Ladies Art Company Trade for Bentley’s

Just recently, fellow ephemera collector and I did a trade. Connie Chunn, most respected expert on all things Ladies Art Company (LAC) related, had coveted a LAC company coupon I had in my collection for many years. We met via the Quilt History List and Ebay – we both shared similar tastes in collecting all things pertaining to the LAC. A few years ago, I shared with her a CD of images of the many LAC catalogs I had in my collection, plus the colored card patterns sold by the company – and the coupon.

Connie wanted to trade the LAC coupon for an original 'Bentley's Catalogue, Part One. Five Thousand Stamping Patterns." Copyrighted, 1886, by C. E. Bentley, 12 W. 14th Street, New York, (208 pages).

This past winter, I finally agreed to the trade. I know my coupon went to a good home, and I got a much sought catalog of embroidery patterns! The pages were very similar to the Mrs. T.G. Farnham’s Home Beautiful catalog offered by the Michigan Museum.

I decided to do a little comparing of the Bentley and Farnham catalogs and noted that the page numbering were in the same style, but the layouts for the pages were different. For example, on page 96 of Farnham’s catalog, the same image of children doing a tug-of-war is on page 82 of the Bentley’s catalog. The item id numbers are different, but both are priced at 50 cents.

It is interesting to note, that Bentley’s and Farnham’s were business neighbors - 10 West 14th Street (Farnham) and 12 West 14th Street (Bentley’s) in New York City. Looks like they shared patterns with each other – and possibly publishers too.

Rainbow Quilts

Greetings, It is with sadness that I let you know that Verna R. (Pinch) Niemann, the daughter of William Bray Pinch passed away on January 29, 2008, she was 81years old. Her daughter-in-law Amy is working to bring back the much loved designs from the Rainbow Quilt Block Company of Cleveland, Ohio.

On a happier note, Pam, a fellow member of QHL (Quilt History List), sent me images of a summer spread and pillow cases her mother-in-law made, that I thought you might enjoy them. The summer spread has Sunbonnet motifs and the pillow cases have some Teddy Bears and Kewpies on them.

Pam pointed her MIL Alwynne, of Lake Placid Florida, to the blog, to which she wrote: "Louise tells of the Broome County quilting club, I perked up. I was born in Binghamton, NY which I think is in Broome County. She also mentions Johnson City. My great aunt lived there & I'd visit her. I was encouraged to bring my trumpet for Aunt Belle played the piano & we'd ride the bus to evening church so I could play. "

Pam is in Illinois, Alwynne is in Florida, and I am in New York - and the internet brought us together. It truly is a small world.

Of the Coast of New Sealand

A bit of departure of my normal postings, but I have had several requests to post some of the works I make. As you know I do quilt a bit of hand embroidery. I also like other hand work: crazy quilts and beading. Here is an example of a tote bag I made in 2006. It was a challenge from the Art Q mini-group I belong to. It is a small group of quilters that meet at each other’s homes every month. We like to try new and innovative techniques and create art quilt projects for our enjoyment.

Every year we try and have a challenge. In 2006, we decided to do a color scheme challenge. We finally chose Salmon, Olive and Teal as our color choice. We put types of ‘ingredients’ on slips of paper and passed around a hat and picked one out.

The following are the guidelines used we for the challenge:

1. Each participant will be assigned an ‘ingredient’ to provide. You will have ‘ingredients’ from everyone, including yourself, plus the original focus fabric. Ingredients: Cotton Fabrics, Glitzy Fabrics, Fibers/Yarns, Beads/Embellishments.

2. Our color scheme will be SALMON–TEAL–OLIVE. You may add other colors to your final creation; however, you piece should contain all three challenge colors.

3. You can create ANYTHING you want (wearable art, accessories, wall hanging, a doll, etc.)

4. You must use some of EVERY ingredient (but not all of every ingredient).


After recieving the 'ingredients' - they screamed sea creatures to me. Every evening for about four months I stitched the fishes while my sons did their homework. I applied the seaweed using fusible applique and machine stiched into place. After that, the fibers were hand-couched to the jeans background. [Yes, the bag is made from an old pair of jeans.] The 3-D creatures were finally sewn into place, along with the fish beads and shells.

It is always a conversation piece when I go to quilt shows or shop hops. I hope you enjoy it too.

Rainbow Quilt Block Company

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.

Walter P. Webber, Mail Order System

Walter P. Webber's of Lynn, Mass. was established in 1890. They sold both iron-on and perforated patterns, along with pre-stamped goods and fancy work materials. According to the 1880 census, Walter P. Webber was born in 1859, and was working as a telegraph operator. He was single and 21 years old, making him 31 when he started his mail order service.

I did some research using the Lynn, Mass. directories (they can be found at http://www.rootsweb.com/~maclynn/ ). Several stamping pattern companies were located in Lynn - J. F. Ingalls, T.E. Parker and Walter P. Webber that I know of.

Webber's was still listed in the 1934 directory. The address in both the 1934 and 1917 city directories is: 73 Harwood Road.

In 1893, they published Webber's Illustrated Catalogue of New Stamping Outfits. (I unfortunatley do not have it.) According to 'A Guide to American Trade Catalogs, 1744-1900,' By Lawrence B. Romain, Page 115:

1893 Lynn NNMMWEBBER, WALTER P. Webber's ill. catalog of new patterns for fabrics, stamping outfits and supplies. 44pp. of designs and ills. In wrap.

