Starting in 1852 Great Britain developed a thriving sewing machine manufacturing industry however many companies remained small and only made sewing machines for relatively short periods before disappearing sometimes leaving only a name or machine to history.

It also has to be remembered that whilst many British companies claimed to manufacture machines some simply sold machines labelled with their name, but which had been made in countries such as Germany. Our eventual aim is to establish a comprehensive list of ACTUAL British Sewing Machine Manufacturers, the machines made and dates of production.

The list provided below is in its infancy and will be updated as and when new information becomes available to us. Dates given for the various Companies or machines are taken from dated advertising material, the Company may have been in existence before or after the date given or the machine may have been produced before or after the date indicated unless stated otherwise.

PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this web page is the COPYRIGHT of David G. Best it MAY NOT be reproduced nor used for commercial gain without my express written consent.

If you come across a period advertisement, instruction manual, price list etc (dated or not) this may provide further information which would help enhance the accuracy of this list and we would be grateful if you could let us have a copy.

We are seeking additional machines to preserve, especially early cast base or unusually shaped ones not currently represented in the collection. Please click here to see the list of machines we are particularly looking for.

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BRADBURY
& COMPANY.
BUSY BEE
COMPANY
FRANKLIN
SEWING MACHINE Co.
HERON,
GRESHAM & CRAVEN
HOWE
MACHINE Co.
IMPERIAL
SEWING MACHINE Co.
JONES
& COMPANY.
MOLDACOT POCKET
SEWING MACHINE Co.
NEWTON WILSON
& COMPANY
ROYAL
SEWING MACHINE Co.
WILLIAM
SELLERS & Co.
SHEPHERD, ROTHWELL
& HOUGH
SINGER
SEWING MACHINE Co.
SMITH,
STARLEY & Co.
W. F. THOMAS,
& COMPANY.
EDWARD WARD
JAMES WEIR
OLDHAM
MANUFACTURERS
OTHER BRITISH
MANUFACTURERS
RETURN TO
THE GALLERY
CONTACT US

The information produced here is taken mainly from primary sources, that is actual advertising and other company promotional material. Where necessary secondary sources have also been used, for example books, newspapers and magazines printed prior to 1920. Nonetheless there are some anomalies which are still to be resolved.
Unless otherwise stated a Company may have been in existence before or after the date given or the machine may have been produced before or after the date indicated.

Click on a Letter
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N P R S T U V W

Wm. Andrews c1871 - 1884 Sewing machine production ceased 1884
  • 126 Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham. 1871
  • 145 Steelhouse Lane, also Bath Street, Birmingham. 1875 - 1879
  • 3 Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham. 1880 - 1884
  • Victoria Road, Aston, Birmingham. 1884
  • Sold to Triumph 1902
    Machines Made:
  • Wheeler & Wilson Type 1878
  • The Sanspareil 1878
    Note: Cycles produced from 1881

    Daniel Bateman 1870
  • Factory: Paradise Street, Cropper Lane, Bradford.
    Patentees: Daniel & James Bateman 27 Nov 1863
    Machine Made:
  • Industrial Type

    • Bell Twin Reel Sewing Machine Syndicate Ltd 1910 - 1913 (Closed)
    Patent Rights & Machinery sold to:
    Twin Bobbin Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1913 -
  • Bury, Lancashire.
    Founders & Patentees: Frederick J.T. Bell & Hardy Cecil Bell
    Machine Made:
  • Twin Bobbin

    • Bellow Machine Co. PreWW1
  • Factory: Leeds.
    Became:
    BMC Ltd 1925
    Made
  • Sewing Machine attachments & benches
    Bought by Pfaff 1977

    • Bradbury

    1862 Illustration Copyright David Best

    Bradbury & Co.
    see
    Sugdens', Bradbury & Firth

    Thomas Bradford & Co. Est 1857 - 1901 +
  • Factory: Windsor Bridge Iron Works, Salford, Manchester. renamed in 1874 to Crescent Iron Works,
  • Retail: 63 Fleet Street, London by 1870 - 1874
                  140, 142, 143 High Holborn, London by 1875
    Machines Made:
  • Royal Anchor - Lock Stitch 1870
  • Fleet Anchor - Chain Stitch 1872

    Note: Company were Laundry & Dairy Engineers & also made garden equipment.

    • Branston Two Reel Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1889 - 1893(Closed)
  • 59 Holborn Viaduct, London.1891 -1895
  • Patentees: Charles Branstone Hunt, John Holroyd, Richard J. Johns
    Machines Made:
  • Two reel lock & chain stitch machines 1891
    Became:
    New Branston Two Reel Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1893 -1899
  • 80A Coleman Street, London 1899

    • Breech Action Manufacturing Co. Pre 1872 - 1877 +
  • Factory: Regent Works, Herbert Road, Small Heath, Birmingham.
  • Founder: William Pringle
    Machine Made:
  • The Fearnought

    • Britannia Co. Est 1865 -
    Became:
    Britannia Sewing Machine Co. By 1868 1879
    Became:
    Britannia Manufacturing Co. 1879 - 1887 +
  • Factory: Britannia Works, Magdalen Street, Colchester.
  • Founders: Thomas M. Bear, Joseph Blomfield
    Machines Made:
  • Britannia (Willcox & Gibbs type) 1875
  • Britannia (Wheeler & Wilson type) 1867 1875
  • Tom Hood 1869 1873
  • Britannia Anchor c1870
  • The X L 1884
  • No.13 Machine 1877
  • No.14 Machine 1877

    • British Sewing Machine Co. 1858 - 1863
    Became:
    British Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1863 - 1866 Closed
  • Factory: Britannia Works, 62 North Frederick Street, Glasgow. 1865 1866
  • Offices: 71 Oxford Street, London. 1865 1866
    Patentee: Alexander Pilbeam, Glasgow 14 May 1863 No. 1212
    Machines Made:
  • Alexandra 1865 1866

    • Bromley Downey & Crossley
    see
    Mcdonald, Downey & Crossley

    Busy Bee Company Pre 1873 -1880 plus
  • Factory: 5 New Street, Worcester.
  • Founder: Alfred Michael Baylis
    Machine Made:
  • Busy Bee

