MARKER, HEM

Description: HEM MARKER - WOODEN RULER WITH CHALK CONTAINER, RUBBER DISPENSING BALL AND DETACHABLE BASE - 2 PIECES. 1. HEM MARKER, WOODEN RULER WITH GRADUATED MARKS FROM 1 TO 26. RED PLASTIC PIECE AFFIXED TO RULER AT "23". SECOND RED PLASTIC PIECE SITS JUST BELOW "15" - THIS PIECE IS ADJUSTABLE BY A SCREW ON THE BACK. ADJUSTABLE RED PIECE HAS SMALL JAR WITH WHITE POWDER ATTACHED. RUBBER TUBE WITH A RUBBER BULB AT THE END RUN FROM LOWER PLASTIC PIECE THROUGH UPPER PLASTIC PIECE. RUBBER BULB IS HARDENED. BACK OF RULER SHOWS SIGNS OF WEAR FROM SCREW BEING LOCATED AT VARIOUS HEIGHTS. 66.0 CM HIGH BY 10.1 CM LONG BY 5.9 CM WIDE 2. BASE, METAL, RED PAINTED. BASE IS RECTANGULAR SHAPED AND THE CORNERS SLOPE UP TO FORM A SEMI-PYRAMID SHAPE. HOLE AT CENTRE OF BASE FOR INSERTION OF RULER. PAINT IS CHIPPED INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY ALONG EDGES AND CORNERS OF BASE. 2.4 CM HIGH BY 9.2 CM LONG BY 12.4 CM WIDE.

History: ACCORDING TO THE DONOR, WENDY AITKENS IN AN INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY NICOLE HEMBROFF, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT, IN JULY OF 2011, THE DRESS MARKER WAS USED BY HER MOTHER, KAY JAMIESON NEE FARRIES. IT USED "TO MARK THE HEMS OF THE MANY DRESSES SHE SEWED FOR HERSELF. KAY SEWED CLOTHES FOR HERSELF AND THE THREE KIDS. EACH EASTER, THE GIRLS GOT BRAND NEW SUNDAY DRESSES. SHE MADE HOUSEDRESSES AND GOOD DRESSES FOR HERSELF. SHE EVEN MADE PJ'S AND BLOOMERS. SHE WAS A VERY SKILLED SEAMSTRESS. [IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE MARKER], YOU CAN SEE HOW THE HEMLINES CHANGED BY THE POSITION OF THE CHALK. " AITKENS SAID HER MOTHER WAS "STYLISH AND CLASSY BUT NOT HIGH FASION." AITKENS SUSPECTS JAMIESON ACQUIRED THE HEM MARKER PRIOR TO HER MARRIAGE TO WALLY JAMIESON. OBJECTS LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN READILY AVAILABLE AT DEPARTMENT STORES. THIS OBJECT WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE BEEN USED IN BOTH LETHBRIDGE AND CALGARY (POSSIBLY BEFORE). EVENTUALLY, JAMIESON STOPPED SEWING, POSSIBLY BECAUSE IT BECAME EASY AND INEXPENSIVE TO BUY CLOTHES COMPARED TO THE PAST WHEN MAKING CLOTHES WAS MUCH CHEAPER. AITKENS ALSO LEARNED TO SEW FOR HERSELF, HER KIDS AND HER HUSBAND, LANNY AITKENS. SHE SAID, "I SEWED A LOT OF CLOTHES, EVEN A SUIT FOR LANNY. I STOPPED SEWING WHEN MY KIDS WERE TEENAGERS AND THEY WERE SO FUSSY. I COULDN'T MAKE SOMETHING TO SUIT THEIR TASTES." FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SEWING SEE PERMANENT FILE. FOR FAMILY HISTORY SEE P20090030001.