I think I made a huge mistake. I found a Sewhandy, not the Singer model 20, but the Sewhandy made by the Standard Sewing Machine Company. Evidently it was manufactured after the GE Model A and before the Singer Featherweight. It looked decent and had attachments with it. AND I PASSED ON IT! It was $85 and had its original case. I just bought a featherweight this week and felt guilty buying another machine so soon.
Plus I am out of space. But now I think I made a huge mistake. What do you all think?
Should I go back and get it tomorrow? Here is a link to a pic. I think I will get it if it is still there tomorrow. We were almost the last people out of the shop before it closed, so if I go early it should still be there. It seems like it not a very common machine, and it is small. Cathy, you will be the first to know if I decide not to keep it.
Amcatanzaro, no, it wasn't found in your neck of the woods, even though you didn't ask. Another antique store find near Hamilton, OH! I'll post pics if she is still up for adoption tomorrow. DH told me to go ahead and get it, even though he said just a few days ago that I didn't need any more machines.
He is such an enabler, I should have listened. Then he would have been there to carry it to the car for me.
The Standard Rotary Survey Results The NeedleBar MEMBERS' SURVEY RESULTS The Standard Rotary (Standard Sewing Machine Company) Compiled by Gina Bisco Thank you to Alan Quinn and the Needlebar Group for making the survey possible, as well as for their ongoing sewing machine research that so greatly benefits all of us with an interest in these old machines. Summary of Results One of the most fascinating aspects of Standard Rotary sewing machines made by the Standard Sewing Machine Co. Is that some of them will take an attachment called a chainstitch spider which installs in place of the bobbin case and (used along with a special chainstitch needle plate) converts the machine from straight stitch to single thread chainstitch. The spider that came with my Standard Rotary serial number 770155 worked well in that machine and one with a later serial number, but it would not fit it into any of my machines with a lower serial number. In doing this survey, I was hoping to find out whether there was a version of the chainstitch spider that would fit the earlier Standard Rotary machines. The earliest serial number for a machine in the survey that was confirmed to have a spider is 727368. Whether there is a version of the spider that will fit Standard Rotary machines with a serial number lower than 700000 remains to be discovered.
(Update August 2009. Machine #545,868 accepts and is able to use a solid center pin chainstitch spider. The use of the spider may depend on the type of hook mechanism and bobbin case the machine has. Further details in the ) The earliest machine in the survey has serial number 62565. Machines with serial numbers lower than 174193 have the serial number on the flip-up plate (Photo 1). Machines with serial numbers above 182514 have the serial number on the stitch length plate (Photo 2).
This serial number division also signifies a general change from the springless felt and grooved disk tension assembly (Photo 3) to the tension assembly with a spring and and a takeup spring with one free end (Photo 4). Two machines earlier than 174193 are reported as having the J tension assembly; perhaps the tension assembly was replaced with a later version sometime during their working lives. Front and back of spider with hollow pin, which fits 'stout' machines at least between 1247790 and 1362800, and possibly above. The 4 feed dog variants (Photos 10, 11, 12, 12) do not seem to be perfectly correlated with any particular serial number sets except that versions 1 and 2 are found only on 'slim' machines and version 4 is found only on 'stout' machines. Note the slight difference in configuration between versions 3 and 4: on version 3, the leg of the L-shaped feed extends only to the front edge of the needle hole; on version 4, the leg extends well beyond the front edge of the needle hole.
Feed dogs version 4. The two known variants of the common leafy vine decal, 'multi' (Photo 14) and 'brown/gold' (Photo 15), are both found on quite early 'slim' machines as well as much later 'stout' machines.
One person reported a confirmed Standard Rotary machine with completely different decals, a gold art deco pattern with the famous winged bobbin decal on the bed. A few others reported decals that were not the basic leafy vine decal, but of those, none were confirmed as being Standard Rotary machines made by the Standard Sewing Machine Co.
