The fabric of second generation tailor Michael Dollinger's work is woven into historical eras he meticulously researches when making clothes for customers. He is the proprietor of Smoking Iron Alterations, located at 6358 Guilford Avenue.

"I grew up in and around tailoring. My father, Erwin, came here from Rothenberg, Germany in 1956 where he was an apprentice tailor. It was a walled city that survived World War I and II bombings located in the southwestern part of the country. He owned United Repair Service on Broad Ripple Avenue. My earliest memories are my visits to the shop checking out all the garments and raiding the penny drawer. Later, when I visited him on weekends, he would show me hand sewing and basting. We worked on different alterations, like hems," he recalled.

Originally from Indianapolis, Dollinger grew up in the Rocky Ripple area and skied on Butler University's hill when he was three years old. It wasn't long before he followed his father's footsteps into tailoring.

"I apprenticed with my father after graduating from Greencastle High School. We were both employed as tailors by Redwood and Ross at the Castleton Square store. I left Redwood and Ross and worked for L.S. Ayres for a while. Then I came back to Redwood and Ross where I ran the downtown tailor shop. After seven years, I was offered a position at the soon-to-arrive Jacobson's (at the Fashion Mall), where I worked as a head tailor for 10 years sewing in the Men's alterations department. I worked on Hickey Freeman and Hart Schaffner Marx suits. I also helped out in Women's alterations and on occasion in the bridal department," he added.

Dollinger worked at Jacobson's with master tailor Aldo Mina, who immigrated to America from Italy's Reggio Calabria region in the late 1940s. Several Indianapolis tailors from Germany, Greece and Italy learned their trade in the Old World. Another tailor he met was Salvatore Genco, an immigrant from Santa Ninfa, Sicily who worked at L.S. Ayres downtown store. Though now departed, their Old World artistry lives on today in Dollinger's work.

After selling United Repair Service to John Anagnostou in 1978, Erwin moved to Vail, Colorado and worked for about two years before returning to Indiana. "We worked together in Anderson where I received some on-the-job training," Dollinger said. His brother, Mark, is a tailor at the Men's Warehouse in Castleton who also apprenticed with his father.

The tools of Dollinger's trade include a 1945 Singer sewing machine and a U.S. Blind Stitch Company machine from around 1984. A 1960s model his father used is also in the store. Once made in Plainview, New York, U.S. Blind Stitch models are now manufactured in Japan.

History and clothing alterations have close ties in Bollinger's work. "I have always had an interest in history, working part-time at Conner Prairie as an interpreter and making my own clothing. I got involved with reenacting other time periods and pretty soon found myself making 18th and 19th century clothing for other people. I have made clothing for historical films, museums and historical sites, including a 1770s civilian outfit that toured the country with the Declaration of Independence and have made many items for people working at Conner Prairie. Colonial items I have made have appeared on the History Channel. Gary Forman of Valparaiso's Native Sun Productions LLC produced a movie, First Invasion: War of 1812. I made a series of clothes for those movies," he mentioned. He researches histories for his work found in his shop's bookcase, including Textiles of Regency Clothing from 1800 to the 1850s.

"I opened Smoking Iron Alterations in 2000 on the north side of Indianapolis and came up with the name from the old time charcoal irons I use when demonstrating old-time tailoring at 18th century events. I have a collection of colonial clothing in children's and adult sizes that I make to rent out for school projects and other costumed events," he explained. These and other historical clothes resemble what visitors might see at London's Victoria & Albert Museum.

As his career evolved, Dollinger worked in the same places and walked the same streets as his father to work. It was only fitting that he would return to a familiar area near home.

"I moved the shop to Broad Ripple in the spring of 2009 and offer quality alterations for men, women and children. I recently teamed up with Fabric Care Center, so you can drop off clothing for dry cleaning and laundering as well as alterations. I do all major alternations, including hems, cuffs, waists, dresses, formal, casual clothing, hats and suits in addition to repairing coat linings. I've got some hospital scrubs I've been working on that needed a patch. Rusted Moon sends over camping items that people bring in which I repair where animals have nibbled on camping equipment," he said. He also does work for clients around the county who contact him at 255-5470 or e-mail him at smokingiron@sbcglobal.net.

Dollinger discussed some of his recent projects. "I've been working on an early 1800s English officer's naval coat that is being sent to a client in Texas. It was made completely from scratch. I made a 93rd English Regiment gray coat from the War of 1812 in the Napoleonic Era. I create clothes from different time eras. I specialize in clothing from the mid-1700s (during the French Indian War) to the early 1800s in the Federal period all the way through the American Revolution Colonial period," he said.

"A charitable group, the Sojourners, wear uniforms of the Colonial era that I have made. I also make wedding dresses that I keep in the store for weddings and create the garments (including 1790s bride and groom attire) that people wear at various events, including Civil War reenactments. I do modern wedding attire and prom dresses during the prom season. People pass these clothes down to different generations. The reenactment side is fun, but what I would like to see is the traditional alterations take off," he noted. A 1940s Red Cross uniform and a standard olive drab World War I uniform that he created are also in the shop.

Smoking Iron Alterations hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Wednesdays are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays are usually 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., when Dollinger is not on the road showcasing vintage and reenactment clothing. When displaying historical attire, he uses an 18x24 tent to display items in various Indiana towns, including: May 6-8, 2011, at Lore of the Laughery in Friendship, May 14, 2011, at Muster on the St. Marie's TimeLine in Fort Wayne, June 11-12, 2011, at National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association (NMLRA) Spring National Shoot in Friendship, July 9-10, 2011, at Old Fort Wayne 1812 and August 27-28, 2011, at Old Fort Wayne and Fort Miami French & Indian Event. Additional events are at www.smokingironalterations.com, along with a clothing catalog.

In addition to alterations, Erwin's passion was auto racing. He raced with Jim Lloyd, Mr. Poster's original owner, driving a Porsche 356 (an E production car) with Kline Porsche Audi. He later drove a Formula Ford with Gene Dodd from Dodd Electric, racing at various tracks around the country, including Daytona Beach. Michael recalled catching his first fish at Elkhart in 1969 when Erwin raced there. His car was known as "The Mad Tailor" whose paint job was done by Passwater Auto Specialists. Dollinger shares his father's appreciation for vintage cars. "My first car was a Corvair that I learned to drive and I still drive them today. They were manufactured from 1959 to 1969," he said.

Continuing his father's tailoring legacy, Michael Dollinger's Smoking Iron Alternations reflect yesterday's vintage clothing and patrons' new custom wear at his Broad Ripple shop.