We will be open for you again after a telephon registration from 14 June 2021. After this long break, we are very pleased to welcome you back to the Sewing Machine Museum.
Starting in 1790, sewing machines were
developed and produced in different countries.
1790
Thomas Saint
London/England
The original version of this first ‘sewing’ machine from 1790 no longer exits. It was reconstructed in 1874 based on patent drawings that were found, built by the Englishman Newton Wilson, and can now be seen at the Science Museum in South Kensington in London.
The machine shown here was faithfully replicated by our engineers Richard Nufer and Thomas Rückauf. The wooden components were made by the Stingel carpenters workshop in Albstadt-Ebingen. The machine is in working condition.
1800
Balthasar Krems
Mayen/Rhineland
Pointed caps and liberty caps could be sewn with this machine, which in its day was technically quite an accomplished chainstitch sewing machine. The crank-controlled needle bar, continuous fabric conveyance via a spiked wheel and further details are characteristic of special sewing machines, some of which are still in use today.
What makes this machine unique is the specifically devised needle with an eye at its pointed end. This needle design is what made the subsequent invention of the lockstitch sewing machine possible.
1814
Joseph Georg Madersperger
The ‘sewing hand’ from Austria.
This machine was able to sew a stitch similar to a knotted double lockstitch thanks to its eye-pointed needle. The sewing hand sews from the bottom up with the fabric stretched over the machine in a frame and the needles stitching through it from below.
Unfortunately, the invention did not bring him any economic success. Madersperger died alone at nearly 83 years of age in a poorhouse in St Marx near Vienna.
1831
Thimonnier
France
This machine made it possible to sew as many as 200 chainstitches a minute. It was equipped with a barbed needle connected to a needle bar that was moved up and down with a treadle.
He registered a patent for the machine and built approximately 80 sewing machines in Paris, which were used in military workshops. French tailors feared this would lead to their unemployment, which is why they destroyed Thimonnier’s workshop.
1846
Elias Howe
The pictured machine is a faithful reproduction of the world’s first functioning double lockstitch sewing machine.
1853
Wilson Watertown
USA
This is the first machine with a rotary hook, which only later became a success. In today’s domestic sewing machines, this part is called a bobbin.
1854
Thomas
England
One of the first free arm sewing machines, which made it possible to easily sew tubular pieces of cloth, such as closed sleeves.
1855
Singer No. 1
USA
The archetype of the modern sewing machine. Singer, who had German roots, was born in America.
The first Singer sewing machine is in the possession of Roni Schmid in Switzerland.
1857
Lathbury, A. B. Buell
USA
Grover & Baker
USA
A portable machine that tailors could use to make house calls.
Gibbs & Jonson
USA
Platz & Rexrodt
France
They were among the first sewing machine manufacturers in France.
1860
Foliage
USA
This machine is made entirely of brass and has a curved needle.
Watson
USA
This machine is a very rare piece and can sew a chainstitch.
William & Orvis No. 1
USA
This machine also sews a chainstitch (single thread) and has no lower thread.
1861
New England
USA
This machine was built in the USA, but unfortunately the manufacturer is unknown.
1862
Weed
USA
Tailor’s sewing machine, only two of which are known to exist. One of these is on display at our museum.
Whight & Mann
England
George Whight invented this machine and had it patented on 12 October 1861.
Pfaff No. 1
Germany
Pfaff was originally a brass instrument maker and built this heavy and sturdy long-shuttle sewing machine, which sews a double lockstitch.
Stebbins
USA
Stebbins wanted to support the Union during the Civil War and came up with the idea of sewing undergarments and other articles of clothing for soldiers. He built this sewing machine for that purpose.
1863
Madame Demorest
USA
This is a running stitch sewing machine.
Opel No. 1
Germany
This is not the very first Opel sewing machine, but is a sewing machine from the first series made by Opel.
Shaw & Clark Monitor
USA
There are five different versions of the towers for this machine: the open tower, closed tower, thick tower, thin tower and the hydrant. This was a distinctive feature of Shaw & Clark.
