Object Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
2012.004.001 |
Object Name |
Suitcase |
Description |
Small wooden suitcase covered on the exterior with a faux brown leather. Hinged lid with two brass clasps and a brass lock on the top of the case. Leather handle attached underneath the brass lock. "Bassett" and "Made in Germany" are stamped on the lock and on the clasps. Metal corners with a brown finish on each corner of the suitcase. Three metal hinges on the bottom of the case, attaching the lid and the base of the case. Interior is lined with a brown and cream plaid paper. Two leather straps on the interior of the lid. Oval paper label with "McBrine Baggage/Kitchener, Canada" printed on it attached to the back of the base interior. Image of the earth in the centre of the label with "Around/The World" printed on either side. There is a separate cardboard piece covered with the same paper laying in the suitcase. It has two leather pieces attached to it. |
Date |
1920 |
Date |
1924 |
Dimensions |
H-22 W-33.5 L-65.5 cm |
History |
According to the donor, George or Gerhardt Deorksen (1904-1978) was a Russian Mennonite from present day Ukraine who immigrated to Canada in 1924. George sailed on the S.S. Melita from Riga, Latvia to Quebec. George's father sold a piano to pay for his passage to Canada. The remainder of the family stayed in the Ukraine except a sister who had immigrated earlier, settling in Markham, ON. George initially went to Markham but eventually moved to Kitchener, ON where he found work at Dominion Rubber. He worked there for over 30 years. In the early 1930s, George married Katherine Huebert (1901-1991). Katherine, her parents, and siblings also immigrated to Canada in 1924, with the family settling in Kitchener, ON. The Huebert family was relatively wealthy and brought furniture, a sewing machine, and other household items with them. Katherine worked at Forsyth Shirts in Kitchener until she married. The L. McBrine Company, also known as McBrine Baggage and the McBrine Luggage Company, operated a three storey factory on Water Street South at Charles Street in Kitchener. The company was founded in 1892 by Louis McBrine and William G. Cleghorn and closed in 1969. The factory was demolished to make way for the King Centre parking garage. |
Search Terms |
McBrine Baggage |
People |
Deorksen, George |