Shepherd, Rothwell & Hough

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Warwick Hand: Serial No. 4346.

This machine was produced by Shepherd, Rothwell & Hough for Henry Wallwork & Co., Manchester c1888 and labelled as The Warwick.

Shepherd, Rothwell & Hough was formed in 1872 by Fred Rothwell, his brother Tom, Emanual Shepherd and James Edward Hough. Fred having actually been apprenticed to Bradbury & Co in 1866. They started trading from premises at Roscoe Street, Mumps before moving to Matley's Buildings, Gas Street, Oldham producing various models of the Eclipse sewing machine.

The Eclipse "S" machine was based on the Singer principle and was available as both a Family and Medium machine. The Eclipse A, B, and C was a Howe principle machine with step or wheel feed.

Various patents were taken out in the partners names. Their patented shuttle was claimed to give the best tension and to be the easiest threaded, they also patented a feeder which was silent and adjustable, as well as a hinge, bobbin winder and a treadle stand, the latter being patented in 1876.

In 1875 the firms Trade Mark included the phrase "all other sewing machines eclipsed", by 1878 this had changed to "eclipsing all others". The firm had also moved to the Oldham Sewing Machine Works, Cromwell Street, Oldham by that date. In 1879 the firm was awarded a medal for its sewing machines by the Oldham Agricultural Society.

On 4th January 1882 the firm completed its move to Rochdale Road, Oldham but the partnership dissolved in November 1887 by which date the Company had produced approximately 40,000 sewing machines of various types.

The Rothwells formed the Eclipse Machine Company continuing to produce Eclipse Sewing Machines from the factory on Rochdale Road.

This machine dates to c1888 and 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.

It came complete with original manual and wooden case which is in poor condition.

The machine was labelled for Henry Wallwork & Co. who operated from the City Works, China Lane, Manchester in addition to the Hand machine a High Arm Family machine was introduced which may have been based on a German import. It is believed the firm had ceased business by 1895.

Henry Wallwork & Co. had taken over the sewing machine business of James Warwick c1887 who had 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 by Warwick including The Victoria which was an improved Wheeler & Wilson machine and The Warwick Medium which was an improved Singer 13 machine.

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