Ribbon threader or bodkin is a blade of nickel-plated non-ferrous metal, in a torpedo shape, wide and rounded at one end and tapering to a point at other end. Two slots are cut in wide end for stringing ribbon that needs to be threaded through casings in waistbands, wristbands, etc.
Stamped inscriptions: On one side of tool is "RIBBON THEADER", "REGISTERED", "No. 3", AND "K.B.C.".
Provenance
Collected by Lillian Hollings Kiker, born to Scottish Americans who lived in New Jersey. Born (1912) and lived in New Jersey, last of Egg Harbor, she was active with quilting, sewing, knitting & crocheting. Collection inherited by donor when her mother passed away.
Stiletto or bodkin of turned bone, fitted in a conical basket-weave holder or sheath.
Stiletto (A) has ball-shaped head with hole in it, then narrowing to a neck with additional swells and narrowing until it tapers from midsection down to a sharp point.
Holder (B) is an elongated cone made with a brown reed-like material woven onto ribs like a basket. Handle is a twisted form of the same material, shaped in a double loop configuration.
It is assumed that this pair of otems were originally dwsigned for each other.
Provenance
Collected by Lillian Hollings Kiker, born to Scottish Americans who lived in New Jersey. Born (1912) and lived in New Jersey, last of Egg Harbor, she was active with quilting, sewing, knitting & crocheting. Collection inherited by donor when her mother passed away.
Bodkin of bone is a flattened needle with one rounded end and one end with a blunt point. Slot of 5/8" in length is cut into body near rounded end. This tool is used for threading ribbons, etc. through casings, fabric tubes or loops.
Provenance
Collected by Lillian Hollings Kiker, born to Scottish Americans who lived in New Jersey. Born (1912) and lived in New Jersey, last of Egg Harbor, she was active with quilting, sewing, knitting & crocheting. Collection inherited by donor when her mother passed away.
Bodkin of steel is a blunt needle used for threading ribbons or other fabric through casings, loops, etc.
Two thin pieces of tapered steel are laminated together through half their length at narrow end. Two pieces at wider end are separated, allowing a ribbon or other material to be fitted into "jaws" and clamped in place via a sliding mechanism fitted into slot that extends lenthwise toward jaws. Inside of jaw ends have 3 pairs of raised barbs or teeth that enable the jaws to hold material without slipping.
Stamped on one side at midsection is "THE DOT." This likely refers to the rounded sliding mechanism fitted in the slot.
Provenance
Collected by Lillian Hollings Kiker, born to Scottish Americans who lived in New Jersey. Born (1912) and lived in New Jersey, last of Egg Harbor, she was active with quilting, sewing, knitting & crocheting. Collection inherited by donor when her mother passed away.
Soft needle case made of light red cotton on the exterior of the 3-lobed clamshell type case. Opens to an off-white flannel twill liner. Two flaps of flannel attached to "hinge", one smaller than the other but both having a decorative edge stitching of blue. The bottom section of case has stuffing. A silk binding edges the entire case.
Decoration of case is a symmetrical arrangement of clear beads in various designs, consisting of 7 beaded flowers around the perimeter of the top as well as 7 on the bottom. Fringe beading is done along the silk binding.
Provenance
Donated by Mrs. Alameda H. Ramboch of Haddonfield, NJ.
Umbrella type swift or winding wheel. Mixed woods, central shaft with attached slide and wingnut which raises an array of string-connected straight wooden strips or "ribs" that unfold & spead outward to provide a variable form on which to wind yarn. The swift can be table mounted via the clamp with wooden screw at bottom.
Stamped on walnut clamp end is: "A. Danner."
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Provenance
Unknown provenance. Seller states Aaron was the son of woodturner Daniel Danner (1803-1891), see James McMahon article on D. Danner in PA Folklife, Autumn 1993, vol. 43.
Aaron H. Danner listed in Manheim in Lancaster County Directories: clerk, salesman, 1896 - shoes, 1903 - salesman, 1909 - Pres. Exchange Bank (!!), 1921 - salesman.
Hand carved from one piece of oak. Long double-edged blade has blunt edges. Tapered to a blunt point at one end. Opposite end is a 5" long rounded handle.
Donor states origin in the Gochnauer/Hersh families of E. Hempfield Twp.
Provenance
Donor purchased from 1969 farm sale of John Gochnauer on Gochlan Road, East Hempfield Twp (between Landisville and E. Petersburg).. John married Rebecca Hersh circa 1830 and the Hersh farm became the Gochnauer farm.
Flat tin 6-pointed star pattern or template with1/2" diameter hole at center. Used for creating raised, sculpted plushwork (see Amish Arts by Patricia Herr, pp. 44-55).
Child's thimble of non-ferrous metal classic form with domed top. Dimpled exterior with plain and textured bands above base. Marked "2" on plain band near base.
Note inside reads: "Used by 3 yr old Alice Reynolds Ehler deceased child of Charles and Laura Ehler Lancaster Penna."
Charles Leland Ehler (3-6-1858 to 3-5-1904) is buried in Woodward Hill Cemetery and his wife is "calculated" to be Laura B. Trout Ehler, born 1859, according to Findagrave.com. Charles is listed as a bookkeeper in various City Directories. Found no evidence of progeny.
Tatting shuttle of mother of pearl, loaded with white thread. End of thread has two tatted rings. Tatting shuttle is torpedo shape with two thin plates of mother of pearl shell positioned 1/8" apart and held in place with two iron rivets. Exterior of both plates have engraved checkerboard pattern except for sprig of flower within a central circle and two bordering bands at perimeter, one a chain of dots and alongside is a running cable pattern. Two drilled holes at each end of each plate with unknown purpose.
Paper label accompanies shuttle with "TATTING SHUTTLE" written in ink in a caligraphic hand.
Some soil on mother of pearl. Several small nicks on edge. LIght scratches on engraved surfaces, some created at time of manufacture when rivets were smoothed.