What I do have is the 1913-14, Walter P. Webber's Catalog of Modern Embroidery. In this catalog, they are sold both iron-on and perforated patterns. They have a child's 'kindergarden apron' that is stamped with a Bernhardt Wall image from his 'summer sunbonnets' postcard.

The other one I have is The Art of Embroidery and Illustrated Description of Fancy Stitches, Tinted Art Novelties and Linen Stamped Goods. This booklet is undated, but there is a calendar page from April 29, 1896 inserted in it.

The Directories:

Webber is in both 1he 1917 and the 1934 directory. The directores list the person's name, occupation, address of employment and living address. Doing a search on the company address yielded names of the people who worked there (and lived in Lynn, Mass.).

1917 Lynn City Directory

Webber Walter P (Lizzie L) embroideries 73 Harwood h 75 do

Ashworth Anna M designer 73 Harwood bds 10 Jones ter

Knowlton Helen J clerk 73 Harwood b 33 Bloomfield

Robinson Dorotha clerk 73 Harwood bds 48 Whiting

Stevens Mildred J clerk 73 Harwood b 75 do

Story William P com tray 73 Harwood h at Salem

1934 Lynn City Directory

Webber Walter P (Mildred J) embroideries 73 Harwood h 75 do

Arnold Irene clk 73 Harwood r 33 Brimblecom

Keating Lester E (Alice E) stamper 73 Harwood h 48 Barrett

Legro Luella F forwmn 73 Harwood r 671Western av

Mess Lydia A Mrs stitcher 73 Harwood r 274 Boston

Packard Esther M Mrs bkpr 73 Harwood h 5 Chase

Smith Alice M Mrs stitcher 73 Harwood r 604 Essex

Smith Paul T ctr 73 Harwood r 5 Chase

TAX LIST - April 1, 1919 - April 1, 1920

NAME AND ADDRESS VALUATION TAX

Webber, Walter P., 75 Harwood 60 1.30

Webber, Walter P., Inc., 75 Harwood 1550 33.64

Abbreviations:

b or bds - boards; bkpr - bookkeeper; clk - clerk; ctr - cutter; do - ditto; h - house; rd - road; rms - rooms

An interesting thing to note, is that Walter Webber lived next door to his business, and in the 1934 directory, the 1917 clerk, Mildred J. Stevens - who also lived in his home then, was now listed as his wife.

In the 1910 census, Lizzie S. is listed as Walter's spouse, whereas in the 1920 and 1930 census, Mildred J. is listed as the spouse. Some where between 1917 and 1920, either Lizzie died, or something, but by 1920, Mildred was now the wife.

Mrs. Farnham's Catalogue of Stamping Patterns

Here is another great resource for Victorian embroidery motifs. Deborah Harding (author of Red and White: American Redwork Quilts and Patterns) and the Michigan Museum has made this ca. 1886 catalog available on cd or b/w copy book. The official title of this catalogue is:

Catalogue of Stamping Patterns Embracing All of the Latest and Choicest Designs Used in Connection with the Illustrated Catalogue “Home Beautiful,” A Treatise of Decorative Art Needlework and Embroidery Materials

by Mrs. T.G. Farnham

Quite a mouthful. You can order the cd via their web site at: https://secure.museum.msu.edu/MTAPStore/sku.asp?time=733&sku=CD0001

This catalog has hundreds of motifs. I haven't done a full check on them, but they are very similar to the Briggs, Ingalls and Bentley catalogs. The catalog is for perforated stamping patterns (so are Ingalls and Bentley's). Only the Briggs are hot-iron transfer patterns.

I have an original copy of Mrs. Farnham's price list - which is a pre-cursor to the illustrated catalog. It is mostly just a listing of the motifs, along with the price. There are only a few illustrations in this booklet.

Home Beautiful. A Descriptive Catalogue of Art Needle Work; with Illustrated Designs and Prices, by Mrs. T.G. Farnham, New York, c. 1884

Briggs & Company

I have had the good fortune in getting two wonderful resources. First, I got the Album of Transfer Patterns (c. 1903) published by the Wm. Briggs & Company.

Album Briggs Transfer Papers - 4 books bound as 1
Floral (224 pages); Artistic Conventional (borders, sprays, corners, etc., 72 pages); Scallops (edgings, flannel designs, 36 pages); and Initials & Monograms (18 pages)

This is the catalog that these 2 Dover books are from:
Designs and Patterns for Embroiderers and Craftspeople (ISBN: 0486230309) William Briggs & Co.; Editor-Marion Nichols and 400 Floral Motifs for Designers, Needleworkers and Craftspeople (Dover Pictorial Archive Series) (ISBN: 0486251624) Briggs & Co.

I went through some of the pages of the Dover books and found the patterns in the Album Briggs Transfer Papers. It was a fun afternoon for me.

The second book I found is a leather and cloth bound salesman sample book called "Briggs and Compy's Patent Book". It has 130 pages of the actual wax transfer patterns - transferred to the pages of the book. Hand written notations indicate the pattern number and other notes, such as 'Kate Greenaway Children' or 'splashers'.

The book dates prior to 1895, when the company became Wm. Briggs & Company. What is neat about this book, is that the motifs are 'actual size' whereas the catalogues have smaller images.

The patterns range in color from a blue-black, black and red. Note: The tissue transfer patterns I have (I Weighed Rose-Mary, etc.) were done in a red-brown wax transfer color.