SEWING REVOLUTION: THE MACHINE THAT … catalog sewing revolution: the machine that changed the world jamie h. eves michael palmer fall 2008 windham textile and history museumPublished

EXHIBIT CATALOG

SEWING REVOLUTION:

THE MACHINE THAT CHANGED THE

WORLD Jamie H. Eves

Michael Palmer

FALL 2008

WINDHAM TEXTILE AND HISTORY MUSEUM 411 Main Street, Willimantic, CT, 06226

(860) 456-2178 [email protected] www.millmuseum.org

2

I: HOME SEWING MACHINES FROM THE WINDHAM TEXTILE AND HISTORY MUSEUM’S OWN COLLECTION

Manufacturer: American Buttonhole Date: 1870 Place: Philadelphia, PA Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-21 Same Manufacturer: Bartlett Date: 1867-68 Place: New York, NY Description: Chainstitch Type: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-19

3

Manufacturer: Domestic Date: 1876 Place: New York, NY Description: Chainstitch Type: Head Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-46

Manufacturer: Elna Date: Place: Switzerland Description: Type: Freestanding Power: Electric Accession No.: O-17 Manufacturer: Finkle and Lyon Date: 1871 Place: Middletown, CT Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-25

4

Manufacturer: Florence Date: 1867 Place: Florence, MA Description: Lockstitch Type: Head Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-24 Manufacturer: Gold Medal Date: pre-1882 Place: Orange, MA Description: Type: Head Power: Hand operated Accession No.: O-9

5

Manufacturer: Howe Date: 1872 Place: Bridgeport, CT Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-30 Same Manufacturer: Howe Date: 1869 Place: Bridgeport, CT Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-34

6

Manufacturer: Johnson & Clark Date: 1876 Place: Orange, MA Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-2

Same Manufacturer: Johnson & Clark Date: c. 1870 Place: Orange, MA Type: Chainstitch Description: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-41

7

Manufacturer: Nettleton & Raymond Date: 1857-58 Place: Brattleboro, VT Description: Chainstitch Type: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-4 Manufacturer: Nettleton & Raymond Date: 1860 Place: Brattleboro, VT Description: Chainstitch Type: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-5 Manufacturer: Nettleton & Raymond Date: 1860 Place: Brattleboro, VT Description: Plain loop Type: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-6

8

Manufacturer: Nettleton & Raymond Date: 1860 Place: Brattleboro, VT Description: Chainstitch Type: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-7 Manufacturer: New Home Date: Place: Orange, MA Description: Type: Cabinet-table Power: Accession No.: O-8

Manufacturer: New Home Date: c. 1880 Place: Orange, MA Description: Lockstitch Type: Head Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-45

9

Manufacturer: New Home Date: 1887 Place: Orange, MA Description: Lockstitch Type: Head Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-47 Manufacturer: New Home Date: c. 1890 Place: Orange, M A Description: Lockstitch Type: Head Power: Electric Accession No.: W-48 Manufacturer: New Home Ruby Date: c. 1890 Place: Orange, MA Description: Lockstitch Type: Head Power: Electric Accession No.: W-49

10

Manufacturer: Norwood (Standard) Date: 1884-1931 Place: Cleveland, OH Description: Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: O-7 Same Manufacturer: Remington Date: 1871 Place: Philadelphia, PA Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-29

11

Same Manufacturer: Remington Date: c. 1870 Place: Philadelphia, PA Description: Chainstitch Type: Head Power: Accession No.: W-56 Manufacturer: Singer Date: 1868 Place: Elizabeth, NJ Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-13

12

Same Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Description: Type: Cabinet-table Power: Electric Accession No.: O-3 Same

13

Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Description: Type: Cabinet-table Power: Electric Accession No.: O-4 Same Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Description: Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: O-5

14

Same Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Description: Type: Cabinet-table Power: Electric Accession No.: O-6 Same

15

Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Description: Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: O-12 Same Manufacturer: Singer Spartan Date: c. 1870 Place: England Description: Chainstitch Type: Head Power: Accession No.: W-43

16

Manufacturer: Singer Date: c. 1890 Place: New York, NY Description: Chainstitch Type: Head Power: Accession No.: W-50 Manufacturer: Singer Date: 1878 Place: New York, NY Description: Chainstitch Type: Head Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-51 Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Description: Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: O-2