Singer Sewing Machines were first manufactured in 1851. The manufacture dating provided here on our Web site is reproduced from the original Company register number log books. Because we have not been able to locate the log books, serial numbers for the years 1851 to 1870 are not available at this time. Serial numbers on Singer sewing machines manufactured prior to 1900 are numbers only. After 1900, the machine serial numbers have a single or two-letter prefix. The tables are divided into these three categories.
Factory Locations by Prefix Letters AA to AT - Elizabeth, New Jersey USA BA to BY - Elizabeth, New Jersey USA CA to CY - Bogota, Colombia DA to DY - Karachi, Pakistan EA to EY - Clydebank, Scotland FA to FY - Clydebank, Scotland GA to GY - Clydebank, Scotland HA to HY - Istanbul, Turkey JA to JE - St. Johns, Newfoundland Canada KA to KY - Buenos Aires, Argentina LA to LY - Taytay, Philippines MA to MY - Monza, Italy NA to NC - Anderson, South Carolina USA ND to NY - Taichung, Taiwan PA to PY - Karlsruhe, Germany RA to RY - Campinas, Brazil SA to SN - Bonnieres, France SP to SY - Lima, Peru TA to TY - Utsunomiya, Japan VA to VY - Penrith, NSW Australia WA to WY - Santiago, Chile YA to YY - Queretare, Mexico.
My 1907, treadle-operated Singer sewing machine. Several years ago, I was given an antique Singer treadle that has been passed down through my family for a few generations. I had no idea when it was manufactured or its model number. Several parts are missing, it’s not in great shape, and it’s basically non-functional–but it still is a wonderful piece of family memorabilia, and I love having it in my home. My flat screen TV usually lives on top of the Singer cabinet, so I look at it every day. Perhaps someday I’ll refurbish it, and when that happens, it will be important to know a little more about the machine. Thanks to, I was able to pinpoint my antique machine’s model year by entering its serial number into.
It’s nice to know my sewing machine was manufactured in 1907. But I also wanted to find out the model number–which at first I thought would be a far more difficult proposition. Luckily, a quick search online yielded several resources that helped me narrow down my Singer’s model number. The best and easiest to navigate is. Referring back to your vintage Singer, you answer a series of yes/no questions about your machine’s features.
Based on your answers, the online form jumps you to more identification questions, until eventually you arrive at one or more possible models. Using this identification form, I narrowed my Singer’s model down to 27/28 or 127/128.
Based on certain factors, I think it’s most likely a model 127/128. Sandman Collectibles also offers many vintage Singer machine user manuals for sale. Another very helpful resource is blogger Nicholas Rain Noe’s. Through several blog posts, Nicholas offers guidance through the process of analyzing a machine’s features and distinguishing very similar models from each other. Also worth browsing is the website of the. The society archives sewing machine manuals, advertisements, and other information and offers many downloadable materials on its website.
![Numbers Numbers](/uploads/1/2/4/0/124021491/501427247.jpg)
It also publishes research findings, auction results, and information on restoring vintage machines for an international membership of sewing machine collectors. Mystery accessories from antique machines can be a little harder to identify, but you can use many of the same resources available for identifying machines. Also, there are many vendors that specialize in original or reproduction parts for antique and vintage machines, and simply comparing your machine’s mystery part-like a presser foot-to those available for sale can help you figure out its purpose. I’m fairly sure that the two identical presser feet in the photo are ruffler attachments (I know the third foot is a roll-hem attachment). Do you own a vintage or antique sewing machine? Is your antique a family heirloom or a yard sale find? Have you identified its model and year of manufacture?
Do you have any favorite resources for identifying antique machines and replacing parts? December 5th My grandmother's Singer 66 red-eye has been with me for 60 years. I use it especially for buttonholes, since a friend of my mother's gave me the buttonholer attachment when I first got the machine.
