Historic Hood River
Boot Fitting
5-4-2012
Notes
This 1900 photograph is from a series of humorous stereo cards. Its title: “Don’t Get Above Your Business, Young Man.”
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
Charlott
So many interesting features shown here. You have the leather sitting there to make shoes/boots, cobbler tools. Trying to figure out what the actual cobbler is hold. Could it be a boot jack?
The young woman doesn’t seem to pleased with the young man "messing" with her leg. I am assuming she is being fitted for boots with him measuring that far up??????
From her attire she definitely is not a poor farm girl, furs, quite the hat, plus looks as if her hand bag might be of some sort of fur also.
Wonder if the cobbler was from Perry County, Ohio, due to the map on his very busy wall.
He may simply be measuring how high to make the boots as it was common that a cobbler, if he made for customers on a regular basis to have what was called a last, which was a pre measurement of their foot. Would not naturally work for children.
l.e.
The young lady didn’t dare smile. Heaven forbid that she would enjoy any of this.
Yes Charlott, What is the old boot maker holding? Some type of leather stretcher?
And what is on the left side of the lady. A ball of wound up hair?
Interesting photo.
judy
Could be her "muff" to keep her hands warm.
Connie
OK – so I have to chime in here. First – I agree that the object to her right is a muff. The hat looks just like the one I made the Kate D, for the 2011 Cemetery Tales for her character of Ellen Blowers. The object in the older man’s hands is a lacer. The stand in front of the table with the tools on it is filled with typical shoe making tools which we have several of at the museum, including the "foot forms" called lasts.
Kate D
Egad, what a scandelous picture! Stereo card only shown to certain company, I am sure! I am wondering where those socks came from? Surely, young men where not to see a woman’s stocking!