In a message dated 7/7/06 12:58:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> And I was in the fabric/sewing-machine/vacuum-cleaner store > today and thought I'd better ask whether that statement was > still true -- I spotted the leather belts hanging on the > wall behind the repairman when I was halfway through asking > my question, but it's good that I asked -- he said that > nowadays they also make elastic belts to fit treadle sewing > machines. > Dear Lacemakers, Thank you, Joy. Although my conservation/restoration training focused on textiles, we need to remember that everything is subject to change based on the atmosphere in which it "resides". In the case of old manually-operated sewing machines, leather or rubber belts will be affected (as time goes by) by changes in temperature and humidity. To keep the leather belts on my two un-electrified Singers from experiencing too much stress, I keep the belts dis-engaged and would treat the leather with special products that would keep them supple if I intended to use them. I use a dehumidifier in Summer and a humidifier during heating season in an attempt to avoid extremes for self and collections. While on the subject of unelectrified machines - I have wandered in and out of Costume Society of America events for years. At this year's symposium, I re-met a woman whose home I had visited some 20+ years ago. She and her husband collect old sewing machines and own more than I have ever seen in one place. Their home is large. Every room has machines of all makes and for all types of sewing, lace and embroidery purposes. This collection is well-known by certain groups, and I am not the only one who has seen this fascinating accumulation of evidence that there were machines made for specialist seamstresses and tailors to use when working for their particular clientele. Consider the fact that there was a variety of people who were customers in need of clothing. The expectations of these customers depended on class, culture, country vs. city, etc. For instance, in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, some wealthy people maintained a room in their homes for the use of the family seamstress. She would come to the home for a period of time each year, or each season, and prepare/mend household linens and clothing. She would also come to work for a family when a prospective bride was preparing her trousseau. Many books confirm this practice. Much skill and speed was expected of such a seamstress and her sewing equipment. For well over a century, students have been educated in specialty technical schools where they are taught the fashion business from end-to-end. They have been documenting both historic and current fashions in books, museum exhibitions, on stage, in motion pictures, etc. There are many more courses of study and books available on this subject than on lace and embroidery combined. It is important for members of this list (Arachne) who are collectors of lace and embroidery to learn how to "read" these products. That means close inspection of lace and embroidery to determine whether made by hand or machine. Thanks, Angela - for your informative articles. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace & Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