    • William Carver Est 1856 - 1879 +
  • Factory: Ducie Street Mill, 5 Todd Street, Manchester. (pre 1862)
                     Park Works, Park Street, Manchester 1862 -1879 +
    Became:
    Arthur Calver Pre 1886
    Machines Made:
  • British Machine (Lancashire) 1862
  • Thomas Types 1862
  • Wheeler & Wilson Type

    • W Calver

    1862 Illustration Copyright David Best

    William Campion 1862 - pre 1876
  • Factory: Aberdeen Street, off Carlton Road, Nottingham.
  • Retail: A. Slater & Co. Wormwood Street, London.
    Machines Made:
  • Jenny Lind 1870 - 1878(Design Registered 10th March 1870)
  • Lady
  • Progress

    • William Campion & Henry Johnson 1859 - Pre 1864
  • Factory: Hoyles' Factory, Woolpack Lane, Nottingham.
    Patent: 2nd September 1861
    Machines Made: Unknown but had links with Newton Wilson

    • Chadwick & Jones Est 1860 - 14th March 1863 Closed
    Ashton-under-Lyne.
    See William Jones

    Arthur Clegg & Co. Pre 1869 - 1895+
  • Retail: 31 Finsbury Place, London. 1869 - 1880
                  78 Finsbury Pavement 1882 1883
                  48 Fore Street 1883 - 1891
                  1 Upper Charles Street 1895
    Machine Made:
  • Chainstitch 1877
  • Howe Principle 1877
  • Elastic 1877
  • The Clegg 1883 1884

    • Clerkenwell Engineers Est 1885 -1910 Closed

    see Thomas Sewing Machine Co.

    Cole, Maxfield & Co. to 30th December 1867
  • Factory: Franklin Works, Park Road, Soho, Birmingham.
    Founders: Richard Wood, Arthur Maxfield, Isaac Cole.
    Machines Made: Unknown
    See also:
    Franklin Sewing Machine Co.
    A. Maxfield & Co.
    Charles Fowke & Co.
    Imperial Sewing Machine Co.

    • Cookson Lockstitch Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1887 – 1888 Closed
  • Factory: Lozells Road, Birmingham.
  • Founders: Frederick Nesfield Cookson, Samuel Jenkins, & James F. Fairley
    Became:
    Cookson Patent Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1888 - pre 1893
    Machine Made:
  • The Cookson

    see Harpur & Mason.

    • Frederick N. Cookson 1891
  • 158 Lozells Road

    see above

    • Coventry Sewing Machine Co. Ltd
    and
    Coventry Machinists Co. Ltd
    see

    European Sewing Machine Co. Ltd

    William Crow Pre 1872 -1876+
  • 4a Great Hampton Street, Birmingham by 1872, 1873.
        191a Great Hampton Row, Birmingham by 1873.
        13 Pope Street, Birmingham by 1876.
    Machines Made:
  • Royal Mail 1873.
  • Period 1873.

    • S. Davis & Co. 1872 - 1895
  • Period House, Borough, London.
  • 8 Hackney Road, London.
    Machines Made:
  • Davis's Circular Feed Machine
  • Period Lock Stitch Machine (Wheeler & Wilson type)

    • Dorman

    1890 Advertisment copyright David Best

    Dorman Sewing Machine & Engineering Co. c1887 - 1890 +
  • Factory: Mayorhold, Northampton
  • Proprietor: Thomas B. Dorman.
  • Manager: Alfred Henry Dorman
  • Exhibition Medals: London 1887 & 1888
    Became:
    The Dorman Sewing Machine & Engineering Co. Ltd by 1893
    Became
    Dorman Engineering Co. 1894 -1903 Closed
    Machine Made:
  • The Dorman 12000 produced by Oct 1894

    • Eclipse Machine Company Est Feb 1889 to c1919

    see Shepherd Rothwell & Hough

    European Sewing Machine Co. Ltd c1859 – 1867 In Liquidation
  • Factory: King Street, Coventry. 1863
  • Retail: 61 Cheapside, London. 1862
    Machine Made:
  • European 1862 1874
    Became:
    Coventry Sewing Machine Co. Ltd 1867 - 1869
    Became:
    Coventry Machinists Co. Ltd est 10th May 1869 - reconstituted 1888 Closed 1896
  • Retail 15 -16 Holborn Viaduct London.

    Note: Sewing machine production ceased c 1884.
    The company also produced Bicycles & Tricycles from 1869:
    - The Pony, Club 1883 - Imperial tricycle 1885, Cheylesmore tricycle

    • Charles Fowke & Co. c1874
  • Factory: Franklin Works, Park Road, Soho, Birmingham.
    Machine Made:
  • Agenoria

    See also:
    Cole, Maxfield & Co.
    Franklin Sewing Machine Co.
    A. Maxfield & Co.
    Imperial Sewing Machine Co.

    • Franklin Sewing Machine Co. January 1868 - 1872 Closed
  • Factory: Franklin Works, Park Road, Soho, Birmingham.
    Founders: Charles Fowke, Arthur Maxfield, Isaac Cole.
    Note: Partnership dissolved 23rd November 1872
    Exhibition Medal: London 1870
    Machines Made:
  • Agenoria 1868 - 1872
    See also:
    Cole, Maxfield & Co.
    Charles Fowke & Co.
    A. Maxfield & Co.
    Imperial Sewing Machine Co.

