Doesn't the woman's apron look like patchwork?

In 1892, the Singer Mfg. Co. commissioned a set of 36 advertising cards with the intent of giving them away as souvenirs during the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Titled "Costumes of All Nations", the card packaging reads: "These cards are lithographed reproductions of photographs taken on the spot in the various countries and provinces and colored there to correctly represent the native costumes. They are National Costume Studies, reliable and perfect in every detail."

Each card illustrates a native of the country or province in traditional garb, seated at or using their Singer sewing machine.  The reverse of the card has a brief description of the country and a few words about the Singer sewing machine office located there.  Distributed in boxed sets of 36, the cards are copyright 1892 by the Singer Manufacturing Co. and printed by J. Ottmann Lith. Co.  

The machines illustrated on the cards are mostly transverse and vibrating shuttle machines that were typical home sewing machines.  The machine in the card above is a VS2 (vibrating shuttle) with a fiddle-shaped base.  VS2 machines were manufactured from about 1887 to 1891.  The machine shape changed to a rectangular base after 1891 and was called a Model 27.

I chose this card more for the woman's costume than the sewing machine.  The embroidery and other details on her jacket are beautiful!  

The machine illustrated here was known as a Model 2.  It was literally the second production model and was manufactured from 1854 through the 1890s.  It was a large, heavy machine with lots of room under the sewing arm.

An industrial machine:  Model 29.  Used for sewing leather and making harnesses.

Illustrated here are two portable, hand-crank Model 12 machines. The Model 12 used a reciprocating
or transverse shuttle mechanism, and was manufactured for approximately 30 years, beginning in 1865.
The sewing machines are sitting on top of the wooden cover that was supplied with the machine.

Another set of charming costumes, and the sewing work appears to be embroidery done on a Singer sewing machine.

The "Costumes of All Nations" cards proved so popular, Singer soon issued a second set with different illustrations.  I'll save those for another day!

In the meantime, I located another website devoted to the World Columbian Exposition sponsored by the University of Virginia.  The focus of the article is the history of the fair and the effect it had on American culture.  

Trade Card Tuesday: Davis Sewing Machines

The Davis Sewing Machine Co. began producing sewing machines in the late 1860s.  The Davis product functioned a little differently from most sewing machines of the time, as it moved the fabric forward using a "vertical feed" mechanism.  I've never seen a Davis, much less sewn on one, but my understanding is the vertical feed was produced by the needle and presser foot and the effect was similar to today's walking foot.

A lovely "before & after" card illustrating the ease of home sewing with a Davis Vertical Feed Sewing Machine.  The uniqueness of the vertical feed was a featured selling point in Davis advertising for many years.

Apparently even the angels sang the praises of Davis vertical feed sewing machines!  

The company was incorporated in Watertown, NY, but moved to Dayton, OH in 1886.  By the late 1890s, the vertical feed mechanism was no longer in production and Davis machines featured regular feed dogs.  Around this time the company also became involved in producing machines for sale by other companies and the machines were stenciled with names chosen by the vendor.  Davis made sewing machines for Sears, Roebuck & Co. for many years, including the popular "Minnesota" line of machines.  The Davis SM Co. went out of business in 1924.

This dapper paper "doll" may have been produced in conjunction with the Columbian World Exposition of 1893.  Held in Chicago, the Exposition was staged to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus landing in America.  Exhibits from all over the world were on display and sparked an interest in cultural traditions.

The Exposition also featured technology, so many sewing machine manufacturers had displays of their machines and examples of work that the machines could perform.  The images below are from a souvenir booklet that extolled the wonders of Davis sewing machines.  

The cover of the booklet echoes the world's fair theme, with women in ethnic costume in a classical pose in front of buildings from the Exposition.  According to the text inside the booklet, this image was copied from a silk tapestry made with an "etching" attachment which allowed the Davis machine to embroider on silk.

The back cover of the Davis souvenir booklet features goddess-like figures surrounded by symbols of America.  The center figure probably represents Columbia, or Miss Columbia, a female figure meant to represent America.  Columbia is usually portrayed as a classically-attired goddess, wearing a Liberty Cap (or Phrygian cap) and holding other U. S. symbols.  The booklet illustration was also copied from a silk tapestry embroidered with a Davis sewing machine.

Further reading:

Pictures of actual Davis Vertical Feed machines:  http://www.kelsew.info/Domestic/DavisVFmodels.html

Columbian World Exposition of 1893:  http://www.chicagohs.org/history/expo.html

Miss Columbia:  http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/hail-columbia/

Trade Card Tuesday: Wilson Sewing Machines

I found two different dates for the start-up of the Wilson Sewing Machine Co.  The company was founded in either 1867 or 1871 by W. G. Wilson.  Originally operating in Cleveland, Ohio, the company moved to Chicago in 1875.  The company was out of business by 1885.

Although $45 sounds like a great price for a sewing machine, at that time it was a pretty hefty price tag.  One thing that led to the success of home sewing machines was the installment payment plan.  A new idea at the time (and originated by the Singer Sewing Machine Co.), folks could purchase a sewing machine and pay it off a few dollars at a time.  Another method that helped many families have the use of a sewing machine was a group purchase.  Families would go together to purchase a machine, then take turns sharing it to make clothes for the family.

Once upon a time I had a Wilson sewing machine in my collection.  Although in need of restoration, it was in decent shape and came with some great ephemera in the drawers.  The ephemera included a Wilson Sewing Machine Co. brochure illustrating all their available models.  Also included was a payment booklet showing the owner's payments on the machine; based on the payment schedule, it appeared the machine was purchased in 1876!  One of the features I especially liked about this machine was the foot-shaped treadle pedal.

From the Wilson brochure:  an illustration of what the original machine looked like.  For those with a fancy for such things, extra silver plating could be purchased for just $10 more!

Here's a card that may make you wonder about truth in advertising.  Illustrating embroidery work done on a Wilson machine, modern readers might be skeptical that such embroidery could be done on a simple, straight-stitch machine.  Surprise!  Intricate embroidery work was possible with straight stitch sewing machines and sewing machine companies used this as a selling point.  The Singer Co. eventually gathered a number of these embroidery techniques into a book titled Singer Instructions for Art Embroidery and Lace Work.  I have not personally tried any of these techniques, but I have no doubt wonderful results are possible.  Note that this card advertises machines made in Chicago, so dates to post-1875.

Instructions for a happy home - another common trade card advertising ploy.

The reverse of the "young husband" card has a nice line drawing of a Wilson machine illustrating the foot pedal.  Also, another price guide - note that machines may be bought on installment.

Although this card does not illustrate a sewing machine, it's dear to my heart!  It was gifted to me by another sewing machine collector because it references a Wilson sewing machine dealer on Canal St. in New Orleans.  I have searched the online databases available from the New Orleans Public Library, but have not been able to find additional info about the store.  Some day I will do a search in person and see what I can discover about this sewing machine dealer.

Trade Card Tuesday: Remington Sewing Machines

Yes, Remington sewing machines were made by the same company famous for firearms.  Sewing machines were manufactured during the 1870s and 1880s at the Remington foundry in Ilion, New York.  According to Carter Bays, in his Encyclopedia of Early American Sewing Machines, attachments for Remington machines were embossed "The sewing machine like the rifle gun, that beats the world is the Remington".

Here's an imaginative marketing image - a sprite riding a sewing machine on a butterfly!

And another fantastical image:  a sewing machine serving as a howdah on the back of an elephant.  Remington machines were manufactured as treadle or hand-crank machines.  The image in the lower right corner depicts a hand-crank machine; note the feet that support the machine base - they're often referred to as paw feet.