Still in its treadle base, once motorized, but I got rid of the motor stuff years ago. The treadle gives me control that I can get nowhere else. The head goes in to the local sewing machine specialist for cleaning and tune-up once every couple of years. A couple of boxes of attachments came with the machine-I'm still learning to use some of those! November 25th Granny35658, there are at least TWO MAJOR WEBSITES FOR SELLING ALL SEW MACHINE PARTS.GOOGLE THAT.(sorry i lost the link.) both of them are very good,they have parts for every sew machine made.(maybe not antiques.)-modern machines,new, pretty old, too.I have a very old Kenmore and I lost everything connected to it.those 2 websites had VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING.YES, AND MANUALS. Almost all manuals.
Go ahead and look for your manual according to model ect, no. That is how I got mine back. October 21st My husband just purchased an old White Rotary Machine in cabinet with treadle. From what we have been able to learn so far - from the serial number, 132784, the machine was made 2/26/1906 in Cleveland Ohio. I downloaded a manual for a W7 Treadle. The unit needs some parts, such as the belt, throat plate, more bobbins etc.
And does need some TLC. Someone painted the cabinet, unfortunately, since it was such an ornate wood. Can someone give me some contacts as to parts etc. Or does someone own a similar machine that cna tell me more about it?
I also have a couple of Singer Featherweights and was wondering if the attachments will work on the White. The bobbons are definitely different so I am not sure about the rest. We would like to refurbish or get this unit operational again. January 11th I am very excited!!
I just purchased my first treadle Singer!! She's a Model 66 'Red-Eye', and by her serial #, she was made in 1911. 113 years old! I have always liked them. But the closest I have been to owning one is a table with a treadle base (minus the treadle and wheel) being used as a table at a Goodwill store.Mine for #20! We stumbled upon this Singer 66 locally at a small thrift/antique shop back before Christmas.
I don't like to purchase on impulse, so we passed on it. We decided, if it was still there after the holidays and we had the cash, we would take that as a sign and get it! Besides, that gave me time to do a little research and really think about it. We gave it a 'once-over' the first time we saw it, but I had no idea what I should be looking for. We thought it was a really good sign that the treadle moved the fly wheel smoothly, and when you manually spun the balance wheel, the needle moved up and down smoothly too.
So today, we went back to see if it was still waiting for us. I took a closer look at it, and it looks like the moving parts are still oiled (yet a bit dirty with a tad bit of surface rust) and the underside of the machine looked good too. I manually advanced the bobbin wheel (it does not have a belt. But I plan on ordering one very soon!) and the bobbin winder also moved well and smoothly! The cabinet is in good condition, just some wear and tear, but not much that a good clean and oiling can't perk up!
It also had several foot attachments in one of the drawers and we found a Singer manual tucked up in the underside of the cabinet too! The moment of truth came.
They were asking $100 for it. I think that was a fair price from what I can tell, but I countered with $75, and they said YES!! Now I have to wait ALL WEEKEND before they can deliver it on Monday. It doesn't fit in my car! I think this is the start of something special- My husband thinks he is going to put our small TV on it.
I plan on learning to USE IT!! Deborah in North Carolina. October 15th Hi eveyone. I have a sewing machine that was made back in the late 1800's. It was worked on back in the 1930's, I have the receipt. A friend bought it for me from a (so called antique dealer) right outside Nashville Tennessee in the early 90's and gave it to me for a birthday present.
I have sewed curtains with it and made my lil girls school dresses and stuff with it then. My girls are all grown and have children of their own now. I have had this machine for 22 yrs or longer. I cked on it at one time and the Lady Margaret Snell that had the sewing machine co. In the Smithsoian Institute in Washington D.C.
Was very much interested in it. I wasn't ready to sell. I called her again in the early 2000's and she had moved the museum to London England. Still interested in this piece, I told her I would think about it. I have all pieces and parts and still works good and in good shape. I will send pics tomorrow.
Excelsior from Wright and Mann. Anyone know anything or interested?