17

Same Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Description: Type: Freestanding (on wooden base) Power: Accession No.: O-10 Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Description: Type: Head Power: Accession No.: O-11

18

Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Description: Type: Free standing (on wooden base) Power: Electric Accession No.: O-13

Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Description: Type: Head Power: Accession No.: O-14 Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Description: Type: Freestanding (on wooden base) Power: Accession No.: O-15

19

Manufacturer: Shaw & Clark Date: c. 1870 Place: Chicopee Falls, MA Description: Chainstitch Type: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-42

Manufacturer: Wallace Special Date: 1875 Place: New York, NY Description: Lockstitch Type: Head Power: Accession No.: W-52 Manufacturer: Weed Date: 1867 Place: Hartford, CT Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-28

20

Same Manufacturer: James Weir Date: 1872 Place: London, England Description: Chainstitch Type: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-20

Manufacturer: Wheeler & Wilson Date: 1879 Place: Bridgeport, CT Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-16

21

Same Manufacturer: Wheeler & Wilson Date: 1875 Place: Bridgeport, CT Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W- 33

Same

22

Manufacturer: Wheeler & Wilson Date: 1872 Place: Bridgeport, CT Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-15 Note: Glass pressure foot attachment allows seamstress to observe the stitching and to produce very close edge stitching

Same Manufacturer: Wheeler & Wilson Date: 1876 Place: Bridgeport, CT Description: Lockstitch Type: Freestanding Power: Accession No.: W-39

23

Manufacturer: Wheeler & Wilson Date: 1900 Place: Bridgeport, CT Description: Chainstitch Type: Head Power: Accession No.: W-54 Manufacturer: Wheeler & Wilson Date: 1880 Place: Bridgeport, CT Description: Chainstitch Type: Head Power: Accession No.: W-57 Manufacturer: White Date: 1881 Place: Cleveland, OH Description: Lockstitch Type: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-26

24

Same

Manufacturer: White Peerless Date: 1876 Place: Cleveland, OH Type: Chainstitch Description: Head Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-44 Manufacturer: White Rotary Date: 1890 Place: Cleveland, OH Type: Chainstitch Description: Head Power: Accession No.: W-53

25

Manufacturer: White Date: Place: Cleveland, OH Type: Description: Table-cabinet Power: Accession No.: O-1 Same: Manufacturer: White Date: Place: Cleveland, OH Type: Description: Freestanding on base that may have been part of a table Power: Electric Accession No.: O-23

26

Manufacturer: White Rotary Date: Place: Cleveland, OH Type: Description: Freestanding on wooden base Power: Electric Accession No.: O-28

Manufacturer: White Date: c. 1880 Place: Cleveland, OH Type: Lockstitch Description: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-31 Same

27

Manufacturer: Wilcox & Gibbs Date: 1894 Place: New York, NY Type: Chainstitch Description: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-12 Same Manufacturer: Wilcox & Gibbs Date: 1887 Place: New York, NY Type: Chainstitch Description: Cabinet-table Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-32

28

Same Manufacturer: Wilcox & Gibbs Date: 1877 Place: New York, NY Type: Chainstitch Description: Freestanding on wooden base Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-11 Manufacturer: Wilcox & Gibbs Date: 1880 Place: New York, NY Type: Chainstitch Description: Freestanding Power: Hand operatated Accession No.: W-35

29

Manufacturer: Wilcox & Gibbs Date: 1898 Place: New York, NY Type: Chainstitch Description: Head Power: Accession No.: W-55 Manufacturer: Wilcox & Gibbs Date: c. 1885 Place: New York, NY Type: Chainstitch Description: Freestanding, in box Power: Electric Accession No.: O-16 Manufacturer: Wilcox & Gibbs Date: 1885 Place: New York, NY Type: Chainstitch Description: Freestanding Power: Electric Accession No.: W-60

30

Manufacturer: Wilcox & Gibbs Date: Place: New York, NY Type: Description: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: O-18 Manufacturer: Wilcox & Gibbs Date: c. 1885 Place: New York, NY Type: Description: Freestanding Power: Electric Accession No.: O-29

II. ADDENDA: MORE HOME SEWING MACHINES FROM THE WTHM COLLECTION Manufacturer: Graybar Date: Place: Type: Description: Freestanding on wooden box, which appears to fit into table Power: Accession No.: O-25