    • Greenwood & Batley Est 1856 - pre 1888
  • Factory: Albion Works, Armley Road, Leeds.
  • Retail: Albert Buildings, Queen Victoria Street, London. Pre 1876 1878
                  16 Great George Street, Westminster, London. 1891, 1895, 1897, 1902 Founders: A. Greenwood, Sidney T Batley Patentees: A Greenwood & J & A Keats 1868
    Became:
    Greenwood & Batley Ltd 1889 - 1902
    Machines Made:
  • Crispin Wax Thread 1876
  • Keats Patent Lockstitch 1879
  • Keats Rotary 1881,1882
  • Keats Patent Wax Thread 1888

    • Gresham & Craven

    See Heron, Gresham & Craven

    W.G. Guinness & Co. 1862
    Became:
    Guinness & Co. By 1865 - 1868
  • Factory; 42 Cheapside, London 1864 - 1868
    Machine Made:
  • Guinness

    • Harpur & Mason Est 1890 - 1892
    AKA Harpur Bros & Mason 1892 - 1897
  • Factory: 72 Lozells Road, Birmingham. 1890 -1892
  • Harp Works, Price Street, Birmingham. (1897)
    Machine Made:
  • Handy 1890

    Note: Manufacturered cycles 1892 - 1897

    • J. Harris & Co

    1875 Advertisment Copyright David Best

    Joseph Harris & Co.
    sewing machines produced by the Imperial Sewing Machine Co. from c1875 -1877
  • Factory: Franklin Works, Park Road, Soho, Birmingham 1874, 1875.
  • Renamed Factory: Imperial Sewing Machine Works, Park Road, Soho, Birmingham 1876
  • Retail: Oriel House, 41 Bull St, Birmingham.
    Machines Made:
  • Imperial 1873
  • Agenoria 1873 - 1877
  • Challenge 1872 1875 1877
  • Eureka

    c1878 Taken over by: Royal Sewing Machine Co.

    • Greville C. Harston pre 1873
    Became:
    Greville Harston & Co. Ltd by 1875 Closed c1876
  • 10 Weaman Street, Birmingham by 1873
  • Factory: Bath Street, Birmingham 1876
  • Retail: 95 Bath Street, Birmingham
                  117 & 118 Bishopsgate Street Without, London.
    Machine Made:
  • Non Pareil

    • Charles & William Harwood c1855 - 1872 +
  • Britannia Iron Foundry, Lower Loveday Street, Birmingham 1867.
  • Reed's Buildings, Shadwell Street, Birmingham 1867.
  • Retail: 54 New Summer Street, Birmingham 1862 - 1868.
                  New Town Row by 1872 -1876+
    Became:
    Harwood's London Machine Works Co. by 1873 - 1875
    Machines Made:
  • Thomas Types 1862 - 1867

    • Heron, Gresham & Craven Est 1869 - c1875
  • Factory: Craven Iron Works, South Hall Street, Ordsall Lane, Salford, Manchester.
    Partners: John Spier Heron, James Gresham, Thomas Craven,
    Note: John S. Heron left the partnership on 16th April 1875 & he died in 1880
    Became
    Gresham & Craven 1875 - 1880+
    Became:
    Gresham & Craven Ltd c1880 - 1884 Ceased sewing machine production.
    Machines Made:
  • Gresham 1872 -1878 (Patented March 1867)
  • The Seymour 1873 (Made for Smith & Co.)
  • Improved Gresham 1873 -1880
  • Reversible Gresham 1872 1873
  • The Heron 1878 - 1882

    Hillman & Herbert Est 1876 - 1881+
  • Premier Works, Corner of South Street & Read Street, Coventry
  • Partners William Hillman & William Henry Herbert
    Machine Made:
  • Little Maid
  • The Hillman Lock-stitch 1878

    • John Holme Pre 1867 - c1873
  • Factory: Longford Buildings, Ormond Street, Manchester
  • Retail: 43 Oxford Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock.
    Became:
    Oxford Sewing Machine Co. by 1874 - post 1876
    Machine Made:
  • Ariel 1868

    • Howe Machine Company Ltd Started production in the UK in 1873 - 1887 Closed
  • Factory: Avenue Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland.
  • Retail: 64 Regent Street, London 1871
                  46 & 48 Queen Victoria Street, London. 1875 1882
  • Exhibition Medal: Paris 1878
    Machines Made:
  • Howe Types A, B, C, D, E
  • Crown Howe
  • Elias Howe

    Note; Bicycles & Tricycles being produced by 1883

    • Hopkinson Bros pre 1880 - 1885+
  • 18 Cleveland Street, Doncaster. 1881
    49 & 51 Cleveland Street Doncaster 1885
  • Founders: F & L Hopkinson
    Machine Made:
  • Hopkinson

    • Ideal Sewing Machine Co. Ltd. July1919 - 1925 (Closed)
  • Factory: Sandycobe Works, Kew Gardens (purchased 1922)
  • Offices 66 Broad Street Avenue, London 1922
    Chairman: Harry Stolen 1919 - 1922, Stephen Rowe 1925
    Machine Made:
  • Ideal Type A
  • Ideal Type B

    • Imperial Sewing Machine Co. Est 1873 - 1877 Closed
  • Factory: Franklin Works, Park Road, Birmingham.1874 - 1875
  • Renamed Factory: Imperial Sewing Machine Works, Park Road, Soho, Birmingham 1876
    Founders: Joseph Harris & John Judson
    Note: Partnership dissolved 31st December 1877.
    Machines Made:
  • Agenoria 1875
  • Challenge 1875
  • Challenge (new Patent) 1876
  • Shakspear 1875?
  • Eureka
    Harris sold his interests to the Royal Sewing Machine Co. in March 1878

    W. Jackson & Sons c1870 - 1881
  • Factory: Warlingham, Surrey.
  • Retail: 1a Caroline Street, Eton Square, London.
    Became:
    Jackson's Patent Boot Sole Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1881 - 1883 (Closed)
  • 53 Cannon Street, London.
    Machines Made:
  • The Automaton 1874
  • Duchess of Edinburgh 1874 - 1876
  • Boot Sole Sewing Machine 1874

    • Horace Cornelius Johnson c1883
  • Attleborough, Norfolk.
    Machine Made:
  • unnamed

    • Jones

    The leaflet below is reproduced from the Evanion Collection of Ephemera by kind permission of the British Library Board

    William Jones Est 1859 - 1860
  • Factory: 1859 Audenshaw.
                     1860 Ashton-Under-Lyne.
                     1869 Guidebridge, Manchester.
    Became:
    Chadwick & Jones c1860 - 1863
    Became:
    Jones & Co. 1864 - c1869
    Became:
    Jones Sewing Machine Co. Ltd 5th July 1889 - 1968
    1968 Taken over by Brother
    Machines Made:
  • W & W Type
  • Howe Types A, B, C 1878 1885
  • Jones Hand 1879 c1906
  • Family T.S. 1878 & Exhibited at Melbourne Exhibition 11th April 1881, 1885
  • Medium T.S. 1885
  • Jones Boot Closing Machine 1885
  • Medium Spool 1889
  • Family C.S. 1893
  • Medium C.S.
  • Family D53

