Boot making display

[MariaMS]

It has been a while since I posted.  I've been steadily working on a display titled "Clothing the workforce" at Westland Industrial Heritage Park, in Hokitika NZ.  Here are some pics of the "boots and shoes" section.  I recently got  gifted a set of wooden shoe forms, and the ledgers shown in the "office" are from a local shoe shop and date from around the 1930s. Locals have enjoyed looking through them to see what shoes their parents and grandparents purchased or had repaired. I have also been given various tools, and we have a pile of cast iron forms for repairs.  So far the machines are a Singer 107G2, a couple of Singer 29K (2 and 13), a Pfaff post bed, a cup seamer for fur and a Singer 31k19 kick foot.  I also have a Pfaff triple feed, a Singer 7 and an early Pearson but they are displayed in the upholstery and heavy leather sections. I have pending an alternative fur sewer (the existing on is on loan) and some local history from the possum fur shop which is retiring after 50 years in business. I'm curious as to what, if any items I should keep an eye out to add? 

[jrdunn]

@MariaMS,  I always enjoy seeing the fruits of your passion, although I'm saddened that it's a museum instead of a working shop.  Just an old man's thoughts.  Jim

[MariaMS]

@jrdunn  yeah me too.  So many places closing up.  However, the aim is for it to be both story telling and working.  I have restored most of the machines back to working condition, and have hopes to do more workshops, including ones for children using the domestic hand cranks.  We had a machine restoration workshop last year.  It was a blast, but I got too tired doing it over two consecutive days.  I had hoped that some of the people at the workshops would return to help me, but that didn't really happen.  I confess to not know much about making shoes, and most of the leatherwork I've done is horse tack and sewn by hand. I do use the other machines in the "Shirts and trousers" section to make stuff like jeans and aprons though. I've got a 4 needle chainstitch coming, and will see if I can add a folder for waistbands and potentially bag handles..... then I'll get the kids sewing shoulder bags from recycled material .....maybe!! I don't want to clutter things up though, trying to stay with the leather work focus.

[dikman]

Full marks for taking the time and making the effort to do all of that! 

[MariaMS]

@dikman thanks.  The collection and stories have grown over the years..... I have learnt such a lot restoring them and had a huge amount of entertainment.  A couple more shots of the display. I do still get frustrated when I don't know the answer to something..... currently battling with setting the timing on a stop motion assembly on the Singer 175-33 (button sewer).