I tried calling over to Mrs Snell awhile back but she was in not so good shape and a grandson got on phone and didn't even act like he was intested nor did he know anything about this particular maachine. So I got disscougaged once again about giving up on it unless I found someone who really knows perfection and willing to make a deal! December 13th I have a tredle sewing machine in a cabinet that belonged to my grandmother. It has the manual with it, Minnesota Model'K' Sears, Roebuck and Co. I don't think it's in working condition, needs a belt at least. Other machines I've had, 1963 Singer portable, still have but doubt it works, a 1966? Touch and Sew from a garage sale.
I loved that machine until there was a problem and the repair person said couldn't get the part and the plastic part he used made it sound like a thrashing machine.:-(. My husband bought me a Bernina several years ago and I LOVE my Bernina. Also own a serger. December 13th I wondered if you have seen the old sewing book, I think it is a Singer book which shows how to do all sorts of fancy stitches on the treadle machine? It shows how to zigzag stitch with the needle stationary and the sewer moving her hand to form the stitches. All sorts of techniques. Yes, I have several treadle machines.
When I was a teenager going to take home ec. I lied to the teacher and told her I could sew on the treadle machine.then had to go home and get my mother to teach me to do it. December 12th I have a Singer 127/128 that was rescued from a fire.
I restored the machine and it sews wonderfully. My husband restored the cabinet so you would never know it was ever in a fire. Fortunately, only the cabinet was damaged, mostly by water.
The machine itself had no rust and had all its parts. However, the bobbin winding mechanism has broken, and I'm replacing it with found parts. One thing I have found is that the new modern 'long bobbins' they sell don't fit these old machines very well. They seem slightly too short or something. So you've got to have actual old bobbins to make them work, if you have an old machine that takes long bobbins. But you can use round bobbins in the 'newer old' machines that take those - new ones from the store work just fine! December 12th I have two vintage machines.
![Manual Manual](/uploads/1/2/4/0/124021491/327906765.jpg)
One is a treadle that belonged to my great-grandmother. It is fully functional. I recently had it cleaned and gave the cabinet a good oiling. The machine sews like a dream. I have another Singer that belonged to my grandmother. It was originally a treadle; however my grandma bought a motor and installed it on the machine herself. It is the machine that I learned to sew with.
My grandma gifted it to me in 1967, and I used it for 20 years. It is still functional. December 12th I own two treadle machines.
One was my grandmothers, that my aunt who had kept it in her basement for years, finally gave it to me. She did not sew. The other I purchased many years ago at a Singer Store, for $1.00. I made many things on my machined. It is a Bullet Bobbin style. I found one web site where I was able to purchase items for both.
They carry parts for many machines. I also have my mothers Kenmore drop-in-cam electric. I still use, can get parts, and it runs like a champ. There are other websites where you might be able to compare with a picture. Good luck, and enjoy your machine.
December 12th My grandmother (92) has a German vintage sewing machine and still sews on it. She inherited this machine from her mother in law in 1942 and this great grand mother has been sewing with it for years.
The machine is in good shape, absolutely reliable and still in use. Two summers ago, we went to camp in Greece in a wonderful place in the woods where there was no electricity. Since holidays without sewing are no holidays at all for me, I borrowed this machine from my grandmother to sew a dress for a daughter who was in a summercamp nearby. I gave it to her as a present and it was her favorite dress that summer.
I was amazed how heavy and reliable the machine was. It only did a straight stitch, but it was perfect! December 12th My Singer treadle is similar to the one pictured in the article. The cabinet appears to be the same but there are slight diffences in the sewing head.
The cabinet drawers have some fancy curlicues on the front. My grandmother, the sewer in the family, made many of my clothes on that machine.
She taught me to sew on the treadle and I used it for all of my sewing until I was in my 20's when I purchased an electric machine. I started sewing at age 8 and am now 79.
The old treadle still works, although it is cranky sometimes (just like me). December 12th I have a sewing machine that belonged to my DH grandmother. It is a Steinway Grand - possibly a badged Damascus.
