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.

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.

Published
Articles
A-Z of British
Manufacturers
The Agenoria Sewing Machine
Bradbury & Co.
Busy Bee
Sewing Machine Co.
The Franklin
Sewing Machine Co.
Heron,
Gresham & Craven
Hexagon
Sewing Machine Co.
Hopkinson Bros
Howe Machine Co.
Ideal
Sewing Machine Co
Imperial
Sewing Machine Co.
Jones & Co.
Kimball & Morton
Maxfield & Co
Moldacot Pocket
Sewing Machine Co.
Newton Wilson & Co.
The Royal
Sewing Machine Co.
William
Sellers & Co.
Shepherd, Rothwell
& Hough
Singer
Sewing Machine Co.
Smith, Starley & Co.
Tailor Bird
Sewing Machine Co.
W. F. Thomas & Co.
Universal Sewing Machines Ltd
Varley & Co.
Vickers Ltd.
Edward Ward
James Weir
Oldham
Manufacturers
Return to
The Gallery
Contact Us

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

J. D. Abrams & Co. By March 1856 - 1859
  • Factory: Albert Works, Oldham
    Offices: 4 Coronation Steet, Leeds & College Street, Rotherham 1856
    Founders: Edward Wilson Carter, John Dodsworth Abrams Partnership dissolved Feb 1859
    Became
    J. D. Abrams
    4 Coronation Street, Leeds April 1859
    Machine Made:
  • Improved Tailor's 1856

    Note: By April 1862 J.D. Abrams was in partnership with the Pitt Bros.

    • 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
  • 21 Victoria Road, Aston, Birmingham. 1884 1886
  • Sold to Triumph 1902
    Machines Made:
  • Wheeler & Wilson Type1877 1878
  • The Sanspareil 1877 1878
    Note: Cycles produced from 1881 -1886

    • Automatic Button Hole Machine Co. 1885 - 1887
    Became:
    Unicum Automatic Button Hole Machine Co.
  • 31 Paternoster Square & 11 Rose Street, London 1886 - 1887
    Became:
    Patent Button Hole Machine Co. 1891 - 1892
  • Factory: 72 - 74 Greys Inn Road, London. 1891 1892
  • Offices 4 Newgate Street 1891 1892
    Became:
    London Sewing Machine Co.
  • Offices: 4 Newgate Street, London
    Became:
    London Sewing Machine Syndicate Ltd 1895
  • Offices: 29 Falcon Square, London.
    Machine Made:
  • Unicum 1885 -1887
  • New Unicum produced from Feb 1892
  • Duada 1891 (changed to Euada & produced from Jan 1892)

    • 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 - 1917
  • Bury, Lancashire.
    Founders & Patentees: Frederick John Turner Bell & Hardy Cecil Bell
    Machine Made:
  • Twin Bobbin

    • Bellow Machine Co. PreWW1
  • Factory: Leeds.

    Geo Benson1884
  • Factory: Hope Street, Belfast.
    Patentees: Geo Benson
    Machine Made:
  • Hem Stitching

    • 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 Crescent Iron Works 1874
  • Retail: 63 Fleet Street, London by 1868 - 1874
                  140, 142, 143 High Holborn, London by 1875
    Machines Made:
  • Royal Anchor - Lock Stitch 1870 - 1872
  • Fleet Anchor - Chain Stitch 1872

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

    • Branston Two Reel Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est Mid 1889 - 1893(Closed)
  • Factory : Duferin Street, London
  • Showrooms: 59 Holborn Viaduct, London 1889 -1895
    Patentees: Charles Branston Hunt, John Holroyd, Richard J. Johns
    Became:
    New Branston Two Reel Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est Dec 1892 -1899
  • Factory:1, 2, 3, Dufferin Street, London 1893 Moved to Leeds by Jan 1895
  • Offices: 59 Holborn Viaduct London 1893
    80A Coleman Street, London 1899
    Machines Made:
  • Two reel lock & chain stitch machine Dec 1889 1891
  • Manufacturing machine 1894
    Note: Full production started May 1891

