Flood Refugees: 1937

My mother had one of those treadle sewing machines that very much resembled the one in the picture. I liked to sneak in and work the treadle by hand.

Remember when the Sunday comics were this size instead of the present miniaturized version?

Is that a toy motorcycle on the floor to the mother's right? The youngest has a doll. And mother saved her sewing machine (a major investment and a tool for further savings by making things). Today, after the family members, what would we save? Photo albums? Computer disks with photos?

There's also a cabinet Victrola in the right hand side of the photo next to the sewing machine.

The treadle sewing machine behind the boys seated on the floor has features typical of models from the earlier part of the century (1900-1920); curved drawers and a drop-down head. When the hinged top was opened, a cable lift mechanism raised both the machine and front panel, to allow access for the operator's legs. Nearly every household had a sewing machine, which means that there were millions produced, and that their value today is negligible.

Is that a sewing machine behind the two boys? I think so... it is interesting what people look to save when the flooding begins.

[Fancier than my mother's of similar vintage, interestingly. She was still using hers up into the 1970s. - tterrace]

A few items that would be of value today would be the sewing machine cabinet (holding the clock and lamp) and the Mickey Mouse shirt the little boy is wearing.

It looks like the bottle next to the Pet canned Milk might be Puretest Castor Oil.

No matter how long they watch it, that pot will never boil.