Here's the original guarantee for my Vesta treadle sewing machine, made by German manufacturer, L O Dietrich of Altenburg and bought at Jones Brothers, Holloway Road, Islington for my Grandma, Florence, on 18th November 1938. Knowing that war with Germany was imminent they took the decision to buy this highly recommended machine while they still could. Grandma made sure she stocked up on needles and as the factory subsequently went over to the production of munitions, this was a prudent decision.
She had two boys: my dad was 8 yrs old then, and his much older brother 15, so she was a busy housewife living in a terraced house much like I do now, but without the luxury of the time saving machines we all take for granted these days. However, a sewing machine was a must-have item in those days, when ready made clothing was for the higher classes and the women of the household were taught to sew by their mothers, so that they could clothe their families and make themselves the latest fashions!
Grandad, Frank was an office worker for Colgate-Palmolive and this would have been a big purchase for the family. Grandma was a proficient seamstress. She made her own dresses, suits and coats and by all accounts was a stylish little lady.
She had two boys: my dad was 8 yrs old then, and his much older brother 15, so she was a busy housewife living in a terraced house much like I do now, but without the luxury of the time saving machines we all take for granted these days. However, a sewing machine was a must-have item in those days, when ready made clothing was for the higher classes and the women of the household were taught to sew by their mothers, so that they could clothe their families and make themselves the latest fashions!
Grandad, Frank was an office worker for Colgate-Palmolive and this would have been a big purchase for the family. Grandma was a proficient seamstress. She made her own dresses, suits and coats and by all accounts was a stylish little lady.
 Florence in a posh frock and pearls |  Frank & Florence in holiday mode. (Photo scanned from a brass plate.) |
Grandma made my mother's wedding dress from white velvet, which is not an easy fabric to work with (as I know to my cost!) with tiny pearl style buttons and fiddly loops down the front of the jacket. I still have the buttons, but the dress is no more: Mum made me a party dress out of it, when I was little dot! (Make do and mend was the order of the day.) We were going to a Christmas Party at her old Grammar School (Camden High School for Girls) and I had outgrown my best frock, so she did what she had to do!
Mum's wedding dress-you can just see the tiny pearlised buttons down the front of the white velvet jacket. March 1st 1952
RSS Feed