Antique Standard Treadle Sewing Machine
It was built about 1910 - possibly earlier or later - I can't seem to find out much about it. It still works, though it is in bad need of a thorough cleaning and oiling, to put it mildly. Here's a link to the pictures of the machine. If anyone has any information about this machine, I'd really like to find out more. I do know that it was sold by the Homer Young Company, but the manufacturer is still somewhat of a mystery. My mother had a Singer treadle that she used until about 1954 when she bought a new Singer 201-2, an electric that she used until her death several years ago.
I currently own the machine and it is in need of new wiring, but otherwise in great condition. I have the buttonhole attachment for it, plus the bottonhole attachment and hemstitcher attachment that fit the Singer treadle. The hemstitcher also works on the 201-2. I remember my Mother sewing on that old treadle and wish I had it today. December 11th I have a fabulous 'old lady' antique Singer 72w 119 desirable hemstitch machine that desperately needs someone to care for her since we are moving house out of state. I acquired her in the 1970's after a long, long search; she was shipped from Freemont, Nebraska, all the way to Maryland and you can't imagine my excitement when she arrived in a tractor trailer! She has a treadle and was fitted with a motor somewhere along the way - she does need a little timing work but I'd love someone to have her that appreciates her the way I did/do and would get a thrill of owning her.
Let me know if you can pick her up in Maryland. December 11th I have a Singer treadle machine that is about 1934 that my husband bought for me for my birthday in 1999. It was one of two machines that had been in the Eaton's department store basement alterations shop in Winnipeg. It was put up for sale when the store closed after the chain went bankrupt. Product activation serial number for need for speed shift 2 unleashed. They had put it on the second floor where the downtown walk way passed through the store with a 'For Sale' sign after the rest of the store merchandise had already been cleared out.
It was missing a few parts, including the belt, but I was able to get replacements from the Singer dealer in Winnipeg at that time. It sits in my living room with some knick-knacks on top of it, but it is functional. I figure if the power ever goes out, I will still have a machine to sew on!
December 11th Yes, vintage & antique sewing machines are fun to collect. I have a modest collection of about 14. Many people have many more.
Standard Treadle Sewing Machine Value
For anyone wishing to learn how to refurbish their own machine, start at www.treadleon.net. That's a website with loads of info & also where you can sign up to an email discussion group to learn more. There are also several groups on yahoo you can join, some for any make & some specific to a single make. I have my great-grandmother's White Family Rotary treadle from 1911, my husband's grandmother's 1925 Singer 66 treadle & a friend's great grandmother's 1905 Singer 15-30 as well as my husband's mother's 1948 Singer 201-2 (electric), a couple vintage Necchi machines, a Singer 99 converted to handcrank, a vintage Singer 301a (electric), a few heads hanging around waiting for me to do something with them and my 'modern' machine a 1989 Viking 948 that sees very little use now. My treadles & the 201 do most of my sewing.
December 11th Yes, vintage & antique sewing machines are fun to collect. I have a modest collection of about 14. Many people have many more.
For anyone wishing to learn how to refurbish their own machine, start at www.treadleon.net. That's a website with loads of info & also where you can sign up to an email discussion group to learn more. There are also several groups on yahoo you can join, some for any make & some specific to a single make. I have my great-grandmother's White Family Rotary treadle from 1911, my husband's grandmother's 1925 Singer 66 treadle & a friend's great grandmother's 1905 Singer 15-30 as well as my husband's mother's 1948 Singer 201-2 (electric), a couple vintage Necchi machines, a Singer 99 converted to handcrank, a vintage Singer 301a (electric), a few heads hanging around waiting for me to do something with them and my 'modern' machine a 1989 Viking 948 that sees very little use now. My treadles & the 201 do most of my sewing.
December 11th The machine in the picture is exactly, precisely the machine I inherited from my grandmother! How cool to see it online. I learned to sew on it and my grandmother made my sister and me dozens of dresses on it.
It is still operational though it needs to be cleaned. There are a pile of attachments that go with it but I've never used them. We also have my husband's grandmother's treadle, a New Automatic, age unknown but still operational. Most of the time we use them as tables but occasionally we still sew on one. My mother in law used to tell a story about watching her mother sew on the New Automatic. Great granma was making a wedding veil when someone brought in a torn canvas off the tractor. She changed needles and thread, sewed up the canvas, changed back to the other needle and thread and completed the veil- not a single other adjustment was needed.
I have a 1940s Singer than belonged to my mother; it has a knee control rather than a foot control. I have my Singer from the late 1960s and my darling Janome that I splurged and bought for myself several years ago. There are at least a couple other portables around the attic and neither my husband nor I have any idea where they came from. Is it permissible to post a link here? This page is owned by Zorba, a collector and restorer. Ever heard of 'hot rodding' sewing machines? December 11th I ACQUIRED MY MOTHERS SINGER HAND MACHINE ADDING TO MY COLLECTION!
THINKING IT WOULD POSSIBLY COME INTO ITS OWN ONE DAY. THE DAY ARRIVED.THE AWNING ON OUR BOAT NEEDED AN URGENT REPAIR AND WITH NO ELECTRICITY AT THE RIVER BANK THE ONLY OPTION WAS THE HAND MACHINE. PICTURE A BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH SUMMERS DAY.RIVER AVON.
ME SAT UNDER A TREE REPAIRING THE AWNING,ALL WENT VERY WELL.UNFORTUNATELY EVERY BOAT THAT PASSED WANTED TO KNOW IF I WAS IN 'THE REPAIR BUSINESS ' NEEDLESS TO SAY THE MACHINE WENT BACK INTO THE BOOT OF THE CAR AT SPEED!!!!! December 11th Hmmm. I have an older machine in a cabinet that was given to me.
Don't recall what it is, other than you have to hand crank it! It has a lot of accessory parts and I haven't a clue what most of them are for. It works fine. On a more prosaic note, I have my grandmother's early 1940's Pfaff with the original cabinet. My granddaughter is learning to sew on it. I have an early or mid-1930's Singer, also in a cabinet, and my granddaughter's friend has been learning to sew on it.
I also have 2 old portable machines I found in my mother's garage after she passed away. I only opened them once and don't recall what they are nor do I know if they even work!
One of these days. December 11th I have a Singer from the 1920's. It has a straight stitch only, but would stitch through sheet metal.
It was a tredel machine, but Grandpa had it 'electrified' in 1932 for my Mother. It still works. I have an older Sears machine, Mom bought it in the mid 1950's. It is of metal construction and is as heavy as a concrete block. It has decorative cogs, they drop into the top of the machine and do the embroidery perfectly.
I need to get it cleaned, checked out, but when Mom stopped using it in 1992, it was working just fine. My machine is a Viking. I bought it in 1978, all metal construction with a free arm feature. It also is as heavy as a concrete block.
It is one of the best machines I have ever used and I don't think I will ever replace it. As long as it likes me, I will treasure it.
Home of the Sewalot Site By Alex I Askaroff For antique and vintage sewing machines Domestic Sewing Machine Co Alex has spent a lifetime in the sewing industry and is considered one of the foremost experts of pioneering machines and their inventors. He has written extensively for trade magazines, radio, television, books and publications world wide. Over the last two decades Alex has been painstakingly building this website to encourage enthusiasts around around the Globe. Most of us know the name Singer but few are aware of his amazing life story, his rags to riches journey from a little runaway to one of the richest men of his age. The story of Isaac Merritt Singer will blow your mind, his wives and lovers his castles and palaces all built on the back of one of the greatest inventions of the 19th century. For the first time the most complete story of a forgotten giant is brought to you by Alex Askaroff. The Domestic Sewing Machine Company The star that leads them all The Star that Leads.
![Standard sewing machine serial numbers Standard sewing machine serial numbers](/uploads/1/2/4/0/124021491/243774676.jpg)
The Domestic Sewing Machine Company trademark See Alex Askaroff on Youtube I have dug up a little about the Domestic Sewing Machine Company and I will let you know what I have and hope that some keen collector will improve on this information. Adverts around 1913 boasted that the Domestic Sewing Machine Company was first established in 1861. The business was not called the Domestic Sewing Machine Company for a few years as it was mainly making parts for sewing machines like Grover & Baker rather than complete machines. Two partners, N. Perkins and William Mack, used the 1863 'Mach Patent' to set up sewing machine parts production.
Towards the end of the American Civil War the Domestic Sewing Machine Company was formed. Their first complete sewing machine was made in 1864. When they did make their first complete sewing machines the machines used an open-ended shuttle much like the Weed machines of the period, possibly under licence. Domestic Sewing Machine advert from 1890 During their height the Domestic Sewing Machine Co made sewing machines for themselves and Grover & Baker.
They also made typewriters and sewing machines for Williams & Co, New York. By 1869 they were using the Domestic Sewing Machine name on their own complete machines.
By 1872 they were manufacturing nearly 50,000 machines a year, each one built by hand. This was an amazing expansion. Just imagine a factory capable of hand building and assembling 1,000 sewing machines every few days. They must have had a huge number of employees. Stop for a second and imagine making that many machines and all the pieces, each machine unique and each machine painstakingly built from scratch. There factory must have been a sight to behold.
Mass production was the key. Add to that the fact that some of their models, like the Domestic Sewing Machine No3, was retailing in treadle form at $60, several months wages in 1880, you can see why the company grew so quickly. Profits must have been good and larger premises were purchased. William Mack co-founder of the Domestic Sewing Machine Company So we know that N. Perkins and William Mack started the Domestic Sewing Machine Company in 1864 in Norwalk, Ohio. The company prospered for decades until finally disappearing during the Depression Era of the 1930's.
An impressive building was acquired on the corner of Broadway and 14th Street, New York, and used as their Central Office. The impressive central offices of the Domestic Sewing Machine Company, New York. They also had offices in Union Square. The Head Office of the Domestic Sewing Machine Co was also in Newark, New Jersey, along with their main factory.
A Davies came into the business around 1869 and was tasked with improving models and machinery. His expertise came from the arms business where mass-production was streaking ahead.
There were soon dozens of Domestic Sewing Machine models from basic and New Home copies to copies. Their most successful model was the Domestic Sewing Machine VS or vibrating shuttle sewing machine. It was a high-arm machine very much like the German machines of the 1890's. In their prime the Domestic Sewing Machine Company sold everything you needed to get you sewing, from the machine to the treadle and even sewing patterns. Starting with numbers such as the Domestic Sewing Machine No 1, 2, 3 they then moved to letters model A, B, C and so on and lastly to names. All of their machines look pretty standard, there were no unusual designs or shapes.
You could look at a sewing machine of the 1940's and see the Domestic Sewing Machine of the 1880's. One of the Domestic Sewing Machine factories at 16 Exchange Place New York The New Domestic Sewing Machine Factory New York with many thanks to Karen Moore for supplying it.
The factory was so large it was like a small town and carriages were provided to take guests on guided tours. In their prime the Domestic Sewing Machine factories were impressive.
The one above in New York had its own river tributary to bring the wood for the cabinets directly to the cabinet works at the rear of the factory. The factories were on five or six floors and the huge chimneys belched out smoke all day from the furnaces below. A railway line picked up finished machines as they were transported across America to homes eagerly waiting for this modern miracle. But 1890 the Domestic Sewing Machine Company was one of the very oldest American sewing machine companies and still booming. All the old pioneers like, and were long gone but the Domestic Sewing Machine Company was going from strength to strength. They boasted more silver-plating on their machines than any other sewing machine company and top-quality walnut was used in their cabinets.
