Words on a Singer Sewing Machine Co. Inc. trade card ~ circa 1927.
Personally, I grew up around my dear dressmaker mother's treadle
Singer machine and she was my sewing teacher!
I took a few hours this past week to work on organizing and getting rid of stuff!
Now and then I find myself doing this, mostly on good days when my back
and right leg aren't hurting so much. I'm actually getting some relief at last.
We need to have some work done to refresh our upstairs - mainly replace
10 year old carpet in two rooms, the landing, and the staircase itself.
If this was an empty house it would be such an easy project, however it's
thirty five years old and holds thirty five years of our life including some
heavy furniture!
Some items need to be sent away permanently to other places, such as
Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and a thrift shop, the remainder packed into
boxes and stored somewhere out of the way of the carpet installers,
a big job for us.
While searching through several boxes of supplies from those long ago
creative endeavors such as scrapbooking, card making, decoupaging
terra cotta flower pots etc., I came across these really beautiful
Singer Sewing Machine Co. Inc. 'trade cards' depicting American Song
Birds . . . . . . six out of an apparent total set of 16 and printed in 1926-27.
You already know garden birds are a big hobby of mine - I really love
birds, watching them, photographing them, feeding and caring for them.
The cards are in good condition for being almost 100 years old. Each bird is
shown against a lovely background, and its egg is shown in a little twig frame.
The reverse has small b/w illustrations, a little story, and details of
Singer sewing machines.
The artist was J.L. Ridgway.
John Livzey Ridgway (February 28, 1859 – December 27, 1947),
was a nationally prominent bird illustrator who worked for
many years at the United States Geological Survey, as well
as the Smithsonian, the California Institute of Technology,
via Wikipedia
Each card measures 6 X 4-1/2 inches and could easily be framed
individually, however I'm on the hunt for a collage style frame,
preferably with clear glass so that both front and back are visible
between the two pieces which would be great. That way, anyone
who may own it in the future will also be able to read the backs of
the cards and learn their history.
If I can't locate a readymade frame, another option I will consider
is having them framed by a professional.
I will then have to decide whether to display them vertically or
horizontally. . . . . any thoughts on which you think best will be
appreciated of course.
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The bird cards are a real treasure, Mary. What a good idea to frame them so that the backs can be read, as well as the images on the front. My grandmothers each had old treadle sewing machines, and I remember trying them out from time to time. Tim's grandmother had one, too, and he sewed on it - says he made a backpack for himself.
ReplyDeleteI hope your back and leg soon improve. Have a good week.
Those treadle machines were sewing behemoths weren't they - but I recall my mother never liking her electric model, purchased later in the 70's, quite as much - she preferred the 'weight' of the older all metal machine which she said stitched better!
DeleteGood for Tim and his sewing skills!
These are adorable trade cards. I've never seen them before. Your Bluebird card shows my Joyce and Frances machines :) It's hard to see the detail but it looks like the electric plug is in a wall light socket? I've seen images of such crazy behaviour with irons and fans before but, unless someone was to demonstrate it, I'd be too much of a chicken to try it!
ReplyDeleteAs for your layout, I'm not your girl to advise, dear Mary, as I'd need to dither for a week before settling on my choice!
Yes Pip, sewing machines have certainly changed over the decades. I still have mine from the 70's - it's in a beautiful solid wood cabinet - but it requires major repairs so is really taking up space as I don't sew anymore - other than small jobs by hand.
DeletePerhaps you could make a photocopy of the black and white sides, and display them like that, rather than in a double sided frame? S frames, each 3x2pictures would look elegant. Or a long frame with the 6 colour cards along the top, and copies of their B&W reverse beneath would look super elegant in a hallway
ReplyDeleteGood idea Angela. As I would probably hang it in the stairwell, I'm thinking the taller vertical frame might look best. Another of those projects on that ever growing 'to do' list!
DeleteYour prints are lovely, Mary and will look very elegant when framed.
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely - I really need to display them!
DeleteThose cards are beautiful, front and back!
ReplyDeleteI can't offer any useful advice on what format you should have them framed in; if it was mine, it would depend on where exactly I was going to display them and what shape that space is, whether it is best suited for a horizontal or vertical layout. Whatever you'll do with them, they are a little treasure find!