    • Charles T. Judkins Est 1852 - 1863 +
  • Retail: 1854 35 Corporation Street, Manchester
                 1854 - 1856 23 Cannon Street West, London.
                 1863 -1864 - 22 Ludgate Street, London.
                 1866 – 1868 4 Ludgate Hill, St Pauls, London.
                 1871 - 16 Ludgate Hill, London.
                 1875 - 98 Fleet Street, London.
    Became:
    Judkins Domestic Sewing Machine Co. Ltd by 1865
    Became:
    Judkins & Co. by 1871 -1875+
    Machines Made:
  • Domestic Hand 1866 1868
  • The Judkins
  • Lancashire
  • New England
    NOTE: It is not clear if Judkins actually produced these
    machines or whether he had them manufactured to his design.

    Daniel Judson & Son Ltd Pre 1884 - 1890's
  • 77 Southwark Street, London
    Machine Made:
  • The Tabitha 1886 1888

    • Kimball & Morton Est 1867 - 1887
    Partners: Alonzo Kimball & John Morton
    Note: A. Kimball left the partnership 5th May 1874
  • Factory: 80 Bishop Street, Anderston, Glasgow. Pre 1876 1879
                      11 Bothwell Circus, Glasgow. By 1885 - 1901+
                      11a Norfolk Street Works, Glasgow. By 1895
    Became:
    Kimball & Morton Ltd 1887 - 1955
    Machines Made:
  • Stitch in Time - Hand Machine
  • Family 1878 1890
  • Medium 1889, 1890
  • Medium High Arm
  • Domestic
  • Oscillator 1889, 1890
  • Grommet machine 1892
  • Overedge Sack sewing Machine 1874
  • Lion Sewing Machine (early model) 1868
  • Lion Sewing Machine (late model) 1902

    • Laing's Patent Overhead Hand Stitch Sewing Machine Co. Ltd. Pre 1876 - 1894 Closed
  • Factory: 4 Bain Street Dundee.
    Founder & Patentee : James Laing
    Patent 8493 12th Oct 1874
    Machine Made:
  • Industrial sack machine

    • Lancashire Sewing Machine Co. 1852 - 1855
  • Depot: 2 Lawrence Lane, Cheapside, London 1853
    Note: Machines Exhibited at the Irish Industrial Exhibition 1853 & Sydenham Crystal Palace Exhibition 1854
    Machine Made:
  • Lancashire shuttle machine 1852 -1853
  • Lancashire circular needle machine 1853 - 1855

    • Lomax & Co. 1870 - 1877
  • Factory: Bridge Street, Over Darwen, Blackburn
    Partners: Joseph & Henry Lomax. Partnership dissolved 1st June 1877
    Joseph continued the business until 1880
    Machine Made:
  • Lomax's Patent

    • Mackenzie Sewing Machine Co. c1862 - 1864
  • 32 St. Enoch Square, Glasgow.
    Machine Made:
  • Mackenzie Cylinder Machine

    • A. Maxfield

    1874 Advertisement Copyright David Best

    McDonald, Downey & Crossley to 13th July 1872
  • Factory: Old Church Street, Oldham
    Partners John McDonald, Hugh Downey, James Crossley
    Became:
    Downey & Crossley
    Became:
    Bromley Downey & Crossley 1875 - 1877 (Closed)
  • Factory: Old Church Street, Oldham 1875
    Domestic Sewing Machine Works, Roscoe Street, Oldham 1877
    Partners: John Bromley, Hugh Downey, James Crossley
    Machines Made:
  • Oldham Domestic 1875
  • Oldham Medium 1875
  • No.1 A 1875
  • No.2 B 1875

    • A. Maxfield & Co. 1872 - November 1877 Closed
  • Factory: Agenoria Works (1873) later called New Street Works,
    71 & 72 Spencer Street, Birmingham.
  • Retail: 65 Constitution Hill, Birmingham. 1873
    Machine Made:
  • Maxfield Agenoria 1873 - 1877

    See also:
    Cole, Maxfield & Co.
    Franklin Sewing Machine Co.
    Charles Fowke & Co.
    Imperial Sewing Machine Co.

    • Mc Quinn c1875 - 1885 (Closed)
    Founder: Charles Mc Quinn
  • Neptune Works, 196 Icknield Street East, Birmingham.
    Machine Made:
  • Mc Quinn 1878

    • Moldacot Pocket Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1886 - 1888
  • Offices: Bloomfield House, London Wall, London.
  • Founders: A.D. Moll & J. C. Cottam
    Became:
    Moldacot (Colonial Foreign) Pocket Sewing Machine Co. Ltd 1888
    Became:
    United Sewing Machine Co. 1888 Closed
    Machine Made:
  • Moldacot (Push action or hand crank) 1887
    Manufactured by: W. M. Brown, Brearly Street, Birmingham, & J. Holroyd, Tomlinson Street, Hulme, Manchester

    • H. Moore pre 1873 - 1885+
  • Factory: 52 Broad Green, Wellingborough.
  • Retail: 5, 23,& 24 High Street, Wellingborough.
  • Exhibition Medals: Northampton & Leath 1873
    Machine Made:
  • New Elastic & Repairing c1883 1885
  • Cording Machine 1885

    • J. Newey & Co.
  • Factory: Clyde Works Heaman Street, Birmingham,
  • Partners: John Newey, Frederick Nesfield Cookson
    Note: Partnership dissolved 24th August 1891