One of their main benefits in Domestic Sewing Machine manufacturing was the elimination of cogs and gears. This made the machines light and easy to turn, also very quiet. The light running domestic 1913 Domestic Sewing Machine Company advert The Sears Roebuck & Co sold many of the Domestic machines under their brand name of the Minnesota, even after White's took over the firm in 1924. The Minnesota, Franklin and the Domestic VS models are the most common ones to survive from the company.
Sears & Roebuck the World's largest store The Franklin or Minnesota Sewing Machine by Domestic. When the Domestic Sewing Machine Co exported to Europe they advertised their machines as the American Domestic Sewing Machine. The London agents were wholesale bookseller's Gordon & Gotch of 15 St Bride Street, Ludgate Circus, London. They sold the Domestic Sewing Machine for £4.4s and the treadles for £5.11s and were actively seeking other agents around Europe.
Gordon & Gotch seemed a good idea at the time as they had contacts across the Globe from Australia to America. They were the perfect people to promote the Domestic Sewing Machine through their publications much like They advertised their new machine as. The New American import, the American Domestic Light Running Lock-stitch Sewing Machine.
Superior to all others. Simple, Elegant, Durable and imitated by many were how the Domestic Sewing Machine Co advertised their models. Using the the Improved Domestic Sewing Machine was very similar to the Singer New Family or model 12 and 27 but with a vibrating shuttle, not transverse. From the Smithsonian I gained this piece of information.The Domestic Sewing Machine Company in Newark, New Jersey, was incorporated with the Domestic Sewing Machine Co, Norwalk, Ohio in 1872 and continued to produce machines and parts from Newark until 1906. The Improved Domestic sewing machine model 4 I am still not clear if there were two companies with identical names that joined or simply two premises? I hope someone will clarify this for me.
Having such a common name as domestic sewing machine could lead to two companies picking this name in the 1800's, I mean there was no Internet to check! Domestic Sewing Machine Company 223 Domestic Buildings, Kankakee, Illinois. Domestic Sewing Machine Company, Buffalo, New York.
Later a model called the New Domestic sewing machine was offered which also has an adaptor for chain stitching. The New Domestic Sewing Machine Company General Offices were at 16-18 Exchange Place, New York. Domestic Sewing Machine Company Buffalo New York. The New Domestic Sewing Machine won an award at the National Export Exposition in 1899.
It was awarded by the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia. The Franklin Institute, named after the noted American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin, is one of the oldest institutes of science education in the United States. An award from them was a real bonus to sales. Incidentally one of the Domestic models was soon named the Franklin Sewing machine.
A Domestic sewing machine supplier in 1900, the perfect hardware store that sold everything. By 1924 the White Sewing Machine Company acquired the Domestic Sewing Machine Co and incorporated many of their premises, factories and equipment into White's. By the 1930's production slowed down considerably and from then until 1950 they were simply badge sold machines under White's (but green machines). Domestic Sewing Machine Company, Inc. Cleveland, Ohio.
Canada- 87 John Street, Toronto The Domestic Sewing Machine stated that it had a fully automatic tension for any fabric. A bit of a steep claim in 1880! Most of us know the name Singer but few are aware of his amazing life story, his rags to riches journey from a little runaway to one of the richest men of his age. The story of Isaac Merritt Singer will blow your mind, his wives and lovers his castles and palaces all built on the back of one of the greatest inventions of the 19th century. For the first time the most complete story of a forgotten giant is brought to you by Alex Askaroff.
Well that's it, I do hope you enjoyed my work. I have spent a lifetime collecting, researching and writing these pages and I love to hear from people so drop me a line and let me know what you thought:. Also if you have any information to add I would love to put it on my site.
Alex's latest Book: Fancy a funny read: A brilliant slice of 1940's life: Alex's stories are now available to keep. Click on the picture for more information.
All Alex's books are now on: Both books, Sussex Born and Bred, and Corner of the Kingdom are now available instantly on Kindle and iPad. CONTACT: Copyright © As a new collector I have found your site has increased my knowledge in a short time to a deg ree that I couldn't have imagined. Thank you again for all the useful information you give freely to us.
Kind regards Brenda P.