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Thursday, June 26, 2014

Jaffrey 1919 Welcome home day

I recently acquired these pictures taken outside of my upholstery shop.
Great viewing to speculate the times that folks lived in.
I summize that the get together was a celebration of the return of WW1 troops & celebration of the end of the great war.
The car in the lower right shows a real old timer sitting in the back seat. Maybe a civil war vet?
The whole town surrounding the stone with the names of those who died in the war.

 I notice how everyone has full clothing on odd, for the time of the season.
If you scroll your mouse & click over the picture, you should be able to zoom in on any area of that picture.
The sign on the wagon states "We shipped 8,000,000 yards from aug. 1st 1912 to Jan 1st 1918".
The two signs in the upper right,states"3,000,000 pounds" & the other "3,000,000,000 nails".
Was the tack shop in town then?
 Every one has a hat.
  I was in the military and the term used was a "cover". Some one stated to me that all men wore covers until the death of JFK, after that it became "O.K." not to wear a hat.
If you look towards the middle left side you can see the entrance to 2 River street.
The curvature difference in the two buildings is because of very slight curving of the photograph I took as it is curved on the edges.
The signs in the center of the pic state "We shipped 100 carloads" & the other states"August 1st 3 billion nails shipped to France August 1st 1918"
Every one please copy & paste and share with others.
My plan is to get high def scans of these pics eventually.
And here are some more pics of the history of Jaffrey.
Click on the pics & get a detailed look!
Is the pic below a painting?
I notice the greenery covering the mountain all the way to the summit.

 One impressive chimney!





Thanks for looking!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Bentwood Rocker Upholstery

I have upholstered & restored many bentwood rockers in Southern New Hampshire over the last two decades.
 After removing two coats of staples & tacks & freshening up the wood it's time to start tailoring.
 Some time is taken to freshen up the stuffings in the seat with fresh cotton.
 The frame holes were not relieved drilled & caused the frame to crack.
I'll take proper care of that.

 The inside back is a challenge to draw out & accent the wavy frame.

 Washers included in all re-assembly helps keep the frame tight for many years to come.
Note the oxidization of the inner wood.  This old timers sure got some age to it.

After a fresh thin coat of cotton the outside back is tailored up.

 And a high end dust cover fits in nicely with the rocker.
 And on to the arm tops.
 Mirror set, of course.
 I'm not done 'till a good shop cleanup is done.
 And after hot melt gluing The tie in lines with just the right amount, & a final inspection.  
This chair is ready to serve.
I have heard it said many times that "Only rich folks get upholstery done".
That sure can be a true statement with traditional furniture lasting 50 to 200 years or more.  As opposed to purchasing modern designed disposable furniture from box stores.
Thanks for looking!
Practical Upholstery
The #1 blog in all of blogdom
for small town American upholstery shops!

Friday, June 20, 2014

1780-1810 Hepplewhite

Upholstery in southern New Hampshire here at Practical Upholstery, re-upholsters this very old Hepplewhite chair with major repairs.
 What a great size piece.
Sure doesn't need an oversize living room to fit this one in.
What a great high sitting height, also.
 Fresh cotton on the seat.
 I conversed with the owner about this. Now that it's time to do it I just couldn't cover up this attention needed.
 Stripped down the old.
 Work up the new with the same traditional fabrics & materials.
 This horse hair is 100 percent the same shape as it was when it was tailored up over 200 years ago.
 Fresh cotton stuffings.

 And the back is the same.
And the back restored.



 All outsides backed & lined with a thin coat of cotton
 The wood freshened up.
 Complete after a good shop clean up.

Please note there are no arm covers.

Thanks for looking!
Practical Upholstery
The #1 blog in all of blogdom
For small town American upholstery shops.