The Singer Sewing Machine Company

The Singer Sewing Machine Company 

[own photo, original electric singer sewing machine dated aprox 1937]

My mom recently rescued the above beauty for me from someone who was about to commit an absolute crime and throw this original electric Singer sewing machine into landfill. Being the hoarder like family that we are, she dragged this massive hunk of sturdy heavy metal into the boot of her car with a "we will find a use for this" mentality. I myself had been eyeing up singer sewing machines for a while after seeing one rotting in in a neighbour’s garden looking very sad and rusty but still strong and beautiful in the Singer way. ( I went back a couple of days later to try salvage the sad Singer but unfortunately I think the bin men had beat me to it! ) I was there for delighted when my mom said she had one sitting in her car a few weeks later.  

Opening the domed wooden casing with the little turn key, I was like a child outside sweet shop, eager to see what was inside. I lifted the lid and it was perfect. The harsh robust black form of the machine hits you first with its strength and durability. The little details then start to appear. For example, the elegant etched pattern on the head panel of the machine, the gold patterned boarder surrounding the platform and the gold stamp of the singer logo emblazoned on the front. The intricate features of this heavy duty machine make it soft and almost graceful. After a little research I found out that this particular machine was made in 1937 because of the production number on it. And amazingly it’s is still fully functioning! The foot still glides gracefully over the fabric and even the little front viewer’s light still works!

After getting over excited about the machine and proudly placing it in my room, I thought I had had enough excitement to last me for at least the whole month… however after a spring clean, the garage decided to throw me another surprise. We had another Singer sewing machine! This one a crank handle to be powered by hand.

On discovering the beauty of these machines I decided to do abit of background research into the Singer Company and how these amazing machines have stood the test of time and are still enjoyed today.

The original Singer sewing machine company was created in 1851 by Isaac Merritt Singer. I.M Singer was born in New York. He was an engineer and also had a love of acting which was funded by his engineering skills. By the age of 28 he had two patents and would go on to have many more. Many believe that Singer was the first person to create the sewing machine however there were many attempts before him for example, Thomas saint, Barthelemy Thimonnier, Walter hunt and Elias Howe in 1845 who would later take Singer to court over patent infringement.

  

In 1850 Singer was asked to repair a Leroy and Blodgett sewing machine. Instead of just repairing It Singer set about improving it creating many vital features of the sewing machine we still see today. For example the classic shape of the sewing machine with the overhanging arm that holds the needle in place. Also the vertical needle with the eye hole at the bottom, the hand wheel at the side to set the needle and a presser foot to hold the fabric in place are all down to singers problem solving.

A year later Singer set up I.M Singer & Company after realising how important his invention could be. However, as mentioned earlier Singer has some opposition from Howe and accused him of stealing his ideas. Howe sued him and eventually managed to get royalties on every Singer sewing machine that was sold! Singer never claimed to have totally invented the sewing machine, but it was his business ideas and important additions that created the sewing machines we see today. If it wasn’t for Singer, many people wouldn’t have been able to afford sewing machines. At about 100 dollars each it was extremely expensive for the everyday household and small businesses. However, singer came up with a plan to make them more accessible to the everyday sewer. In 1856 a down payment concept was produced. The owner could pay five dollars each month in installments towards to total cost. The idea was that they could use the machine to earn the money to pay for itself.

This meant that sewing could now be brought into the home and people could enjoy sewing. Singer certainly set about change as dresses became bigger and more adventurous because of the ease and availability of the sewing machine.

I think the most important aspect of the Singer company is that the objects were not only meant to be available to all but to also last, which is clearly proved today as many of the machines are still going like mine! With the recent rise in a throw away culture, it’s good to know that some object are still being enjoyed and loved in more than a 100 years on from when they were made.