I don't envy you having that job done in your house; such things are always quite the upheaval as long as we live in the same place. When my bathroom was done in 2018, I moved to my sister's for the four weeks the work took - I could not live in my flat without a toilet.
Meike I agree with you that perhaps the vertical display would be nice and I could hang it on the wall at the bottom of the staircase - I only have a WELCOME sign there at present. That location would mean the birds would be visible from the front door entrance which would be pleasant.
DeleteI've put off the carpet replacement too long - it's just a job I can't face with so much requiring heavy furniture lifting/moving - BUT will get it done sometime this year now I'm feeling somewhat better with the back issue etc.
They are wonderful! I love them displayed either way, depending on where you place them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny - you are always so good at hanging framed items etc.
DeleteThose are very charming indeed. I am very glad that you will display them. They are worthy of professional framing should you go that route. You are far more the expert on home decor than I!
ReplyDeleteWill be checking with the professionals for this one Vee!
DeleteThe bird cards are lovely and I especially like the way that their eggs have been displayed in the twig boxes. The way that you have displayed them here looks perfect, but as for a frame! - I wonder why you cannot get frames that have two visible glass sides to them? Perhaps there is a marketing tool and opportunity here for someone enterprising.
ReplyDeleteRosemary, I really think there are frames like that - visible from each side - however finding the right size to hold all six may be a problem. I'll be checking with the framing shops - may have to get professional help with this project!
DeleteWhat treasures those cards are! I have never seen them before. Sewing used to be a much cheaper way to get new clothes, but not today. Though I must say people seem to be sewing more during this pandemic, as my sewing pattern business has done better than before.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed more home sewing seems to be happening since the pandemic which is wonderful - so many young girls don't get the basics taught them anymore when it comes to this type of craft. Even sewing on a button is unheard of for many - they just toss clothing and buy something cheap and mass produced - so sad!
DeleteDearest Mary,
ReplyDeleteWOW, what a treasure you got here.
They sure deserve to be preserved and framed for being on display.
For that purpose I even might have a solution, from Italy: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2012/09/acrylic-frame-with-transparent-acrylic.html
Hugs,
Mariette
Yes dear, that's the type of glass/acrylic 'floating frame' I'm thinking about - except I'd like it actually with a frame around it, perhaps rustic wood/natural look. I'll be checking the shops soon, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, At Home etc - all have tons of frames and also do custom framing. . . . . which I may have to consider. Don't want these hidden away any longer, want them on the wall!
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DeleteWhat beautiful cards! At first I thought maybe you were going to sell them, but glad to see you'll be having them framed so you can display them. I can't say what would be the best placement...I think it would depend on where you plan on displaying them.
ReplyDeleteCould you have a neighbor, friend or relative help you two with moving the heavy furniture?
If I hang them on the wall in the stairwell I think vertical will be better - and they will be at the bottom so they can be seen when entering the front door.
DeleteYep - help will be welcomed - my neighbor being the most likely, he's always ready to assist us which is such a great help.
These cards are terrific, dear Mary! A beautiful and old collection - a very good idea to frame them instead of letting them lie somewhere. I think that I would put them horizontal - 3 in a row - but one has to see the effect in front of one's eyes.
ReplyDeleteI had a sticker album for birds (they came by some packages of oats or so - not as beautiful or old as yours, but they helped me (together with the text) to learn a little bit about birds.
My mother had a Singer Sewing Machine too - and she was a real artist on it - making beautiful clothes for me and my sister (and some dolls of us), and a while for herself too. She always wanted to become a milliner, but her landed gentry parents were not amused and didn't allow that.
I hope that your back is getting better! And please watch out that you do not do too much in the eagerness to get everything done!
We were so lucky to have mothers who sewed clothes for us! I like to think I received not only a skill taught to me by mine, but also a sense of fashion that has stayed with me forever!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the continued get well wishes Britta - I am doing somewhat better and definitely hoping surgery will not be necessary. Sometimes just caution, gentle exercise, and time is what is needed - I'm trying that path to wellness right now!