Word: mama
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Early financial problems were great, according to both Peter and Mama. "When I got to America, I had $5.50," recalls Peter, "and when I paid the express for my trunk I didn't have anything." Peter, who spoke no English them, went on in the shoe repair business, and gradually turned his trade to bigger and better things. To the shoe repair business was soon added that of shoemaking. The Limmers showed a sample pair of ski boots around, but in 1924 there weren't many skiers in America...
During the war, with the boys in the service the Limmers went back to shoe repairing. When the boys returned, the family again abandoned that mundane occupation for producing their own. "The people around here didn't like that," says Mama, "they said the Limmers were getting too independent...
...Limmer establishment works very much on the old world system, with the two sons, both unmarried, living at home and working with Papa and Mama in the shop. Peter Jr. estimates it would take one of them alone two full days to make a pair of boots. The shoes are easier and the Limmers can make about three pairs...
From here the "last" and the measurements are consulted in making a pattern for cutting out the leather uppers. The trigonometry involved would do credit to a Math 1 student. At this point, Mama's work begins; she cuts and sews the uppers to the required size. The selection and cutting of the upper is a difficult process, since all leather will stretch in one direction. The problem is to select a piece of leather with the minimum of stretch, and then cut it so that the stretching will be in the least detrimental direction...
Peter himself doesn't ski much now because "If I fell down, I'd have to wait till the snow melted to get up." Mama stills skis a bit. Francis and Peter are the athletes in the family. Francis spent several of his war years in the Camp Hale ski troops where Torger Tokle was his platoon sergeant. Peter Jr., however, chose the Air Corps where he was a crew chief on a B-29. Both the boys look forward to a break in the business rush when they can dash up to Tuckerman's or Cannon Mountain with...