March 2017 When I was about 13 years old, my older sister Jane and I took a road trip in her Volkswagen bug from Great Falls, Montana to Basin Wyoming to see our grandparents Doc and Ollie Walker. Jane had a mission to discuss with them the fact she was going to get married, even though she hadn't finished college... but that's another story.
Grandpa and Grandma owned a house in Basin. My memories of it were that the basement was full of treasures. Grandpa Doc loved to go to auctions and find "good deals" I'm not sure what he did with them, but their basement was fun to explore
I was just learning to sew and on this trip I found an old sewing machine. I asked Grandpa and Grandma if I could have it. I remember Grandpa saying, "sure take it." But I remember Grandma Ollie being a little hesitant. I'm not sure why, but she was. I remember she finally said yes and I was elated as we packed it into the backseat of the VW to drive home.
I don't remember using it a lot, but I think I did use it when I was in junior high and high school. But mostly it stayed it its beautiful case. When I got married, it moved with me, but I think by that time I preferred using mom's little singer featherweight as it would backstitch.
Fast forward to about about 1982. Ron's sister Cheryl and her husband were making plans to move to Alaska. She said something to me about wishing she had a sewing machine. I told her I had one I'm not using and off it went to Alaska. I remember my mom saying something about it being antique and maybe I shouldn't have given it away! I did tell Cheryl if she ever didn't want it, I'd like it back.
In 2011 Cheryl and her husband Tom moved back to Great Falls to live with Ron's mom Shirley. In 2013 she died after a short battle with leukemia. Then in 2015, Tom (her husband) and Shirley came to visit and he brought the sewing machine to me. He told me Cheryl wanted to make sure I got it back. I opened it and looked at it, but life was busy so I just put it in the closet.
In January, 2017 I decided I wanted to start quilting again. All my fabric was spread out hither and yon. Some in tubs, in closets, here and there. Some up in the attic of the barn. While going through one of the tubs from the barn (which had been there since 2002 when we moved in) I found a sewing machine manual for this sewing machine. (oh yes-- I did get my stash all organized)
I looked more closely and noticed that Grandma Ollie had written my name Nancy Fagenstrom in pencil on top of the cover.
I opened the manual (probably for the first time) and found all kinds of notes in Grandma's neatly penned handwriting.
The cover page showed the sewing machine as a treadle sewing machine with her name Olive Walker 1918.
The diagram of the sewing machine was fascinating.
In the top left hand corner in pencil is written. "This machine Doc bought in 1920 to sew Joy's diapers and outing flannel nightgowns." Hmmm did Doc do the sewing or did Ollie?
To the right it says. "Better buy a new belt as this is Wyo. dehydrated, then you'll have on on hand."
At the bottom in pencil it says. The last belt I bought Ethel Osborn she found it in his basement
As I flipped through the pages there is a section called "To OIL THE MACHINE. In her handwriting it says "Follow this Nancy, I did!"
And under the photo it says-- "Have a second key made. I tied this on when finished sewing. " The case has a key to open it tied to the handle.
In the book was a whole chapter on Instructions for using the Attachments. -- what a find! For a machine made in 1910 it had a lot of attachments.... ruffler, hemmer, underBraider, shirring plate, ..and tucker. Most of them are still in the machine.
On the page about FOOT HEMMER- Grandma write.. Use this--slowly--it works!
As I looked at the sewing machine, I discovered a real treasure! It has a motor that I've learned was probably attached in the 50's. It has a cloth cord which isn't very worn. The foot pedal was probably replaced in the 80's.
I took it to Bagnelle's Sewing Center to have it checked out. He said that it is in excellent shape, probably hasn't been used a lot. The writing and artwork is not very worn. He did a tune up on it. He suggested I should find a treadle and free it from the motor!
A bit of reflection. I find it amazing that it took me nearly 50 years to actually look at the sewing machine manual. What a treasure to imagine Grandma Ollie, in her very teacher-like, exact manner writing some notes to me - by name- about how to use the machine. I don't ever remember her using it, but obviously she did!
Just got it back and set it up. Took me a little while to get the needle threaded, but it purrs like a champ. Here I am sewing on a blanket for my granddaughter on a sewing machine that belonged to my grandmother. Over 100 years old. Somethings are timeless!
ADDENDUM August 2018
Shortly after I published this post, I tripped on the cord and somehow damaged the motor. When I took it back to Bagnelles he said it couldn't be fixed. But he did say that if I found a treadle, he would connect it for me.
Fast forward to 2018. About 6 months ago, we were moving some furniture for my good friends from church Rick and Pat Swanson. Beside the furniture they were moving, they had an old treadle sewing machine. I asked if it worked and they said yes. I asked what they were going to do with it and they said they didn't know what to do with it but would like to sell it. Finally several months later, we reconnected and I was able to buy it from them. It was Rick's mother's sewing machine and he said she made many aprons on it.
