LOUIS LITVIN
1886-1953
Louis Litvin was married in New York in 1915. His
children Dora and Martha were born in New York before they immigrated to South
Africa in 1918. His third child Morris (Maish) was
born 1924 Johannesburg after their arrival.
He was a tailor by profession
and purchased this sewing machine soon after his arrival in South Africa.
The sewing machine was purchased from Henry
Geen and Thomas Richards who founded their first store in Johannesburg 1919. The
store was known as Geen and Richards.
The serial number of the sewing
machine is G3452389 and is recorded as being made between the 13th February
1914 and 13th March 1914.
This Model 15 was made in a batch of 25 000
sewing machines.
After he died in 1953 it was in Dora Sarzin’s
(nee Litvin) house and used by her and her children, Rochelle, Jacqueline,
Felicity and Brenda.
At some stage it was modernised by adding an
electric motor and lamp, but it still can be used with the original foot
treadle.
After Dora passed away in 1980 this sewing
machine was given to Maish and Eckie Litvin and stood in their house in
Observatory for 37 years.
After Eckie passed away in 2017 it was gratefully handed down to me in 2018.
This heirloom will remain with the descendants
of the Litvin family for generations to come
BRENDA FISHER