    Nussey & Pilling Est 1868 - 1876
  • Factory: Park Works, 4 Park Lane, Leeds.
  • Retail: 1870 S.W Silver & Co., 3 & 4 Bishopsgate Within, London, also 66 & 67 Cornhill, London.
                  1876 C. E. Wilson, 20 Falcon Square, London.
  • Founders: Arthur Nussey & Altham Pilling - partnership dissolved 8th July 1874
  • Exhibition Medal: Durham 1873
    Became:
    Nussey & Co. 1874 - 1877 +
    Machines Made:
  • W & W Type 1868 1876
  • Byron 1874?
  • Little Stranger No’s 1, 2, 3, 3a, 3b, 4, 4a, 5, 5a, 5b, 1869 - 1876
  • Noiseless Tudor 1870 1877
  • Improved Little Stranger 1873 1877
  • Nussing & Pilling Family 1876 1877

    • William Pearson & Co. 1862 - 1870
  • Little Neville Street, Leeds. Partners: Joseph & William Pearson

  • Became:
    Pearson & Co. pre 1875 - 1884
  • Factory: Neville Iron Works, School Close, Leeds 1864
  • Chadwick Street, Hunslet, Leeds. by 1881
    Partners: Marshall Henry Pearson & John Wood Pickard dissolved 1878 continued by Pearson
    Machines Made:
  • The Neville 1870
  • The Pearson
  • The Pearson No.2

    Pendelton Machine Company c1875
  • Factory: Pendleton (nr Railway Station), Lancashire.
  • Offices: 27 Ward's Buildings, Deansgate, Manchester.
    Founder: George Bradbury
    Manager: Charles Bradbury
    Machine Made:
  • Unknown but using Bradbury & Lomax's patents

    • Pitt Brothers Est 1852 - 1885 +
  • Factory: Alma Foundry, Liversedge, Yorkshire.
    Founders: James, Joseph, Edward & William Pitt
    Machine Made:
  • Circular Feed 1876 1882
  • Princess 1883

    • Rayer & Lincoln Machine Co. Pre 1876 - 1879+
  • Factory: Hulme Street, Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester.
    Patentees: Butterworths & Stephenson
    Machine Made:
  • Unknown

    • Redditch Sewing Machine Co., Redditch. c1870's
    Machine Made:
  • The Rival c1878

    • Owen Robinson & Co. Est 1856 - 1885 +
  • Factory: Dalkeith Place, Kettering.
                     Champion Sewing Machine Works, Victoria Street, Kettering 1872 1870.
    Founder: Owen Robinson
    Machines Made:
  • Flowering Machine
  • Champion 1862
  • No.1 Champion 1867 1880
  • Cut & Heeler 1867
  • R. Heeling & Attaching
  • Family Treasure 1874
  • Little Treasure 1882
  • The Kettering 1880
  • No. 1 Family 1880
  • No. 2 Medium 1880

    • Royal Machine Manufacturing Co. Ltd Est 1882 - 1888 (Closed)
    See Royal Sewing Machine Co.

    Royal Sewing Machine Co. Est 1867 - 1877
  • Factory: Herbert Road, Small Heath, Birmingham.
  • Retail: 32 Union Street, Birmingham 1879.
  • Founder: Thomas Shakspear later joined by George Illston (Manager)
    1878 the Company purchased the sewing machine business of Joseph Harris who until 31st December 1877 had been in partnership with John Judson trading as the Imperial Sewing Machine Co.
    Became:
    Royal Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1877 - 1882
    Became:
    Royal Machine Manufacturing Co. Ltd Est 1882 - 1888 (Closed)
    Machines Made:
  • Royal 1868 -1872 (Treadle Wheeler & Wilson type)
  • Royal Alfred 1870 - 1872 (Hand Wheeler & Wilson type)
  • Shakespear 1870 -1888 (also labelled as Monarch for Smith & Co. 1874 1875)
  • Challenge 1874 -1888
  • Eugenie 1873 -1880 (also labelled as Regent for Smith & Co. 1875 -1877)
  • Milton 1872 - 1878
  • Avon 1874 - 1876
  • Windsor 1874 - 1888 (also labelled as South Kensington, Hyde Park, Parkinson, Eureka, Richmond)
  • Agenoria 1877 - 1883
  • Times A 1883 1884
  • Times C 1878 -1888

    • S.C. Salisbury c1861 - 1866
  • European Sewing Machine Works, Coventry
  • Essex Street, The Strand, London
    Patentee: Silas Covell Salisbury & James Starley 1861
    Machines Made:
  • Two Spool Knot Stitch (Grover & Baker principle) 1862
  • Family Lock Stitch 1862

    • Self Acting Sewing Machine Co. Ltd 1883 Closed 1885
  • Depot: 233 Regent Street, London
    Machines Made:
  • Self Acting Lock Stitch
  • Self Acting Lock Stitch & Button Hole

    • Wm Sellers Est 1854 - pre 1868
  • Factory: Airedale Works, Larkholme Lane, Keighley.
  • Retail: 12 Walbrook, London Pre 1868 to c1898.
                  20 Manchester Avenue, London c1899 - c1910.
                  5/6 Kinghorn Street, London.
                  6/7 Kinghorn Street, London 1914 1915.
                     1 Kinghorn Street, London c1924.
  • Founder: William Sellers
  • Exhibition Medal: Amsterdam 1869 for The Seamstress
  • Production: 1875 15000 per annum
    Became:
    Wm Sellers & Co. - pre 1868 - 1880+
    Became:
    Wm Sellers & Sons c1881 - 1930 +
  • Partners: J.R. Sellers & J. M. Sellers c1930
    Note: Sellers & Allen (James P Allen) was set up in London c1870 to deal with the Wholesale & Export trade & was still operating in 1924
    Machines Made:
  • Thomas Type No. 1, 1.5, 2 & 3 1854 1884
  • Lancashire Type 1854
  • Universal Feed 1870 1884
  • Stitchwell Family & Medium 1870 - 1884
  • Seamstress W & W type 1869 - 1884
  • Hand Lock Stitch 1870? 1878
  • Howe Types No. 1 & 2 1870 - 1884
  • Thomas Types Nos 1, 1 2, 3 1878
  • No. 4 1884
  • Sellers V.S.

