Originally Posted by phatquilts2
Many of the department stores had a fabric section because home sewing was very popular back in that day. Do not remember when those fabric departments were banished.
Does anybody remember the measuring apparatus that was around six inches off of the table? The fabric was pulled through a slit and a round dial gauge with hands like a clock {?]or scale showed the yardage. Then the fabric clerk would push a lever which made a rip in the cloth. The fabric was then torn right in front of you and not cut with a scissors. In the rare instance that the print was all off grain you knew it right away. Anyway that was then and this is now, guess I am dating myself and a popsicle was a nickel. :lol: :roll:
Yes, I do remember the way yardage was measured at Penney's, Sears, "Monkey Wards", Anthony's, etc - drawn through the gauge as you described.
I also remember the way Penney's packages were wrapped back then - piece of heavy paper torn off a roll, items folded in the paper, then sturdy string was drawn up from a cone-shaped spindle under the cabinet through a hole in the counter and the purchases tied up with string. Those were the days when we took a bus to town on a rare occasion to shop as most families I knew had only 1 car - Dad drove it to work.
Many of the department stores had a restaurant, appliances, kitchen & bath items, furniture, etc in addition to everyday & work clothes as someone else mentioned.
I was fascinated with fabric & paper & colors back then (still am) & as a child I loved to watch the fancy ways gifts were wrapped for free by the Penney's clerks at Christmas time - pleats in the tissue paper, pretty hand-made bows & so on.
Thanks for the memory lane trip!