Now my only problem is what to do with the other sewing machine. I guess a girl can't have too many machines!
Grandpa and Grandma owned a house in Basin. My memories of it were that the basement was full of treasures. Grandpa Doc loved to go to auctions and find "good deals" I'm not sure what he did with them, but their basement was fun to explore
I was just learning to sew and on this trip I found an old sewing machine. I asked Grandpa and Grandma if I could have it. I remember Grandpa saying, "sure take it." But I remember Grandma Ollie being a little hesitant. I'm not sure why, but she was. I remember she finally said yes and I was elated as we packed it into the backseat of the VW to drive home.
I don't remember using it a lot, but I think I did use it when I was in junior high and high school. But mostly it stayed it its beautiful case. When I got married, it moved with me, but I think by that time I preferred using mom's little singer featherweight as it would backstitch.
Fast forward to about about 1982. Ron's sister Cheryl and her husband were making plans to move to Alaska. She said something to me about wishing she had a sewing machine. I told her I had one I'm not using and off it went to Alaska. I remember my mom saying something about it being antique and maybe I shouldn't have given it away! I did tell Cheryl if she ever didn't want it, I'd like it back.
In 2011 Cheryl and her husband Tom moved back to Great Falls to live with Ron's mom Shirley. In 2013 she died after a short battle with leukemia. Then in 2015, Tom (her husband) and Shirley came to visit and he brought the sewing machine to me. He told me Cheryl wanted to make sure I got it back. I opened it and looked at it, but life was busy so I just put it in the closet.
In January, 2017 I decided I wanted to start quilting again. All my fabric was spread out hither and yon. Some in tubs, in closets, here and there. Some up in the attic of the barn. While going through one of the tubs from the barn (which had been there since 2002 when we moved in) I found a sewing machine manual for this sewing machine. (oh yes-- I did get my stash all organized)
I looked more closely and noticed that Grandma Ollie had written my name Nancy Fagenstrom in pencil on top of the cover.
I opened the manual (probably for the first time) and found all kinds of notes in Grandma's neatly penned handwriting.
The cover page showed the sewing machine as a treadle sewing machine with her name Olive Walker 1918.
The diagram of the sewing machine was fascinating.
In the top left hand corner in pencil is written. "This machine Doc bought in 1920 to sew Joy's diapers and outing flannel nightgowns." Hmmm did Doc do the sewing or did Ollie?
To the right it says. "Better buy a new belt as this is Wyo. dehydrated, then you'll have on on hand."
At the bottom in pencil it says. The last belt I bought Ethel Osborn she found it in his basement
As I flipped through the pages there is a section called "To OIL THE MACHINE. In her handwriting it says "Follow this Nancy, I did!"
And under the photo it says-- "Have a second key made. I tied this on when finished sewing. " The case has a key to open it tied to the handle.
In the book was a whole chapter on Instructions for using the Attachments. -- what a find! For a machine made in 1910 it had a lot of attachments.... ruffler, hemmer, underBraider, shirring plate, ..and tucker. Most of them are still in the machine.
On the page about FOOT HEMMER- Grandma write.. Use this--slowly--it works!
As I looked at the sewing machine, I discovered a real treasure! It has a motor that I've learned was probably attached in the 50's. It has a cloth cord which isn't very worn. The foot pedal was probably replaced in the 80's.
 |
| Grandma Ollie with my mom Joy in 1921 |
Just got it back and set it up. Took me a little while to get the needle threaded, but it purrs like a champ. Here I am sewing on a blanket for my granddaughter on a sewing machine that belonged to my grandmother. Over 100 years old. Somethings are timeless!
ADDENDUM August 2018
Shortly after I published this post, I tripped on the cord and somehow damaged the motor. When I took it back to Bagnelles he said it couldn't be fixed. But he did say that if I found a treadle, he would connect it for me.
Fast forward to 2018. About 6 months ago, we were moving some furniture for my good friends from church Rick and Pat Swanson. Beside the furniture they were moving, they had an old treadle sewing machine. I asked if it worked and they said yes. I asked what they were going to do with it and they said they didn't know what to do with it but would like to sell it. Finally several months later, we reconnected and I was able to buy it from them. It was Rick's mother's sewing machine and he said she made many aprons on it.
This is a picture of the sewing machine that was in the cabinet. Ornate in it's own way! We took the whole cabinet to Bagnelle's Sewing Shop and he took the other sewing machine out and put my sewing machine in it's place.
Grandma/Grandpa's sewing machine "freed" from it's motor and now powered by the treadle.
My first project- an I Spy quilt for my grand-nephew Logan William Roberts.
This quilt was made entirely using the treadle sewing machine. What a delight to use- even stitches, great tension. I'm loving it!
Now my only problem is what to do with the other sewing machine. I guess a girl can't have too many machines!
I enjoyed reading this. Some old things are worth hanging onto.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great family story!
ReplyDeleteGreat story!
ReplyDelete