    Shakespear & Illston Est 1860 - 1867
  • Founders: Thomas Shakespear and George Illston
    Became:
    1867 Royal Sewing Machine Co.
    Shepherd Rothwell & Hough 1885

    1885 Promotional Leaflet

    Reproduced from the Evanion Collection of Ephemera by kind permission of the British Library Board

    Shepherd, Rothwell & Hough Est 1872 - 1890 Closed
  • Factory: Roscoe Street, Mumps.
                     Maltby's Buildings, Gas Street, Oldham.
                     Rhodes Bank, Union Street, Oldham 1875 - 1880
                     By 1882 Rochdale Road, Oldham.
  • Founders: Emanual Shepherd, Fred Rothwell, Tom Rothwell and James Hough
    Note: Partnership dissolved 31st October 1887 business continued by Fred & Tom Rothwell.
  • Exhibition Medal: Oldham Agricultural Society 1879
    Became:
    Eclipse Machine Company Est 1890 to May 1923 (Closed)
  • Factory: Rochdale Road, Oldham.
  • Partners: Fred & Tom Rothwell
    Machines Made:
  • Eclipse S Family 1873 - 1890
  • Eclipse S Medium 1889, 1890
  • Eclipse A (Howe Principle) 1873 - 1890
  • Eclipse B 1873 - 1890
  • Eclipse C 1873 - 1890
  • Hand Machine 1889, 1890
  • Eclipse Reversible 1885

    • R. E. Simpson & Co. 1859 - 1871 +
  • Factory: 90 Maxwell Street, Glasgow. 1865 - 1870
  • Retail: 116 Cheapside, London. 1862 - 1870
  • Patent Date: February 15th 1859
    Partners: R. E. Simpson, Amelia Anna Morton nee Simpson, George Auchterlonie.
    Note: Following the death of R. E. Simpson the partnership was dissolved on 7th Dec 1865.
    The business being continued by G. Auchterlonie in partnership with William Morrison Jr who retired 31st December 1873
    Machines Made:
  • No. 1 13 inch Table Machine 1860
  • No. 2 18 inch Table Machine 1860
  • No. 3 Arm Machine 1860
  • Universal Family 1865
  • Family & Medium Singer Principle - The Simpson

    • Singer Manufacturing Co. Ltd Established Factory in the UK in 1869
  • Factory:
    Love Loan, Glasgow 1869 -1871
    James Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow. 1871 - 1884
                       Kilbowie, Glasgow. 1884 - 1980
    Machines Made:
  • Notably Model 12, 13, 15, V.S.2, V.S.3, 27, 28, 48, 115, 127, 128, 221, 222,
    as well as many, many others including Industrial machines

    • Thomas Slater & Co. c1860 - c1876 closed
  • 120 Tennant Street, Birmingham by 1866
        133 Tennant Street, Birmingham 1867.
        Edmund Street, Birmingham 1869.
         18 & 19 Edmund Street, Birmingham by 1872 - 1875
    Machines Made:
  • Peoples
  • Little Wonder 1870 1873

    • James Smith 1865
  • 8 1/2 Crown Street, Finsbury, London.
    became:
    James Smith & Co.
  • Crown Court, Crown Street, Finsbury, London.
    Machine Made:
  • The English

    • So-All Sewing Machine Co. May 1890 - 1892
  • Retail: 3 Oxford St, London.
  • Patentee: J. A. Postans
  • Founders: J. Moton, W.U. Morton, J. R. U. Morton and H. A. Stuart
    Became:
    So-All Lockstitch Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est. Nov. 1892 - 1896 (Closed)
    Machine Made:
  • So-All. (Possibly manufactured by Kimball & Morton)

    • St. George's Foundry Co. 1877 - 1883
  • Factory: Pope Street, Birmingham.
  • Retail: 8a Charter House Buildings, Aldersgate Street, London.
    Became:
    St. George's Engineering Co. 1884 - 1894
    Machine Made:
  • Princess of Wales 1883
  • Queen
  • Improved Express
    See also Newton Wilson & Co.

    • Starley & Co. 1869 - December 1872
  • Factory: St Agnes Works, Hales Street, Coventry. 1873
  • Founders: William Borthwick Smith, James Starley & William Hillman
    Note: William Hillman Retired 11th December 1872
  • Exhibition Medals: Lyons 1872, Vienna 1873, London 1874, Manchester 1875.
    Became:
    Smith & Starley 1872 - December 1876 (Closed)
  • Factory: Trafalgar Works, Crow Lane, Coventry. 1876
  • Retail: c1874 Bassinghall Street London
                      From c1875 until c1884 1 New Broad Street, London. G. E. Wright Agent 1875
    Became:
    Smith-Starley & Co. Ltd Jan 1877 - 1879 (Closed)
    Machines Made:
  • Little Dorrit 1875 - 1877
  • Little Europa 1877 - 1884
  • Europa No.2 & No.3 1875 - 1884
  • Queen of Hearts 1875 - 1878 also sold as The Little Hereford
  • Godiva (Hand)
    Became:
    Starley & Sutton by 1884 - 1888
  • Factory: Meteor Works, West Orchard.
  • Partners: James Starley & William Sutton
    Became:
    J. K. Starley & Co Ltd Est 1889 1896
  • Factory: Meteor Works, West Orchard.
    Became:
    Rover Cycle Co. Est 1896

    • T & F Sugden
  • Rhodes Bank, Oldham.
  • Partners: Thomas & Frederick Sugden
    Became:
    Frederick Sugden & Co. Closed 1861
  • Partners: Frederick Sugden & Thomas Lister

