Canada had a small but important sewing machine manufacturing industry & whilst the majority of those companies remained small there were two noatble exceptions Charles Raymond & R M Wanzer. Both of whom used Canada being a dominion of the British Empire to develop enormous export trade to Great Britain & its colonies
Many companies remained small and only made sewing machines for relatively short periods before disappearing sometimes leaving only a name or machine to history.
Our aim is to establish a comprehensive list of Canadian 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.
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.
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We are not a charity and receive no grant aid or other such funding.
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.
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.
Charles Irwin & Company Est c1863 - 1869+ Factory: Belleville Machines Made:
Irwin's Improved 1869
Lockman Sewing Machine Company 1870 - 1879 Factory: Hamilton
Machines Made:
The Lockman
J. M. Miller & Company 1872 - 1875 Became: Perth Sewing Machine Co.
Became: Venus Sewing Machine Co. Factory: Perth
Patentee: John M. Miller 1871 Machines Made:
Venus
Raymond Sewing Machine Co. Est 1861 - April 1916 (Bought By White Sewing Macine Co.)
Factory:Corner Yarmouth Street/Woolwich Street
Patentee: Charles Raymond
Agent Great Britain : P Frank 11 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool est 1863
Machine Made:
Raymond's Improved Family 1864 ( aka The American)
Raymond Household 1872 - 1883
Raymond No. 1 1881
Raymond No.2 1881
Production: 1878 - 28,000 machines
Rogers Brothers by 1861 - 1863 Hamilton
Founders: Frederick & Montague Rogers
Machine Made:
$30 Family (double thread)
Singer Manufacturing Company Factory: Montreal 1882, St John's,Quebec 1904
Machines Made:
Mainly for Export
Wanzer Sewing Machine Company. factory: Corner King/Catharine Streets, Hamilton
Patentee: Richard Mott Wanzer
Machines Made:
Family 1862
Little Wanzer
Little Wanzer Straight Race
Wanzer A 1885 1886
Wanzer B 1885 1886
Wanzer C 1885 1886
Wanzer D
Wanzer E
Wanzer F 1874
White Sewing Machine Co of Canada Ltd April 1916 - 1922 Factory: Guelph Machine Made:
For Export to Great Britain & its Dominions
C. W. Williams & Company Est 1861 - Sept 1872 Became: C. W. Williams Manufacturing Co. Sept 1872 - March 1882 Became:
Williams Manufacturing Co. March 1882 - Post Jan 1898 Factory: Montreal.
Machine Made:
New Williams 1897 - 1898
Wilson, Bowman & Company Est 1868 - 1872 Factory: Furgus 1870
Became:
Wilson, Lockman & Company Est 1872 - 1883 Factory: Hamilton & Furgus.
Became Wilson Sewing Machine Company Est 1883 - 1884
Machine Made:
Lockman 1873 - 1874
Hamilton
Wonder-bilt Products Factory: 372 Richmond Street W., Toronto Machine Made: