Business Card of Bezalel 1913

This is a business card for Bezalel, who repaired sewing machines. It is written in Yiddish. This was found among the letters of Polya’s collection. Most likely, he was someone her family utilized while in Paris. Polya’s father, Henri, was a furrier, and Polya herself was an accomplished seamstress.  [Bezalel does not seem favor modesty in business promotion.]

Front of card:

Bezalel

I know how
The sewing machine man
7, rue des Feuilantines Paris

Mr. Bezalel’s repair of sewing machines will be remembered for a very long time after the payment has been long forgotten.

The price is given in advance.  The work is done on the spot by Mr. Bezalel himself, and he commits to visiting from time to time in the course of 6 months to have a look at the machines and repair them when necessary, as required ENTIRELY WITHOUT CHARGE.

Mr. Bezalel, the London sewing machine man, satisfies everyone and therefore he is successful.  Write a card to Mr. Bezalel and he’ll come to you straightaway.  The address is:

Back of card:

Paris, March 12, 1913

To all.  We recommend Mr. Bezalel, the London ‘sewing machine man’ as a specialist in repairing sewing machines.  He made our sewing machines work in the best way.  [They] turn easily, quietly, quickly, and give out smooth work with a beautiful stitch.  The machines don’t tear the thread any more, don’t break the thread, and don’t make too many stitches.  If our sewing machines stop working so wonderfully, Mr. Bezalel will repair them again for us without charge as his written guarantee he gave us claims.  We advise you to entrust Mr. Bezalel with repairing your sewing machines.  You won’t regret it.  From me, Lando (Landa?  Londo?) Shiye Ide (signature unclear)

(In bold print at bottom of page): Have you already seen Mr. Bezalel’s sewing machine needles that thread[1] by themselves?

(see the other side)

[1] Yiddish, ‘fertsilen’.  This is a dubious word as no dictionaries, Yiddish or German, record it.  It is possible that it’s a misprint (there are other typos elsewhere) and the word should read ‘fertsihen’, to thread (a needle).  It’s also possible that ‘fertsilen’ is a derivative verb of ‘tsil’, ‘aim’, i.e. the needles take aim by themselves.