    • Sugdens' & Bradbury Est 1852 - pre 1855
  • Factory: Primrose Bank, Oldham.
    Became:
    Sugdens', Bradbury & Firth dissolved 13th August 1855
  • Factory: 1855 Rhodes Bank Foundry, Oldham
  • Founders: Thomas Sugden, Frederick Sugden, George Francis Bradbury & Joseph Firth.
    Became:
    Bradbury & Co. by 1859 - 1874
  • Factory: 1866 Wellington Works, Oldham.
    Became:
    Bradbury & Co. Ltd 1874 -1924
    Machines Made:
  • Lancashire 1852 1884
  • Howe Principle 1862 1887
  • Thomas 1862 1884
  • Empire 1862
  • Belgravia 1867 1884
  • A 1 Repairer 1871 1924
  • Letter S Family 1875 1899
  • Letter S Medium 1875 1890
  • Practical Tailor 1875 1884
  • Magic 1877 1884
  • Willcox & Gibbs Principle 1877 1897
  • Wellington 1877 1898
  • Oscillating Shuttle (New Wilson) 1880 1884
  • Practical Hatter 1880 1897
  • Rotary No. 1 1879 1884
  • Rotary No. 2 1882 1905
  • Rotary No. 3 1883
  • Rotary No. 4 1884 1903
  • No. 5 1886
  • No. 6 /Spool machine 1893 1912
  • Cylinder Golosh 1897
  • Twin Needle Double Shuttle 1897
  • No. 9 1897
  • No. 10 1897
  • High Arm Family 1897 1905
  • Soeze 1898 1906
  • Medium V.S. 1905 1924
  • Family V.S. 1906 1924
  • No. 45 1908 1912

    • Tailor Bird Sewing Machine Co. Ltd 1947 - 1952 (Closed)
  • Factory: Richborough Hall, Sandwich, Kent
    Machines Made:
  • Tailor Bird
  • Sew Maid

    • F.B. Taylor c1874
    Machine Made:
  • The Little Belle

    • taylor sewing machine

    William Taylor

    Taylor's Patent Sewing Machine Co. Pre 1870 - 31st December 1875
    Became:
    Taylor's Patent Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1st January 1876 - Post 1884
  • Factory: Eastgate, Driffield, South Yorkshire.
  • Offices: 97 Cheapside, London 1873 1880
    4 Lawrence Lane, London 1880
  • Manager: William Taylor
  • Patentee: Taylor 1866, 1868, 1870
  • Exhibition Medal: South African International Exhibition, Cape Town July 1877

    Note: Company placed in liquidation in 1879

    Machines Made:

  • Taylor's Patent
  • Improved Taylor
  • Taylor's Twisted Loop

    • F. W. Thomas

    1871 Advertisement Copyright David Best

    Thomas Sewing Machine Co. Est 1853 - Pre 1862
  • Factory: 54 Union Passage, Birmingham. From 1861 to 1879
  • Retail: 34 St Martin's Le Grand, London 1856 to 1864
                   66 Newgate Street, London. by 1861 - 1862+
                   Regent Circus 1863 1864 1868
                  1 & 2 Cheapside, London by 1867 1868
  • Exhibition Medals: Paris 1855, London1862, Paris 1867.
    Became:
    W. F. Thomas & Co. By 1855 - c1891
  • Factory: 1876 - 1885 101 New Town Row, Birmingham.
                     1880's - c1895 11 Clerkenwell Close, London.
  • Retail:1860 -1872+ 1 & 2 Cheapside, London & Regent Circus, Oxford Street, London.
                 1880 - 1899+: 30 Aldersgate Street, London.
                c1880 - c1884: 48 Holborn Viaduct, London.
    Became:
    Thomas Sewing Machine Co. Ltd 1891 - 1899 (Closed)

    --> Became:
    The Thomas Manufacturing Co. Ltd Est 1899 - 1906?
  • Factory: 11 Clerkenwell Close, London.
  • Retail: 30 Aldersgate Street, London.
         6 Dowgate Hill, London
    Machines Made:
  • No. 01 Domestic 1860 1896
  • No.1, 1b, 1860 1896
  • No.1D, 1E c1870
  • No.2, 2b, 2c 1860 1869
  • No.2T, 2T double action c1870
  • No.3, 3b, 3c 1860
  • Thomas 1867
  • The London
  • Circular Head c1870
  • "A" Registered Shuttle (Holly) 1869 1875
  • Domestic Hand (Chain Stitch) 1871 1873 1876
  • No 3b Boot Machine 1875
  • The Post Machine 1883 1885
  • Singer Type 1885
  • Button Hole Machine 1890 1896

    • Two Reel Lock Stitch Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1891 - 1897 (Closed)
  • 59 Holborn Viaduct, London. 1891 1895
  • 62 Albion Street, Birmingham. 1892
  • 35 Colmore Row, Birmingham. 1896,1897
  • Argyle Street, Birmingham 1896, 1897
    Founders: Daniel Jones & William Mc Pherson
    Machines Made:
  • Two Reel Lock stitch
  • Jones’ Patent

    • Universal Sewing Machine Co. (Oldham) 1874 - 1876 (Closed)
  • 89 Lees Road, Oldham
    Machine Made:
  • W & W Type

    • Varley & Co

    see Wilson ,Varley & Wolfenden

    Varley & Wolfenden

    see Wilson ,Varley & Wolfenden

    Vickers Ltd - sewing machines from 1914 - 1939
  • Retail 24 & 25 Fore Street, London.
    Machine Made:
  • Vickers Modle de Luxe
  • Vickers 7000
    Note: By 1939 Vickers machines made by E. Harris & Co Ltd, Lombard Road, Morden Road, London.

    • Vincent & Co. 1876
  • Astwood Bank, Redditch.
    Machine Made:
  • Vincent

    • H. Wallwork & Co. c1888
    See James Warwick.

    Edward Ward Est 1860 - c1877
  • Factory: 4 Wells Street, London.
  • Exhibition Medals: 2 Medals 1870
    Became:
    E. Ward & Co. c1878 -1892
    Machines Made:
  • Elastic Machine
  • Flowering Machine 1865 - 1875
  • Cross arm
  • Closing machine
  • Howe Type
  • Lily
  • Arm & Platform Mk1 1875 - 1877
  • Arm & Platform Mk2 (improved) 1877 - 1892
  • No. 12 machine 1888
  • Alert 1888

    • James Warwick c1866 - 1888
  • Factory: 49 Rutland Street 1866
                  26 Hilton Street, Manchester.
                  By 1876 59 Hilton Street, Manchester.
    Machine Made:
  • Victoria
  • The Warwick 1874
    Note: By 1888 40,000 sewing machines had been produced
    Became:
    Henry Wallwork & Co. 1888 - pre 1894 sewing machine production ceased
  • Factory: City Works, Hilton Street, Manchester.
                     8 Union Bridge Foundry, Charter Street
                     Union Bridge Iron Works, Roger Street, Manchester
    NOTE: We have a reference to Henry Wallwork & Co. Ltd operating a foundry on Roger Street in 1917.
    Machine Made:
  • The Warwick

