Article and photos by Jen Rinaldi

Part goat and part inventor Delbert Forpahl is an Indomitable spirit that has never taken “no” for an answer. 

I had the rare opportunity to become acquainted with this rather unusual man as he was getting ready to pack up on a cold fall day at the Local’s Market at Buffalo Bill’s Restaurant. His boxes of sewing supplies had slipped off his walker, and as he struggled to gather his things, I helped this bent but determined man clean up and pack his wares back into his car. I was amazed that he would want to participate in an endeavor as strenuous as a weekly market. He told me that if he didn’t keep moving, he would die. I immediately knew this man had an inimitable spark, and we have been friends ever since. 

Knowing I worked in wool Delbert wanted to give me a spinning wheel he had made, so he invited my husband and I to meet him at his shop in Pinetop. Hidden away, on an unassuming street, tucked into the woods we were treated to an amazing walk back in time. 

Delbert keeps his beloved sewing machines in pristine working order and has machines from almost every era the oldest from 1889 — a New Home pedal operated cast iron beauty. Most of his industrial machines were not even electrified, but leave it to Delbert, he engineered the belts and motors to run them. The handmade spinning wheel and wool carder he gifted me are made of steel rods from an old box spring mattress set. The spinning wheel from an old bicycle and a chair. It’s so steampunk in its creative use of everyday elements, it roused my artistic curiosity. I had to ask him how an obviously robust man got into Sewing machines in the first place?

He explained, “I was born in 1943 in Oregon. And my early years were spent milking cows and feeding livestock on my family’s farm.” He was just 4 years old and was trusted with daily farm chores. “My father was a donkey puncher making two a week, so everyone had to pitch in and help.” He continued, “I had befriended a steer which I affectionately called Peanut Butter. The steer would follow me around while I performed my chores hoping for a pet or some grain.” Delbert recalls the steer loving attention and liking to take off bucking playfully when he saw his friend. 

One day Delbert was in a grain elevator gathering corn for the evenings feeding when Peanut butter came in looking for him. The steer hit the lever to the grain elevator causing the grain to fall from the levels above. The steer was killed, and Delbert lost most of his left hand. 

Delbert spent a year and three months at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene Oregon undergoing a complete reconstruction of his hand, using goat bone — an experimental procedure. He was the first patient to ever undergo such a revolutionary reconstruction. The prognosis was grim and after numerous surgeries the doctor’s declared his reconstruction a failure and told him that he would be crippled for life.

In 1947 there was no such thing as physical therapy so when Delbert was released, with his mother’s prompting, he set to work helping her by using his hands to sew and spin yarn. Between the sewing, spinning, and driving tractors with a shifter he regained most of the use of his hand all at seven years old. He attributes his sewing and spinning as being the therapy that retrained his hand. 

As many young men of his generation, he entered the military in 1964 during the Vietnam war. There his mechanical prowess and reputation brought him to the docks where he worked on Submarine Calibration. The USS Proteus was one of his charges to which he repaired and calibrated its delicate inner workings. He remained in the military for five and a half years honing his mechanical expertise. 

Upon leaving the service he was offered a job at Royal repairing typewriters and other office equipment. During his three years with Royal, Delbert became the top field service engineer, but despite his talent, his boss hated him for his disfigurement. Delbert was given an award for his proficiency, then promptly resigned.

The next day he was offered a job at Eastman Kodak repairing projectors and camera and went on to become a leading technician for the Western United States and retired around 1984 as Kodak was scaling down. 

1996 after being hit by a drunk driver and nearly killed, Delbert spent 5 years in recovery, it was during this time that he met Irene Gamble who lives in Snowflake Arizona. She needed help on her farm, and Delbert needed more rehabilitation and a new start. On her farm Delbert trained horses and donkeys while taking in stray dogs. He worked with Dr. Despain, a local Veterinarian in Taylor to neuter and spay them, and between the two of them, they would find the dogs suitable homes. At one point Delbert had over 40 dogs in training. 

He met his wife Annie in 1998 and they were married in 2011. “We married On April fool’s day.” he recollects kindly. She took him to Lakeside, were they raised Angora Rabbits and chickens. It was then that Delbert decided to take up spinning the rabbit fur, so he made himself the spinning wheel and a carder he gave me using two by fours and old bicycle parts. His spinning wheel and carder though unconventional are machined to do the job easily. 

In his shop you will find all eras of machines from homemaker models to industrial equipment. He does upholstery and sews purses, oven mitts, and all manner of durable sewn good. Every weekend he brings his pedal powered sewing machine and does repairs while he talks to customers. Being the machine master that he is Delbert still loves to repair sewing machines of all types and regularly does upholstery work for local businesses. 

I will forever be astounded by Delbert’s amazing life. He not only cherishes his days but despite his hardships has always refused to give up. The world is a better place with folks like him woven into it.

If you need a sewing machine repaired, need a custom-made purse, hat or handbag or perhaps a sewing class you can reach Delbert at: 928-243-3584