OTHER
BRITISH MANUFACTURERS

The sewing machines shown on this page were made by various British manufacturers, although many of the Company names will be unfamiliar except to enthusiasts who seek to preserve and promote Britain's Industrial Heritage from a time Britain was truly Great. Both The Singer Manufacturing Co. and The Howe Machine Co. have been classed as British manufacturers as both these American Companies established factories in Glasgow, Scotland. In fact Singers Kilbowie works became the largest sewing machine factory in the World. In order to speed up load time we've listed some British manufactuers on separate pages, click on the links on the right for more British makers. Research We've included an A - Z of British sewing machine manufacturers, this list contains details of over 100 such firms, names of machines made and dates of production where known. It is however a work in progress and additional information will be added as it comes to light. If you come across a period advertisement, price list etc (dated or not) this may provide further information which would help enhance the accuracy of the list and it would be most helpful if you could let us have a copy. Preservation We are interested in preserving examples of early British sewing machines not currently represented in the collection. Please click here to see the list of machines we are particularly looking for.	Bradbury & Co.
	Singer Sewing Machine Co.
	Jones & Co.
	Newton Wilson & Co.
	The Franklin Sewing Machine Co.
	The Royal Sewing Machine Co.
	Moldacot Pocket Sewing Machine Co.
	The Howe Machine Co.
	Busy Bee Sewing Machine Co.
	Oldham Manufacturers
	A-Z of British Manufacturers
	Return to The Gallery
	Home
	Contact Us

The Gresham  Serial No.18177. Manufactured by Heron, Gresham & Craven, Craven Iron Works, Ordsall Lane, Salford, Manchester. The Company was founded by J. S. Heron, James Gresham and Thomas Craven in the late 1860's. As well as sewing machines the company manufactured a Patent woven wire mattress, Improved Giffard's Injectors for steam boilers, vacuum brake and other equipment for trains. Due to ill health J. S. Heron left the company pre 1874 and the firm became known as Gresham & Craven. Later a Singer principle machine known as The Heron was produced. Sewing machine production ceased c1884 and the firm concentrated on other engineering projects. This machine was probably manufactured c1869. On the cloth plate is stamped Patent March 1867 Heron Gresham Craven followed by the machines serial number. The needle bar is open and the lever on the base operates the reverse stitch mechanism. The base decal reads The Gresham and has the letters H,G,C intertwined with Manchester beneath. The company subsequently redesigned the machine and produced the Improved Gresham, which is known to have been in production by 1873. This machine is not in particularly good condition and we would like to replace it with a better example. If you can help please Contact Us

    William Sellers "Stitchwell":  Serial No. 15229.
Wm. Sellers & Co's factory was at the Airedale Works, Larkholme Lane, Keighley, Yorkshire. and sewing machines were produced between 1854 and c1924.  By 1875 the Company was producing up to 15,000 sewing machines a year, these included the Stitchwell, Seamstress and various Industrial machines based on the Howe and Thomas designs.

By 1881 the Company name had changed to Wm. Sellers & Sons, the Company diversified producing knitting machines, bicycles and washers. Sewing machines continued to be produced and more modern machines were introduced such as a Family V.S. and a Spool model.

The firm had a Depot at 12 Walbrook, London, E.C. untill 1898, the depot then moved on a number of occasions ending up c1924 at 1 Kinghorn Street, London.

This Stitchwell machine is believed to date to the late 1860's or early 1870's.  It has a fiddle shaped cast-base with a wonderful centre decal of an Italian Alpine style landscape painting - hills, trees, conifers, cottages and a stream!
The brass badge at the base of the pillar reads; Wm Sellers & Co. Keighley & London.

The manual refers to there being "Family & Medium, patent prize medal lockstitch sewing machines" and the Company are credited as the patentees & sole manufacturers.  It came with a box case with lift up lid.

