Rainbow Quilt Block Company
4915 Wichita Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
The Rainbow Quilt Block Company was founded by William Pinch. He touted himself on his fliers as the “Quilt Block Specialist” and “Maker of Pretty Quilt Blocks.” His early designs were often sets of children’s quilt motifs, such as Teddy Bears, Kewpies, Sunbonnets and Dutch Kiddies, and came in sets of 12. The blocks were also sold at dry goods stores individually or in kits. These were mainly 9-inch blocks.
The name ‘Rainbow’ came from a process Mr. Pinch developed in printing the blocks in the color they were to be embroidered – red, yellow, brown, green, blue, etc. [Later blocks, that I have seen do not have the different colors stamped on them – only blue.] The company also had designs of state flowers, birds and with both, for the 48 states that were in the union at that time. These patterns were sold by the company and as subscriber premiums for Needlecraft Magazine (Needlecraft/Home Arts) from Augusta, Maine.
Mr. Pinch also designed many blocks that combined embroidery and appliqué. They had designs stamped on each background block – typically 12-18 inches, and each of the colored appliqué pieces. The pieces were button-hole stitched into place and embroidered with details. These types of blocks were sold individually and as kits of 12 at dry goods stores, such as F.W. Woolworth.
The company sold quilt kits and blocks separately, with and without the floss. Fine strong white muslin was used for the quilt blocks, and “Fruit of the Loom” cotton was used for the appliqué. For half the price, along with return postage, customers could send in their own cloth for printing, and Mr. Pinch supplied the appliqué pieces.
Mr. Pinch’s daughter, Verna continued selling the quilt block patterns well into the 1970’s from her home in Florida. Her children (Mr. Pinch’s grandchildren) have agreed that it’s time to re-release the patterns.
They have formed The Rainbow Quilt Block Company LLC and have reserved domain names for the company. There are over 1,100 designs that Amy (a granddaughter-in-law) is scanning and digitizing from the 10 plus boxes Verna had saved of the original Mr. Pinch patterns. As of January 2008, Amy has around 200 of them ready.
A web designer is currently working on a web page and they have plans to sell the patterns as iron-on transfers. I will post more on this as the company moves forward.
Several members of AQSG are doing research on this company, the founder and their patterns.
William Bray Pinch
William Bray Pinch was born on April 20, 1880 in Cleveland Ohio. He was married to Signe Ingeborg Dahlman. He died in January 1972. William was the son of Alpha Warren Pinch and Sarah Adelaid Ferin.
4915 Wichita Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
The Rainbow Quilt Block Company was founded by William Pinch. He touted himself on his fliers as the “Quilt Block Specialist” and “Maker of Pretty Quilt Blocks.” His early designs were often sets of children’s quilt motifs, such as Teddy Bears, Kewpies, Sunbonnets and Dutch Kiddies, and came in sets of 12. The blocks were also sold at dry goods stores individually or in kits. These were mainly 9-inch blocks.
The name ‘Rainbow’ came from a process Mr. Pinch developed in printing the blocks in the color they were to be embroidered – red, yellow, brown, green, blue, etc. [Later blocks, that I have seen do not have the different colors stamped on them – only blue.] The company also had designs of state flowers, birds and with both, for the 48 states that were in the union at that time. These patterns were sold by the company and as subscriber premiums for Needlecraft Magazine (Needlecraft/Home Arts) from Augusta, Maine.
Mr. Pinch also designed many blocks that combined embroidery and appliqué. They had designs stamped on each background block – typically 12-18 inches, and each of the colored appliqué pieces. The pieces were button-hole stitched into place and embroidered with details. These types of blocks were sold individually and as kits of 12 at dry goods stores, such as F.W. Woolworth.
The company sold quilt kits and blocks separately, with and without the floss. Fine strong white muslin was used for the quilt blocks, and “Fruit of the Loom” cotton was used for the appliqué. For half the price, along with return postage, customers could send in their own cloth for printing, and Mr. Pinch supplied the appliqué pieces.
Mr. Pinch’s daughter, Verna continued selling the quilt block patterns well into the 1970’s from her home in Florida. Her children (Mr. Pinch’s grandchildren) have agreed that it’s time to re-release the patterns.
They have formed The Rainbow Quilt Block Company LLC and have reserved domain names for the company. There are over 1,100 designs that Amy (a granddaughter-in-law) is scanning and digitizing from the 10 plus boxes Verna had saved of the original Mr. Pinch patterns. As of January 2008, Amy has around 200 of them ready.
