Knitters

Uncirculated

Sisters, friends, or models knitting. The costume looks Dutch to me, and the knitting girl is holding her yarn in the Continental style.

Little Girl Knitting

Uncirculated

Published by Fragoso & Esteves

Postcard Caption:

11-Quero dar-lhe esse prazer...Quer verA sua grnde alegriaCerto dia,Quando os seus annos fizer...

I ran this text through Google Translate, but the result made no sense whatsoever, though it seems to be related to a new year bringing joy. No matter! I got this postcard because it's about knitting and because the little girl's comportment is adorable. 

Gem Knitting Company, Herkimer, N.Y.

Uncirculated

Published by the Hugh C. Leighton Co., Portland, Maine

Postcard Caption:

Birds Eye view of Herkimer, N.Y.

Morris Mark, the wealthiest man in the county, had the first indoor bathtub and gas furnace, features which captivated the residents of the town. In a biographical sketch of James H. Evans, the History of Herkimer County notes that Evans worked for Mark from the time he arrived in Herkimer in 1877:

...until the formation of Gem Knitting Company four years ago, of which he became the leading partner and practical head. The other members of the concern are H. A. Deimel, C. R. Snell, and M. A. Deimel. Employment is furnished to 150 hands, and Swiss Ribbed Underwear in cotton, wool and silk is produced, three hundred dozen being turned out per day. The factory is a large three-story brick building with basement and contains all modern improvements and machinery. The products are disposed of through their New York office at 48 Leonard street. Mr. Evans is a thirty-second degree Mason.

The History of the Mohawk Valley records that Robert Henry Race "became boss knitter for the Gem Knitting Company, holding that position for three years, and he also worked as boss knitter for the Lyon Knitting Company of St. Johnsville, New York, at two different times. On July 10, 1901, he returned to Herkimer as superintendent of the Gem Knitting Mills Company, and has occupied this position through the intervening period to the present time." Nelson Greene's book was published in 1925, and that's the last mention I can find of the Gem Knitting Company. I'll keep investigating to see if I can find a more conclusive closing date for the establishment.

An aside: I'm fascinated by the tone and word choice of the company and job descriptions. I'd like to be boss knitter anywhere!

In 2011, Herkimer erected a historical marker that includes information about the Gem Knitting Company along with the town's former power plant and the Standard Furniture Company (which closed in the late 1970s). I think the desk assigned to me during my graduate program was manufactured by them!

REFERENCES

• Greene, N. (ed.). (1925). History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the west 1614-1925, Vol III. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company.
• Hardin, G.A. and Willard F.H. (1893). History of Herkimer County. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason and Co. Publishers, 1893.
• Mark Mill and Gem Building, Landmark Buildings of Herkimer County
• Sorrell-White, S. (2011, September 11). "Marker added to Hydraulic canal greenway," The Telegraph Online.
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Have You Had Any Sleigh Rides Yet?

Postmarked 28 January 1911
Grafton, Illinois

Postcard Caption:

Learning to Knit

Postcard Message:

Dear Nellie. How are you thanks for that Xmas card. Where did you spend Xmas, I was home all day. We were at two Xmas trees. Have you had any sleighrides yet. We haven't had very much snow. Had a little rain yesterday. It seems to-day as if winter was over, but I guess in a few days we will think different, don't you. Bertie

Amities

Uncirculated

Postcard Message:

Amitiés, Roger Randon

If the interweb is to be trusted, this translates as "Best wishes, Roger Randon."

Finding vintage postcards with yarn or knitting is more challenging than I expected. It's amusing to me that a large percentage of the ones I find also feature cats!

Knitting with Children

Perhaps someone can help me translate this postcard, which I acquired to increase my collection of knitting-related cards.

Knitted Jumper

Uncirculated
Real Photo Postcard

I picked this up not just because the little boy is precious, but also because he's wearing such a good-looking knitted sweater. Since knitting is one of my favorite hobbies, I am working on developing my vintage postcard collection related to knitting and yarn.

Playful Kittens

I love cats and I love knitting, so I had to get this postcard. Although yarn is often depicted as a cat toy in paintings, it can be very dangerous to kitties. If cats swallow yarn, ribbon, or similar material, they can develop intestinal obstructions. This Animal Planet article outlines some of the other hazards.

Mischievous Pugs

Uncirculated

You'd Be In "Stitches"

Postmarked 25 June 1945
New York, NY

Message:

6/24/43 / Dear Roger, / How are you doing? Long time no hear except grapevine method. When I told Dad, Smyrna, he thought Smyrina Turkey. He travelled [sic] there while he was in the service. / Glad you liked our news! Enjoyed your P.S. to Mother. / What are you doing now? Would enjoy a word or two. / Lots of luck from all of us here. / Love, Pegs

Searching for "Roger W. Overton," I could only find one mention, in a Long Island newsletter. If this is the same Roger, he died in 2009 at 85, having been a Staff Sergeant in the Army from 1943-1945. Mr. Overton of Patchogue was an insurance salesman, as well as a member of the Pactchogue Fire Department. Mr. Overton did wed a woman named Margaret - Pegs, perhaps?