Thanks to G Forsdyke for information on the company

Warwick Hand:  Serial No. 4346. James Warwick started manufacturing sewing machines c1866 and had premises at 26 Hilton Street, Manchester and by 1876 at 59 Hilton Street. Various models of sewing machine were produced including The Victoria which was an improved Wheeler & Wilson machine and The Warwick Medium which was an improved Singer 13 machine. Taken over by Henry Wallwork & Co. c1887 machines were produced at the City Works, China Lane, Manchester and a High Arm Family machine was later introduced which may have been based on a German import. It is believed the firm had ceased business by 1895. This machine is clearly influenced by the Jones Hand but it is not a direct copy as it has several minor modifications. The bobbin winder is different and an additional spool pin is provided on the rear of the pillar. The gear guard is different and there are minor alterations to some of the other castings. We believe this machine may have been produced by Shepherd, Rothwell & Hough, Oldham, Manchester and labelled for Henry Wallwork & Co. if correct this machine would have been made c1888. The machine came complete with original manual and wooden case which is in poor condition.

    So-All  Serial No. 3692.
Manufactured by the So-All Sewing Machine Co. which had offices at 3 Oxford Street, London by 1891, with the firm becoming a limited company in 1892. It is not clear where the machines were manufactured but the firm had links with Kimball & Morton, Glasgow.
The So-All Sewing Machine Co. Ltd went into liquidation in 1894 having produced at least 12,000 machines.

This is an early version of the So-All probably made in 1891. It has a plain steel needle head and the cloth plate is polished cast iron, - on later versions both these were jappaned. The machine was unusual inthat it used the needle to draw the material across the cloth plate rather than the more common four motion feed hence the unusually wide needle head.

     Varley Family: Serial No. 66844 S100.
Made by Varley and Co. Cyclops Sewing Machine Works, Marley Street, Keighley, Yorkshire. The firm was originally known as Varley & Wolfenden but seems to have become Varley & Co in the mid 1890's, later becoming a Limited Company the firm closed in 1918.

The Company Trade Mark portrayed a bobbin with the word Cyclops on the top and crossed needles either side and this appears on the pillar of the machine.
It is a fiddle base Family machine, with a Daffodil scroll decal and the Royal Coat of Arms to the centre bed.  The black strip on the front of the base was originally a ruler in Imperial units.

The bobbin winder shares features with a Jones Hand and the hand crank handle is wood.  It has a really neat lid, see the Cases & Bases Page

The same type of machine was badged and sold through J. D. Williams, Manchester it had a centre decal similar to that on the Jones T.S. with the word Family across it.

   Varley Medium:  Serial No. 70705 F61.
Produced by Varley and Co. Keighley, Yorkshire, and sold through a retailer - Fattorini & Sons, Bradford whose name can just be made out on the arm.
Antonio Fattorini started business in Leeds in 1827 moving to Harrogate in 1831.  In 1846 he and his sons John and Edward established a Jewellery business in Bradford.  In 1897 they made the first Rugby League Challenge Cup and in 1911 the F. A. Cup.   The firm had a mail order business which was sold to Empire Stores in 1910.

This is a Medium machine but has virtually identical decals to the Family machine shown above.  Although it would probably have been used by a dressmaker or tailor it could also sew leather.  We think this machine would date to the 1890's.

The stand and case are shown on the Cases & Bases Page

     Eclipse Family:  Serial No. 46862.
Manufactured by the Eclipse Machine Company, Oldham which was formed in February 1889 by the Rothwell Brothers following the partnership of Shepherd, Rothwell and Hough being dissolved.

This machine is thought to have been produced in 1890.  It has the company's Trade Mark on the pillar of a stylised image of the Sun passing over the world with the words "Eclipsing all Others" and flowers as a centre decal.  The Case of this machine is shown on the Cases & Bases Page.
The Company also made a treadle version - the Eclipse Medium machine.

    Kimball & Morton 'Oscillator': Serial No.122790.
Kimball & Morton was established in 1867 with a factory at 11 Bothwell Circus, Glasgow.  The firm specialised in Industrial sewing machines for sail, sack and tarpaulin work as well as producing a range of Domestic sewing machines including the famous "Lion" sewing machine.  The firm became incorporated (Limited) in 1887 and by 1895 the Company address was given as 11a Norfolk Street Glasgow.

The Oscillator seems to have been introduced in 1886, early versions, certainly up to 1889 had a different decal pattern and the wood work was less ornate.

This machine would probably date to c1900, the head has a floral decal and Mother of Pearl flakes along the front and rear edges of the bed.  The shuttle is quite small and is positioned vertically beneath the slide plate.