In the late 19th century, tradecards were a common way of advertising American products. Sewing machines and thread were two of the products that were heavily advertised on tradecards. Collecting tradecards was very popular, and many were saved in scrapbooks.
Here I have three cards with a sewing theme. Most tradecards were rectangular and came in various sizes. Some tradecards are diecut in various shapes like the seamstress above and the spool below. The card with the girl sewing a U. S. flag advertises Wheeler & Wilson sewing machines. This card folds so it can stand up.
The main image on the front of a tradecard was usually printed in full color. Often there was one-color printing on the back with an advertising message. The Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine was the "magic silent" machine said to "turn drudgery into pastime." The strength of Clark's O.N.T. Spool Cotton was compared to the strength of mother's love. It was the "best thread for hand & machine sewing."
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You always have such interesting cards to share and these are great. I love such old fashioned things. Much more interesting & fun than today's post or advertising cards!
ReplyDeleteI admire so much your fascinating collection The first card in particular is beautiful and so apt for this week's prompt. I have postcard copies from museums of old Singer Sewing Machine adverts - very like your last colour card here.
ReplyDeleteSo no wonder the industrial revolution was brought slowly into homes...one sewing machine at a time! These cards are new to me...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI like the one of the spool of cotton thread being as strong as a mother's love and then looped around.
ReplyDeleteI guess Clark was right about their thread being the best. We certainly bought a lot of Coats and Clark thread at our house.
ReplyDeleteI believe my late mother-in-law had a Singer sewing machine rather like that in your last colour picture. My memories of cotton wheels was making them into tanks by corrugating the rims and driving them with a piece of candle and a twieted elastic band.
ReplyDeleteI was looking at that enormous cotton reel and wondering what on earth it could mean...now I get it. Fabulous cards...never seen anything like them before.
ReplyDeleteThe invention of the sewing machine produced as much change in the 19th century as the personal computer has in our time. I have an old Singer hand operated machine that dates from 1895, and in that year alone they made millions of machines. But it still required advertising to convince people, i.e. women, that it was a useful gadget to own.
ReplyDeleteI had a post last year about the Wheeler & Wilson company band. http://temposenzatempo.blogspot.com/2012/03/wheeler-wilson-factory-band.html
These are wonderful. I don't think that I have seen trade cards before. Maybe we didn't have them in Australia? Well there are none in my collection anyway.
ReplyDeleteWow, these are great. Could you imagine today what they might have for trading cards? I can think of a few.... Great photos, thanks.
ReplyDeleteWill read more about tradecards as I know very little about them. What lovely images you shared! Love the one with the little boy and kittens playing.
ReplyDeleteHazel
Wonderful cards that suit the theme perfectly,, especially the first one. You have a wonderful collection.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about trade cards either - must ask my seamstress mother if she does.
ReplyDeleteI love the one with the cats - I have an antique sewing machine just like that - still works if I get industrious enough.
So on theme too.
I've got a few trade cards, but none as glorious as that die-cut Clark's one! The idea of teaching a baby to walk while supporting him (her?) with spool thread is pretty wild! Proves that there were professional ad-men way back then, eh?
ReplyDeleteA lovely collection of cards and very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBefore the sewing machine, it just amazes me how they sewed all those beautiful gowns, etc. by hand!!! You were sew sew on the theme this week!!!
ReplyDeleteThese are interesting. I particularly like the one withe the toddler and his mother.
ReplyDeleteThese are all so interesting to see. I like viewing the past illustrations and products they decorated.
ReplyDeleteAh, here's Wilson and Wheeler!!
ReplyDeleteGreat cards!!
:)~
HUGZ