    • 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 Sept 1867 - 1877
    Became:
    Britannia Manufacturing Co. 1878 - 1887 +
  • Factory: Britannia Works, Magdalen Street, Colchester.
    Offices: 63 Hatton Gardens London 1870
    Founders: Thomas M. Bear, Joseph Blomfield
    Machines Made:
  • Britannia (Willcox & Gibbs type) 1875
  • Britannia (Wheeler & Wilson type) 1867 - 1875
  • Tom Hood 1868 - 1873
  • Britannia Anchor c1870
  • Little Britannia 1883 (Singer system on cast base)
  • The X L 1874 - 1884
  • No.13 Machine 1877
  • No.14 Machine 1877

    • British Sewing Machine Co. 1858 - 1863
    Became:
    British Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est Feb 1863 - Feb 1868
  • Factory: Britannia Works, 62 North Frederick Street, Glasgow. 1863 - 1868
  • Offices: 71 Oxford Street, London. 1864 - 1867
    Patentee: Alexander Pilbeam, Glasgow 14 May 1863 No. 1212
    Manager: Alexander Pilbeam
    Prize Medal: Dublin 1865
    Machines Made:
  • The British April 1859 - 1863
  • Alexandra Nov 1863 - March 1872

    • Bromley, Downey & Crossley
    see
    Mcdonald, Downey & Crossley

    Busy Bee sewing Machine Company Pre August 1870 -1880 plus
  • Factory: 5 New Street, Worcester.
    Founder: Alfred Michael Baylis
    Machine Made:
  • Busy Bee

    • William Carver Est 1856 - 1879 (Note by 1877 the firm was being run by the executors of Wm Carver & the business was offered for sale in late 1879)
  • Factory: Ducie Street Mill, 5 Todd Street, Manchester. pre June 1861 to 1862
                     Park Works, Park Street, Manchester 1862 -1879 +
    Became:
    Arthur Carver Pre 1886
    Machines Made:
  • British Machine (Lancashire) 1862
  • Thomas Types 1862
  • Wheeler & Wilson Type

    • W Calver

    1862 Illustration Copyright David Best

    William Campion 1862 - Closed 1878
    Patentee: Wm Campion 11 Jan 1870, Registered Design(Jenny Lind): 10 March 1870
  • Factory: Aberdeen Street, off Carlton Road, Nottingham.
  • Retail: A. Slater & Co. 8 Wormwood Street, London.
    Machines Made:
  • Jenny Lind June 1870 - 1878
  • Lady Dec 1871 - 1875
  • 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
    Stamford Works, Stamford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne. 1861
    Machine Made:
  • Thomas No.1 1861
  • Thomas No.2 1861
  • Thomas No.3 1861
  • Lancashire 1861
  • Double Interlocked Stitch Machine 1861
    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:
  • Cleggs No's 1, 2, 3 1875
  • Chain stitch (Willcox principle) 1875 -1880
  • Howe Principle 1876 - 1880
  • Elastic 1875 - 1879
  • Cleggs lockstitch 1876 - 1879
  • Cleggs Singer 1876 - 1879
  • 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:
  • Agenoria
    See also:
    Franklin Sewing Machine Co.
    A. Maxfield & Co.
    Charles Fowke & Co.
    Imperial Sewing Machine Co.

    • Cookson Lock-Stitch Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1887 – Aug 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.

    • The Combination Sewing Machine Co 1875
  • Albion Works, Lansdowne Road, London Fields.
    Machines Made:
  • The Albion 1867
  • Albion Combination 1875

    • Frederick N. Cookson By May 1889 - Sept 1891
  • 158 Lozells Road
  • Partners: F. A. Wallace. F. N. Cookson and J. Newey dissolved Sept 1891

    see also 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) May 1872 - 1875

    • Dickson & Co pre 1860 - closed June 1861
  • Factory: Nottingham
  • Retail: 80 Bull Street, Birmingham
    Partners: John Farmerley Dickson, Arthur Maxfield, William Eton
    Note: Maxfield left June 1860, Eton left August 1860, Dickson was bankrupt 1861
    Machine Made:
  • 30s Patent sewing machine

    • Dorman

    1890 Advertisment copyright David Best

    Dorman Sewing Machine & Engineering Co. c1887 - 1890 +
  • Factory: Mayorhold, Northampton
  • Proprietor: Thomas Phipps Dorman.
    Manager: Alfred Henry Dorman
    Patentee A. H. Wileman
  • Exhibition Medals: London 1887 & 1888
    Became:
    The Dorman Sewing Machine & Engineering Co. Ltd by 1893
    Became
    Dorman Engineering Co. by Feb 1894 - Jan 1903 (Closed)Equipment sold off 6-7th April
    Owner: Spencer Downing
    Machine Made:
  • The Dorman 12,000 produced by Oct 1894
  • Minerva 1895 -1902
    Note: The company also made Whirlwind bicycles and c1903 Motor-cycles

