Wednesday 6 February 2013

Two Singers Calling Across the Years


It's funny how a series of coincidences and social media can converge into an investigation into one's past and a revelation or two.

I would like to introduce you to my mum's Singer sewing machine. It belonged to her great grandmother, Elizabeth. I have always thought of this machine as Victorian, but research of the last few days tell us it was manufactured in 1902, making it (just) Edwardian. 



I did my first ever machine sewing on this, and on my nan's 1935 Jones. It was ideal for little me, as the winding wheel meant that the sewing speed could be really, really slow and controlled. No worrying about small fingers being stabbed, unlike my mum's 1980s electronic Singer, which scared me to death!


Just look at the detail. This would have been the pride and joy - not to mention essential household member and in some cases livelihood - of any housewife of the day. My nan would make clothes for my mum on this in the 1950s and 60s, as it was still by far the cheapest way to clothe a growing child in those days. 



The owner of this sewing machine, my great great grandmother, owned a grocery shop with her husband, and continued to run it after his death. She had to, as there was no pension. I'm told the dates printed here are a little inaccurate, as my mum remembers visiting this shop in the mid-60's, and seeing the wood panelled store room and piles of tins. This photograph immediately made me want to create a new doll's house shop! 


All this family history exploration came about when my friend Katrina asked me to pop round and see if I could get her recently acquired sewing machine working for her. Here it is (sorry for the photo quality from here on in, it was rather spontaneous!)



This is a 1958 electronic Singer. Its rather unorthodox electronics by today's standards made us a little nervous! 

Anyway, we got it working, only concluding that it needs a new belt, when we discovered a drawer full of patterns...





And a secret compartment full of sewing supplies! I immediately reached for my phone and popped all of these images on Instagram. This led to a conversation about Singers and someone asked to see a photo of my mum's Edwardian Singer. So I pulled it out and quizzed my mum on its original owner... and on the very same day my nan emailed through - completely coincidentally - the above picture of the shop owned by the very same lady. My mum's godmother had found the picture and thought my nan would like to have it.


So you see, life has a habit of throwing up these odd little conversational patterns every now and again. Thanks to a call for help from a friend and Instagram I have learned about a special ancestor... and perhaps a little something about myself, too. I had no idea we had grocers in the family, but have since firmly decided that this must be why I have always had such a desire to have a little shop of my own. I don't think my paltry online retail space will be blown out of the water by the likes of Sainbury's any time soon though!

Looking at the pictures below, it's amazing to think how much technology moved on in half a century. All decoration disappeared, electricity arrived, but the sewing machine lost none of its work horse, dependable status. Then you compare the first picture to that of my little Audrey there on the right... oh how I love her for her convenience and for helping me in my own sewing adventures, but I wonder what Great Great Grandma Betty would think of her. I doubt my hobby machine will be around in 111 years' time!



Have you got an antique sewing machine in your family? Do you still use it?




26 comments:

  1. Oh Anna, you've just sent shivers of nostalgia down my spine (nice ones) ... the beige Singer sewing machine is the same as the one my Mam used every day, all my young life (she died on 4 February 1974) and I've never seen one like it since. It's nice knowing the history and it must have been state of the art when she bought it. Unfortunately I haven't inherited her sewing skills, but am going to start going to beginners sewing class soon. Never too late, or sew they say!

    Thank you for sharing, you've made my day!

    Love Claire xxx

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    1. Really? How fantastic to learn of another one! I'm still a beginner sewer myself but really enjoying it, and hope you do too. x

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  2. Dear Anna
    I have a very nice Janome sewing machine which is three years old and which I like because it has a variable sewing speed so is very polite and doesn't run away with me. However, my trusty favourite (and wonderful during a power cut) is my great aunt's 1955 hand operated Singer - with all the lovely gold scrolls and patterns and built to last. If only it did zig-zag, I probably wouldn't have needed my Janome!
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. It's interesting how both hand operated and electric Singers were being made during the 1950s! Oh yes, the zig-zag stitch is essential, I find. x

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  3. What an interesting post! I too have an 'old' machine, 40+ years, modern machines are great for all the things they can do....but don't the older ones look better! Someone who combines the two will be onto a winner! :) x

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  4. I have an old sewing maching at the back of a cupboard somewhere - must look it out.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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    1. Oooh yes, that would make an interesting blog post for you. x

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  5. Hi Anna, I loved this post! Old Singers are so gorgeous - my friend has an old one which she fixed up, though I can't remember where she got it from. My mother had an old 80s (possibly 70s?) sewing machine that I learned on, and a year ago for Christmas I got my own first sewing machine. Unfortunetly my flat is so small I can't have it out as there's no room... but one day when I have a craft room, I'm going to learn! I love the old patterns you and your friend found!