    • Watson & Co. Est 1868 - 1884 +
  • Factory: Lee Mills, Manchester Street, Oldham.
    Partners: John & George Watson partnership dissolved 16th August 1884
    John Watson continued as Watson & Co.
    Machines Made:
  • Family
  • Medium
  • Victoria (Wheeler & Wilson Type) 1872 1877
  • The Watson

    • James Weir Est 1867 - 1889 Closed
  • Factory: Belmont Street, Chalk Farm Road, London.
  • Retail: 2 Carlisle St, Soho, London.
    Machines Made:
  • The Weir 1877 (with Weir's Patented improvements)
  • Weirs 55s 1874
  • The Globe 1874 - 1877 (without the improvements)
    NOTE: It is not clear if James Weir actually produced the above
    machines or whether he had them manufactured.
    Machines Sold:
  • The Lady's 1867 - 1877 supplied by I. Schoeder, Darmstadt, Germany.
  • American 1867 1870
  • The Weir 1869 - 1876 supplied by Chas Raymond, Canada until 1876
  • Victoria 1870
  • Jackson 1870
  • Zypher 1874 - 1879 supplied by Böttcher, Germany.
  • Argus 1877
  • Aurora 1879

    • Whalley Smith & Paget c1884

    Became:
    Smith & Paget 1885
  • Factory: Parker Street Iron Works, Keightley.

    • Whight & Mann Est 1859 - 1878 Closed
  • Factory: Gipping Works, New Station Road, Ipswich.
  • Retail 1862 1863 122 Holborn Hill, London.
                 1864 - 1876 143 Holborn-Bars, London.
                 1876 1877 12 Holborn-Bars, London.
    Became:
    George Whight & Co. 1878 - 1888 Closed During this period the machines sold were imported
                 143 Holborn-Bars, London.
    Machines Made:
  • Excelsior 1862 - 1877
  • Star 1865
  • Alberta 1868 - 1876
  • Princess 1869 -1871
  • Prima Donna 1869 - 1876
  • Little Darling 1875
  • Family machine 1876
  • No.2 Machine (Thomas principle) 1874
    Machines Sold:
  • New Excelsior 1879 Supplied by Junker & Ruh
  • Columbia Supplied by Junker & Ruh
  • The Duchess (chain stitch)
  • Prima Donna Family (Singer Principle)

    • William Winter

    1870 Advertisement Copyright David Best

    William Winter Est 1861 - 1878 +
  • Factory: 1861- Commercial Court, Briggate, Leeds.
                     1864 -1870 7 South Brook Street, Leeds.
                     1870 -1873 Paragon Works 20 Swinegate, Leeds.
                     1875 Wormolds Yard, Briggate, Leeds.
                     1878 14 Carlton Terrace, Leeds.
    Machines Made:
  • Howe Types 1, 2, 3 1861 1863
  • Singer Principle 1861 1863
  • Family 1872
  • Flowering 1869 1873
  • Invincible 1870 1872
  • Boot Repairer 1867
  • Bespoke 1872

    • Newton Wilson

    Illustration from a Newton Wilson & Co
    1876 Price List

    Newton Wilson & Co. Est 1857 - 1895 + (Sewing machines produced from 1864 on)
  • Factory: 1864 Woolpack Lane, Nottingham.

    Partners: Newton Wilson, Josiah Turner
                  Pre 1867 - 1877 St. George's Foundry, 52 Pope Street, Birmingham.
    Note: John Cornforth took possession of St Georges Foundry in 1877 having advanced Newton Wilson a total of £21,183
    Factory became:
    St. George's Foundry Co. c1877 - 1883
    Became:
    St. George's Engineering Co. 1884 1885
    See also St George's Foundry Co.

  • Retail: 1857 - 1883 144 High Holborn, London.
                  1884 Moved to 102 Southampton Row, London.
                  1884 Also at 67 Southampton Row, London.
                   c1867         144 Cheapside, London.
                  1867 - 1874 210 Regent Street
                  Moved to 246 Regent Street, London.
  • Exhibition Medals:1867 Paris 1873 Vienna
    Machines Sold:
  • Boudoir 1858 - 1863 supplied by Chas Howland
  • The Cottage 1858 - 1860
  • Blake 1862
  • Knotted Stitch 1858 - 1869 supplied by Grover & Baker
  • Royal Elliptic 1863 - 1867
  • American Button Hole 1868 - 1869 Supplied by American B.H.O & Sewing Machine Co.

    Machines Made:

  • Royal Elliptic A, B, D types 1864
  • Howe Type 1864
  • Singer No. 2 Type 1864
  • Queen Mab 1866 - 1876
  • Cleopatra 1866 - 1876
  • Penelope 1867 - 1870
  • Dorcas 1867 - 1871
  • Princess of Wales 1870 - 1895
  • Englands Queen 1874 - 1876
  • Queen Bess 1874 - 1877
  • Queen O' Scots 1874 - 1877
  • Wilsons Patent Singer 1875 - 1895
  • Wilsons Patent Whistler 1876 - 1877
  • Tower 1876 - 1881
  • Perfection 1877 - 1879
  • Wallace Ash

    • Wilson, Varley & Wolfenden pre 1875
  • Partners: Edward Guy Wilson, Richard Varley & John Procter Wolfenden
    Note: E. G. Wilson left the Partnership on 14th May 1875
    Became:
    Varley & Wolfenden 1875 - 1896
  • Factory: Cyclops Sewing Machine Works, Marley Street, Keighley.
  • Partners: Richard Varley & John Procter Wolfenden
    Note: The partnership was dissolved on 14th August 1896
    Became:
    Varley & Co. 1896 - 1918 (Closed)
  • Retail 11 Dyers Buildings, 18 Holborn, London.
    Machines Made:
  • Cyclops 1885, 1890
  • Family
  • High Arm Family (Fiddlebase) 1890