maviskw

I have a friend who writes like this. But I won't be seeing her until March 15. She lives in a beautiful Swiss house in the woods, built by her husband using field stone, an old log cabin and remains of the local high school gym floor. No electricity nor running water. They love living like that.

I see an "onaid" at the end of the name (can't figure out the first letter), and the last name seems to be "West" I think the MZ is Mr. Maybe that "i" is an r, but it's hard to tell.

Suzanna doesn't have a computer, so I'll just have to wait.

melmerr1

I have heard that some schools don't even teach cursive writing....

barny

Jeanette, you're correct. I had put the top of the f of the bottom line into the Mr. or Mrs.ha. Another of my mistakes, but I love to try. Many, years ago I was a proofreader for the telephone co. Now I can hardly spell.LOL

Rodney

I'll bet Singer didn't bite. Isaac Singer was a marketing genius. I don't know how many stores Singer had in 1865 but it seems to me he would have relied more on advertizing in major newspapers of the day. It seems to me a more reliable way of getting the word out to people. I'm not sure if Singer employed traveling salesmen back then or not but demonstrating a real machine would be a better idea than painting a false storefront into a New York scene. What if someone from New York who knew the area saw it? I also wonder where they planned to show the painting where large numbers of people would see it.
It is a neat letter though and it would be neat if there really is a painting to go with it. It just amazes me that it survived all these years. It's certainly a great display piece for your museum. Now you just need an 1865 Singer to go with it.
Rodney

mindless

That is a fun puzzle. The signature looks like Ronald West & Co. to me. What if "our agent, Mr. Moore" was an agent from an advertising agency of the time? I'm thinking along these lines:
http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/view/all/what/Advertisement/when/1865?sort=Date
it might be a place to begin....

Rodney

Too bad no name of the proposed painter was mentioned. There's pretty good records of painters out there.
Rodney

Cogito

I believe it is Howard West & Co.

Macybaby

Given that the writer makes his "w" look like "n", I'd go with Howard too - instead of Lenard. The first letter on the name does look like an H.

QuiltingVagabond

I can see where it could be Howard too.

SteveH

I really appreciate the assistance folks!! I am trying to get some research in between projects here at work.

So far no joy....