31

Manufacturer: Necchi Date: Place: Italy Type: Description: Cabinet-table Power: Electric Accession No.: O-26 Same Manufacturer: Nettleton & Raymond Date: 1860 Place: Brattleboro, VT Type: Lockstitch Description: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-36

32

Manufacturer: Sears Kenmore Date: Place: Type: Description: Freestanding Power: Electric Accession No.: O-30 Manufacturer: Singer Date: 1880 Place: New York, NY Type: Chainstitch Description: Head Power: Treadle Accession No.: W-59 Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Type: Description: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: O-19

33

Manufacturer: Singer Featherweight Date: 1940 Place: Type: Description: Freestanding Power: Electric Accession No.: O-20 Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Type: Description: Freestanding on wooden base Power: Electric Accession No.: O-21 Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Type: Description: Freestanding on wooden base Power: Electric Accession No.: O-22

34

Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Type: Description: Head Power: Electric Accession No.: O-24 Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Type: Description: Head Power: Electric Accession No.: O-27

III. TOY SEWING MACHINES FROM THE WTHM COLLECTION

Manufacturer: Unknown Date: c. 1880 Place: Germany Type: Chainstitch Description: Cabinet-table Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-40

35

Same Manufacturer: Gem Date: c. 1879 Place: Unknown Description: Lockstitch Type: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-27 Manufacturer: Spenser Date: c. 1900 Place: Type: Chainstitch Description: Freestanding Power: Hand operated Accession No.: W-37

36

IV. INDUSTRIAL SEWING MACHINES FROM THE WTHM COLLECTION

Manufacturer: Chandler Date: Post-1905 Place: New York, NY Type: Buttonholer Description: Freestanding Power: Accession No.: O-32

37

Manufacturer: Dinsmore Date: Place: Salem, MA (?) Type: Description: Freestanding Power: Treadle Accession No.: O-31

38

Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Type: Description: Welded to metal stand Power: Treadle Accession No.: O-33 Manufacturer: Singer Date: Place: Type: Description: Table Power: Electric Accession No.: O-34 Provenance: Prob. from testing dept. at American Thread Company, Willimantic, CT Same

39

Manufacturer: Singer/Wilcox & Gibbs Date: Place: Type: Description: Table Power: Electric Accession No.: O-35 Provenance: Prob. from testing dept. of American Thread Company, Willimantic, CT Same

40

V. INDUSTRIAL SEWING MACHINES ON LOAN FROM MERROW SEWING MACHINE COMPANY

Manufacturer: Merrow Date: c. 1892 Place: Hartford, CT (but has Norwich, CT, imprinted on side) Type: Overlock Description: Freestanding Power: Driven by overhead belts Serial No.: 2508

Manufacturer: Merrow Date: c. 1875 (survived fire) Place: Merrow, CT Type: Overlock single thread crocheter Description: Freestanding Power: hand operated

Manufacturer: Merrow Date: 2007 Place: Wareham, MA (but has Newington, CT, imprinted on side) Type: Description: Freestanding Power: Motor Style No.: M-D3B-2 Serial No.: 267913

41

Manufacturer: Merrow Date: 1902 (but in 1928 equipped with new parts to produce wider finish than originally attempted) Place: Hartford, CT Type: Description: Freestanding Power: Motor Serial No.: 3104 Manufacturer: Merrow Date: c. 1930 (earlier model of blue machine above) Place: Hartford, CT Type: Description: Freestanding Power: Motor Style No.: 60 YM Serial No.: 92930 Manufacturer: Merrow Facinator Date: c. 1890 Place: Merrow, CT Type: First oversized overlock industrial sewing machine ever made Description: Freestanding, on wooden Base Power: Hand operated Style No.: 70-D3B-2

42

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bays, Carter. The Encyclopedia of Early American and Antique Sewing Machines: Identification and Values. 3d ed. Paducah, KY: Collector Books, 2007. Brandon, Ruth. A Capitalist Romance: Singer and the Sewing Machine. Philadelphia, PA: J. B. Lippincott, 1977. Cooper, Grace Rogers. The Sewing Machine: Its Invention and Development. 2d ed. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1976. Groves, Sylvia. The History of Needlework Tools and Accessories. Feltham, UK: Country Life Books, 1966. Head, Carol. Old Sewing Machines. Aylesbury, UK: Shire Publications, 1982.