"Thompson's Universal System, by Mrs. F. E. Thompson, c.1899" 1899 clothing patt

[Sepiachord]

New for the Sepiachord Field Guide:
<a href="http://www.sepiachord.com/patterns1889.htm">"Thompson's Universal System, by Mrs. F. E. Thompson, c.1899"</a> 1899 clothing patterns

<img src="http://www.sepiachord.com/PATTERN/pages/003.JPG">

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

My word, that's a terrifically useful publication. Thank you very much, sir.

[Sepiachord]

We live to serve!

[Esmee Weatherwax]

Bookmarked to explore. Much obliged.

[Victoria The Mistress]

Many thanks here also    - I have downloaded!!

[RoseOak]

Looks fantastic, thanks

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

Page 123 shows how to use 'the scroll' in drafting patterns - presumably this is an essential part of Thompson's Universal System. Does anybody here have more information on Thompson's system in general, and 'the scroll' in particular?

[dhawktx]

It's shaped a bit different from a modern version called a dressmakers curve, but this is what they're talking about:
http://sewing-online.com/Equipment/quilt_and_sew_rulers/Dressmaking_Rulers/French_Curve_Metric/

This one can be had from Joann.com here in the States
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalogproductdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=xprd728443

Oh.My.Motherlode...these fellows actually have one that is almost exactly the same shape! Come to Mamma!
http://www.pgmdressform.com/805e-plastic-transparent-french-curve-p-305.html
http://www.pgmdressform.com/pattern-making-supplies-c-3.html

This is the one that I have and use regularly:
http://www.pgmdressform.com/805a-fairgate-24-vary-form-curve-p-96.html

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

Oh.My.Motherlode...these fellows actually have one that is almost exactly the same shape! Come to Mamma!
http://www.pgmdressform.com/805e-plastic-transparent-french-curve-p-305.html

Thank you enormously! With that image I can now make my own. It's not that I'm cheap (well, not much), but postage and duty from the USA would be rather more than the cost of the curve. I just can't seem to find one like it over here.

[dhawktx]

I ordered a pair of these (at only $2.99 US each and plastic, seemed the wise thing to do) from the vendor right after posting and was just notified that they have shipped!

Additionally, I hadn't noticed that the system tossed in the wrong city name...the CALLED me to verify my address. For an $8 order! I will definitely recommend them as a vendor to others who sew.

[dhawktx]

Well I already received my order for the French Curves! Here's a closeup for the Cap'n *wink*

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhawktx/4487363260/#

and the same for our side of the pond...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhawktx/4486713635/#

[greensteam]

My sainted aunt - that is an amazing effort for all our benefits. It makes you realise how much thought is taken out of modern dressmaking by the use of shop-bought paper patterns. By the time you have made one or two items out of Mrs thompsons book you would be well on the way to be a serious tailor.

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

Well I already received my order for the French Curves! Here's a closeup for the Cap'n *wink*

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhawktx/4487363260/#

Many thanks dhawtx; having the measure in shot makes things so much easier!    Time to retrieve that acrylic sheet from the garage!

and the same for our side of the pond...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhawktx/4486713635/#

As it happens, I'm one of those chaps who greatly prefers Imperial measurements for most things - especially when they relate directly to people.

Thanks again.

[Emmaline Medford]

These look amazing, thank you for posting them!

[greensteam]

Can anyone enlighten me as to the Scales mentioned in the early part of the instructions? Are these essential or can one muddle through without? If they are essential, is there anywhere an image so we can make our own copies of the scales?

[LillysWorkshop]

Thank you so much! I can't begin to tell you how relevant and useful this is to my current sewing projects and designs.

[Dave the Troll]

This looks like a very useful resource.  I instantly set to with the intention of drafting a pattern for a double breasted waistcoat.  That'd be on page 127.  Any idea if the pages after 124 are available anywhere?   

[Weirdsews]

I feel like I am chasing a ghost looking for info about Thompon's universal system!
The links you shared ages ago look to be broken or inactive- Would you mind re-sharing?
Do you have any further info about this random thing?
Thank you for seeing this- if you ever do. 

[Prof Marvel]

Thanks for asking

it piqued my interest as well, so I went out to my magical resource, The Wayback Machine, aka The Internet Archive

I have a special fondness for the site, becuase it was originally started by Sun Microsystems employees and hosted on spare idle servers

And yet, Even Now , after the untimely demise and dismemberment of Sun Micro, and it 's zombification as a part of the Evil Oracle Empire,
The Wayback continued forward as a crowdfunded effort!

so, look what I found

https://web.archive.org/web/20160313200448/http://sepiachord.com/patterns1889.htm

and if you click here you get the Wayback'd 126 page pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20160313200448/http://sepiachord.com/PATTERN/pattern_book_1899.pdf


it would seam ( hehe a pun!) that a lot of stuff came from here
https://costumes.org/

hope this helps, have fun
prof marvel

[Lepidoptera]

New for the Sepiachord Field Guide:
<a href="http://www.sepiachord.com/patterns1889.htm">"Thompson's Universal System, by Mrs. F. E. Thompson, c.1899"</a> 1899 clothing patterns

<img src="http://www.sepiachord.com/PATTERN/pages/003.JPG">

Tried to go there but it says "access denied?"

[Sorontar]

:-( The pattern for the jacket I want is missing - no page 125.

Sorontar

[Weirdsews]

Ah! Ingenious! Thank you Prof Marvel!

My own edition of this book is from 1904-1910s (if I remember) so this is really interesting! I hope to someday scan my copy and make it available but it's very fragile so I'm nervous to do so. There's surprisingly not a lot of information out there on the web about it.

Perhaps I'll stick around this forum and see what else is going on here I have sort of drifted away from steampunk as my local steampunk community got a little stale but I will forever appreciate the aesthetic. Maybe this random happenstance will be some inspiration haha.