About Antique Sewing Machines

Antique sewing machines have been part of history since around seventeen hundreds. Some people are still using these antique sewing machines to make some of their clothing while others keep them for sentimental or valuable reasons. Learn about antique sewing machines to learn more about your instrument. 

• Sewing machines started out around the late seventeen hundreds. Four of the most popular companies were Grover & Baker, Singer, Howe and Wheeler & Wilson.


• The Singer Company made one of the first popular electric sewing machines in eighteen hundred ninety nine.


• The cost of an average portable sewing machine would start out around five dollars. This would go up in price if you wanted to add a hand crafted wooden cabinet or one with mother of pearl inlay.


• The treadle sewing machines were popular in America and were in high demand. Americans liked to showcase their machines. Americans would showcase it in their living room like a piece of furniture.


• Europe on the other hand didn’t have as much room and preferred the hand crank sewing machines as they were more portable. They preferred to put it in a corner out of the way or put away on the bottom of a cupboard.


• The sewing machine became a status symbol in the nineteen hundreds. Most machines were very ornate and some were encrusted with mother of pearl. There were circular-shaped machines and open latticework machines.


• Sewing machine has been handed down from generation to generation. Many machines are still being used.


• Commercial sewing machines started out with treadle and later went to line shaft.