Name/TitleSinger Sewing Treadle Machine

About this objectThis singer sewing machine was donated by the Klinger family. It belonged to Kassia Klinger’s sister, Celia, and is thought to have originally belonged to their mother, Lucy Hutcherson, born in Newcastle in 1924.
The first Singer sewing machines were developed in 1851 by Isaac Singer and help revolutionise the production of garments. It operated quickly and accurately thereby surpassing the productivity of a seamstress or tailor sewing by hand. Interestingly, the spread of sewing machine technology to industrialised economies around the world meant the spread of Western style sewing methods and clothing styles as well.
Further developments during the 20th century made sewing machines such as this particular model affordable to the most households. Women who had become accustomed to seeing the latest fashions in magazines could now make their own garments at an affordable price using paper patterns (American tailor and manufacturer Ebenezer Butterick met that demand with paper patterns that could be traced and used by home sewers).
During the 1950s sewing for domestic purposes was very popular and this machine is a fine example of that period. It speaks to an era when women were less likely to work once they married and had children and society, still recovering from the second world war, saw the economic benefits of making and mending one’s own clothes.
In the later decades of the 20th century this practiced declined when ready-made clothing became a necessity. Women joined the paid workforce in larger numbers and the low price of ready-made clothing in shops meant that home sewing was confined largely to hobbyists, except for cottage industries in custom dressmaking and upholstery.

MakerThe Singer Manufacturing Company

Maker RoleManufacturer

Date Made1952

PeriodMid 20th century

Place MadeNorth and Central America, United States, New Jersey

Inscription and MarksSerial No. EH461783
SIMANCO 125255

Subject and Association KeywordsSewing

Subject and Association KeywordsArts and Craft

Subject and Association Keywordsclothing

Subject and Association KeywordsGarments

Object TypeAppliances

Object numberTMA2021.00033

Copyright Licence