A web designer is currently working on a web page and they have plans to sell the patterns as iron-on transfers. I will post more on this as the company moves forward.
Several members of AQSG are doing research on this company, the founder and their patterns.
William Bray Pinch
William Bray Pinch was born on April 20, 1880 in Cleveland Ohio. He was married to Signe Ingeborg Dahlman. He died in January 1972. William was the son of Alpha Warren Pinch and Sarah Adelaid Ferin.
10 comments:
Hello, I just got an email from Amy, she is up over 300 patterns scanned now! She has been very busy!
Hello! I have long been a fan of this Cleveland, Ohio company. It would be wonderful if someone wrote a research-based book about the Pinch brothers (1 was in Canada) and their embroidery quilt block companies complete with color photos of antique quilts made with their products. Please keep posting information on this project.
Ohioquilts, The Pinch family will be making the patterns available once again shortly. I will be sending them photos of the quilts, tops, and blocks I have in my collection to the family to use in anyway they seem fit. Once they are ready, I will post again. Thanks for your interest, Louise
Louise-Do you have any update information on the Rainbow Quilt Patterns? My mother is very interested in them. Thank you!
Boofsmom, The Rainbow pattern project has been put on hold since the passing of Verna (Mr. Pinch's daughter). They are trying to sell their house and plan on resuming once they have resettled. I will keep you posted on the blog as I hear more. Best regards, Louise
I got the pieces for the Colonial Ladies at an estate sale but no picture or directions. I would like to see a picture of how it is to be assembled. I have a large center square, & 4 triangles each with one lady and a rectangle with 3 ladies. I have the applique done and am working on the embroidery.
Nancy Day....November 2016
I have inherited a set of the Rainbow Quilt Block Company 48 state birds and flowers embroidered by my Grandmother. I would be very interested in when this pattern was published. I'm in the process of turning the blocks into a quilt right now. I even have the instruction paper with color names and layout.
I also belong to a redwork group and would be very interested in any patterns planned for publishing.
Hello ..My name is Linda (Gilson) Jones. My mother (Elsie Adelaide Pinch Gilson) is the niece of William Bray Pinch. Her father (Alpha Warren Pinch...same name as William and A W's father) moved back to Cleveland from Canada after selling his farm in New Castle, Ontario. He could no longer work the farm due to illness. He started working with his older brothet William at the quilt block business. A year later, AW brought his wife (Ethel Cooper Pinch and t sons & 1 daughter to live in Cleveland. His daughter Elsie was 10 yrs old at this time..the year was 1929.) With the quilt block company being successful,AW and his 3 oldest sons worked in the company with William. Elsie celebrated her 100th birthday in July 2019! She told me she thinks her grandmother, Sarah A. Pinch may have been the inspiration for her son Will & the quilt company. Mom remembers her grandmother designing and stamping designs on blocks of cloth as wrll as making quilts herself! (I would love to see samples of the quilt block designs. My mother might remrmber some of them! )
AW & Ethel Pinch had 5 sons & 1 Daughter. The oldest son, Ted designed or made improvements to sone of the "machines" used in the Rainbow Quilt Block Company. 3rd son Gerald did work there with his uncle, father & brothers. When the woman hired to do office help left the company, Gerald took over helping with the office work....this was back in 1930's I believe.
My mom (Elsie Pinch Gilson)kept in touch with her cousin Verna.I remember visits with the family, especially when we were all up in Canada together! When Verna & her husband Claus moved to Florida I no longer personally saw them or their 3 children, but my parents did get a chance to visit Verna & Claus in Florida many years ago. Verna had the remaining Quilt Block Co equipment in Florida with them. After her husband passed away, Verna moved back to Ohio.Mom and Verna communicated from time to time until Verna passed away. I'm on Facebook as Linda Gilson Jones.My email is Ljsun2@aol.com
I still live in Ohio..not far from my mother, Elsie.
A woman in Ontario, Canada is currently working on a hustory of the Pinch family and their long-time fishing & vacationing at Little Hawk Lake, Ontario. Brothers William, Norman & Alpha Warren (jr?) all had cottages on the lake. AW built the very 1st cottage there. About 6 generations of the Pinch family have enjoyed the beautiful lake and area since 1919 when A W Pinch sr, his sons William ,AW (& 2 oldest sons) & Norman found out about the lake from a friend and started camping there...and eventually had cottages...
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