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    1. Sewing machines can become such an important possession can't they? You'll have that craft room one day and then you'll be away! x

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  6. I loved reading this post, I have a fascination with all things social history and family trees etc. I do beleieve my mum has an old inherited Singer, I shall have to have a look at it... I do have very fond memories of learning to sew on mum's rather old fashioned 70's machine, which is still in perfect working order now. What a find those vintage patterns are, I can't wait to see some fashion posts with you modelling your creations (made on the old Singer of course) haha! Jo x

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    1. I love social history too! Oh yes, I'm thinking of whipping up a pair of flares or two and you'll see me modelling them very soon (of course, I could be fibbing there!) x

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  7. Lovely story Anna and what a wonderful stash in that secret drawer! x

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  8. What a lovely coincidence! It is so fascinating, learning about the people who carried our family names before we did! I inherited a Singer as a Christmas gift this Christmas but am yet to set it up and start sewing, it seems too beautiful to touch!

    Jem xXx

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    1. I know exactly what you mean, but can't wait to hear how you get on with yours! x

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  9. This is a fascinating post Anna. And just goes to show that every object has a story to tell. I particularly like the Egyptian design on the Edwardian Singer - which of course tells its own story of the archaeological discoveries that were made at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th and how those discoveries impacted on popular imagination. Which ties in nicely with your own discovery of the secret stash! Helen x

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    1. I love the sphinx emblem too, and how clever of you to make that connection! x

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  10. That's a lovely story Anna. I use my Grandma's 1930's hand-turn sewing machine for all my sewing projects. I was given an electric machine but I've no idea how to use it, so it stays in the box! It's lovely that these machines are still used and have become heirlooms. Susan x

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    1. I love that you're using a 1930's machine as standard! x

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  11. Oh I love a bit of family history, what a lovely post. My Mum inherited my Nan's Singer a few years ago and compared to our modern machine it looks like a work of art, we've not tried to use it yet though!

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    1. They can seem a little intimidating can't they, because they are so beautiful and today we associate beautiful things with being more fragile and less robust. I suppose older Singers were far harder worked than today's machines though and can take it, enjoy playing with it when you do :) x

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  12. Hi Anna
    What a gorgeous intricately decorated machine which it reminds me of my Gran's sewing machine and also my mother's which she brought at a junk yard when we were little. We were seven girls so you can well imagine she sewed a lot on her machine ......it was one with the pedals. I remember the pedals very well and I loved to listen to the clunk clunk of the pedal as she sewed and I sat in my mini rocking chair beside her..that sound always brings back fond memories. :-)
    What happened to those two sewing machines I don't know! I'd give a lot to still have one of them now.
    Great post Anna, it has made very interesting reading.

    keep well

    Amanda :-)

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  13. You lucky lady. i love these sewing machines too. When we bought our house I found a singer machine like this in the shed in the garden. My husband was doing all the renovations and as I was pregnant I didn't get out as often as I would have liked. But one day I came out to look at the sewing machine, only to find that my husband had thrown it in a skip and the skip had left two weeks previously. I'm still so sad about losing such a lovely machine. Take care of yours and cherish it.
    Rosie x

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  14. How amazing. My Mum used to make most of our clothes too even though I was not around in the 50's and 70's. I don't remember what machine she used but I do remember when she bought a new all singing and dancing one. (Truth be told I think she prefers the slightly simpler ones!)

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  15. I love old sewing machines - I have a singer from the early 1900s - the original receipt is in the drawer - it's dated 24 June 1904, and cost 16 pounds and 10 shillings. It belonged to my mum, and before her my great aunt. From the date on teh receipt, it must have belonged to someone before her as well. It's in a lovely cabinet, which I use to store some of my craft suplies - I blogged about it here: http://thedustyatticblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/storage-solutions.html

    Anna
    x

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