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- Singer Portable Sewing Machine, 1860 -
- 1860
- Collections - Artifact
Singer Portable Sewing Machine, 1860
- Grover & Baker Portable Sewing Machine, Purchased by Rufus Reed of Newark, New York, 1857 - Seamstresses used this sewing machine to sew cotton cloth (a Southern agricultural commodity woven in Northern factories). The cast-iron mechanism in a rosewood case confirms connections between Amazonian forests and New England factories. Patented in 1856, this portable machine hit the American market while the fate of slavery divided the nation. Advertising in the American Farmer (1860) described it “for farm and plantation use,” implying that enslaved and free seamstresses may have used it.
- 1857
- Collections - Artifact
Grover & Baker Portable Sewing Machine, Purchased by Rufus Reed of Newark, New York, 1857
Seamstresses used this sewing machine to sew cotton cloth (a Southern agricultural commodity woven in Northern factories). The cast-iron mechanism in a rosewood case confirms connections between Amazonian forests and New England factories. Patented in 1856, this portable machine hit the American market while the fate of slavery divided the nation. Advertising in the American Farmer (1860) described it “for farm and plantation use,” implying that enslaved and free seamstresses may have used it.
- Howe Sewing Machine, circa 1863 -
- circa 1863
- Collections - Artifact
Howe Sewing Machine, circa 1863
- C. & C. Electric Company Motor, 1890-1893 -
- 1890-1893
- Collections - Artifact
C. & C. Electric Company Motor, 1890-1893
- Western Electric No. 2 Portable Sewing Machine, circa 1920 -
- circa 1920
- Collections - Artifact
Western Electric No. 2 Portable Sewing Machine, circa 1920
- Genius Rewarded, or the Story of the Sewing Machine, 1880 -
- 1880
- Collections - Artifact
Genius Rewarded, or the Story of the Sewing Machine, 1880
- "Instruction Book No. 8071, Sewing Machine Motor Ourfits," May 29, 1899 -
- May 20, 1899
- Collections - Artifact
"Instruction Book No. 8071, Sewing Machine Motor Ourfits," May 29, 1899
- Women Workers in a Shoe Factory, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1903 - In 1800, shoemaking was a craft known to few. Throughout the century, inventors patented industrial machines to perform much of that manual labor. By 1900, shops of laborers produced more shoes faster and cheaper than ever before. Here, women pose at factory sewing machines that helped make quick work of stitching tough shoe leather.
- circa 1903
- Collections - Artifact
Women Workers in a Shoe Factory, Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1903
In 1800, shoemaking was a craft known to few. Throughout the century, inventors patented industrial machines to perform much of that manual labor. By 1900, shops of laborers produced more shoes faster and cheaper than ever before. Here, women pose at factory sewing machines that helped make quick work of stitching tough shoe leather.
- The Howe Machine Co. Instruction Book for the Howe Sewing Machine, Step Feed, 1871 -
- 1871
- Collections - Artifact
The Howe Machine Co. Instruction Book for the Howe Sewing Machine, Step Feed, 1871
- Singer Bowl Medal From New York World's Fair, 1964 - The Singer Company became the corporate sponsor of the assembly stadium during the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. The 17,000 seat "Singer Bowl" hosted the official opening of the fair along with other events. The stadium also contained an exhibition area about the famous sewing machine company. Fairgoers could remember their visit to the stadium with this souvenir medal.
- 1964
- Collections - Artifact
Singer Bowl Medal From New York World's Fair, 1964
The Singer Company became the corporate sponsor of the assembly stadium during the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. The 17,000 seat "Singer Bowl" hosted the official opening of the fair along with other events. The stadium also contained an exhibition area about the famous sewing machine company. Fairgoers could remember their visit to the stadium with this souvenir medal.