Comment

Comment by Timothy Bruffy on 9th mo. 16, 2012 at 3:20pm

A collector and seller of old curiosities. . . Reminds me a bit of Dickens "Old Curiosity Shop."

If Hutterites are selling items of all sundry, then they are not going to be as worried as if thee had called up their "Unlisted" phone number, asking doctrinal questions. If you have a purpose or business transaction, whether large scale or small, they will not seem as distant or cold. But if thee were to pepper them with "why" questions &c thee would notice a potentially highly reserved Hutterite or a suspicious one like we had received. :)

Some are a bit uncouth or rude or uncultured in their manner of communication and etc. Why? They are their own sub-culture. They refer to nothing as "their own," but they have "all things common," and live communally. To do otherwise is "weltlich" worldly. I know a lot about them, even though I live far away from them. . .

I still love the look of thy machine! Lovely! Keep up thy sewing! Thou hast a gift, actually more than one—as thee liketh photography, so use thy gift. Use thy machine! Thank God thee has a good instructor to teach thee. :) Use the electric and treadle both.

Wunderbaar-gut, jah? (Wonderful good, yes?) Auf Wiedersehen! (Until we meet again!)

Comment by Zaley Warkentin on 9th mo. 16, 2012 at 10:22am

The dates on mine range from 1882-1889. The guy collects these machines, so I don't know where it would have come from...That's too bad they are suspicious of you...the ones here are generally very nice...I will say generally, cause definitely some of them come across as a bit rude...

Comment by Timothy Bruffy on 9th mo. 15, 2012 at 10:59pm

After World War I, nearly ¾ of all Hutterites fled across the border to the Providences of Canada. . . The reason: persecution. Three of their draftsmen suffered greatly on the island prison of Alcatraz in the San Francisco Bay one mile off shore. They died of torture and starvation.

Our phone contacts with them in the states of Montana, South Dakota, and two colonies in Minnesota; they are very suspicious, and don't like to answer a lot of questions. If I were to visit one, it would be best if I knew someone that knows them to accompany me. Why? Outsiders have burned their new expansion colonies. . .

That is quite the treasure! I'd hold onto it.

I know a fellow born in and near the Waterloo/Kitchener, Ontario Canada area; yet he has been in about every colony, or Mennonite community in the States, Canada, Philippines, Japan, Europe, Chile, Paraguay, Belize, Columbia, other Central and South American Old Colony Mennonites, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Russia, Poland, Netherlands, and he now lives in Tasmania, Australia! :)

Sturgeon Creek Community. . . I think I've heard of the place through the writings of my acquaintance who lives in Tasmania. . .

Your machine probably left, years ago from the states, as the family that owned it fled to Canada. I could almost imagine that perfectly, because our machine is so nearly like thine and it is ­©1905, ©1906, ©1907, ­©1909, ©1910. Well, at least, it could have happened. Still, a gorgeous machine, and still useful! Great job! 

Comment by Zaley Warkentin on 9th mo. 15, 2012 at 10:29pm

Actually mine is from Whiteshell colony near Seven Sister Falls. It's close to the Manitoba/Ontario border. We were at the Sturgeon Creek Colony this morning for their farmer market! That's the one that we live closest to.

Comment by Timothy Bruffy on 9th mo. 15, 2012 at 2:59pm

Beautiful! The one I have is very similar to thine. Only, I don't know how much work it needs. I do know it needs some longer screws to hold the wooden cabinet to the cast iron frame, and a belt, which thee can get from GVS (1-800-398-2494) in MO. (They have lots of sewing notions, thread, needles, belts for treadle machines, small variety of men's clothing, small variety of women's and children's items, and etc.)

Ours may need some work on the tension of the bobbin thread or some other tune up. I did a lot of work on it, but it seems as though it wants to not be useable to me. Mine was my late grandmother's older sister's! Handed down and handed down some more. Thine is from the James Valley Bruderhof or Hutterites in and near Elie, Manitoba??? Wow!