    • Eclair Button-Hole Machine Co. 1889
  • 19 Ludgate Hill
    Machine Made:
  • Eclair

    • Eclipse Machine Company Est Feb 1889 to c1919

    see Shepherd Rothwell & Hough

    European Sewing Machine Co c1859 - Nov 1862
    Became:
    European Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Nov 1862 – by August 1867 In Liquidation
  • Factory: 20 King Street, Coventry. April 1862 - Aug 1867
  • Retail: 61 Cheapside, London. 1862
    Patent: S.C. Salisbury's 1861

    Machine Made:
  • The Godiva Oct 1868- 1869
  • Speedy One Thread May 1873 - Mar 1876
  • Little Howe Oct 1873 - April 1877
    European Models:-
  • No. 0 (Family) May 1875 -March 1876
  • No. 1 (dress making & light tailoring) July 1863 - March1876
  • No. 3 (small arm) Feb 1868
  • No. 7 (Patent Cylinder large shuttle light & heavy tailoring)July 1863 - 1868
  • No. 8
  • No. 9 (Howe Principle light leather work) July 1863 - 1868
  • No. 10 (heavy leather work)1868
  • Wax thread machine 1868
  • Universal Action 1868
    Patent: S. C. Salisbury's & Starley's
    Became:
    Coventry Sewing Machine Co. Ltd September 1867 - 1869
    Became:
    Coventry Machinists Co. Ltd est 10th May 1869 - reconstituted May 1888 incorporated in the Swift Cycle Co by July 1897
  • Retail 15 -16 Holborn Viaduct London.
    Patent Knoted Stitch 1863
    Note: Sewing machine production ceased Jan 1881.
    The company also produced Bicycles & Tricycles from 1869:
    Swiftsure 1877, Gentlemans 1877, The Pony, Club 1880 - 1883 - Imperial tricycle 1885, Swift 1887 - 1888, Cheylesmore tricycle, Kangaroo 1888, Marlborough Club Tricycle 1886 - 1888

    • Flanagan Two Reel Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Feb 1893 - 1895 wound up 1903
  • Factory: Wellfield Works, Clayton le Moors, Lancaster
    Machine Made:
  • The Flanagan 1894 - 1895

    • Ford & Co. Feb pre June 1860
    Partners: Thomas Proctor, William Ford, Thomas Walker partnership dissolved 11th June 1860
    Became:
    Ford, Proctor & Co. By 24 July 1860 - 5th Feb 1861
    Partners: William Ford, Thomas Proctor, William Adoldhus Alcorn.
  • Factory: Colyear Street, Derby
    Machine Made:
  • The Derby & Derbyshire sewing machine (rotary principle) 1860

    • Charles Fowke & Co. (sold business to Joseph Harris Nov 1873)
  • 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.

    • Daniel Foxwell July 1855 - July 1860
  • Factory: Roger Street, Red Bank, Manchester. 1855
  • Retail: 54 Wood Street, Cheapside, London 1856 - Sept 1858
    Moved to: 16 Skinner Street Snow-hill, London by December 1858 - 1860
    Patents - Morey's 1849, Judkins 16 Oct 1852, Foxwell's 29 Jan 1856
    Machines Made:
  • Patent Two Needle Machine 1856 - 1860
  • Heavy Machine March 1857
  • Shuttle Machine January 1859 - 1860
  • Chain Stitch December 1859 -1860

    Note: Daniel Foxwell was involved in extensive Legal action over the Judkins patent involving some 150 sewing machine makers who he claimed infringed that patent.

    • 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 Medals: London 1870, Ayr 1872
    Machines Made:
  • Agenoria 1868 - 1872
    See also:
    Cole, Maxfield & Co.
    Charles Fowke & Co.
    A. Maxfield & Co.
    Imperial Sewing Machine Co.

    • R. Greaves & Co 1860
  • Factory: Liverpool
  • Show Rooms: 4 Clayton Square, Liverpool Feb 1860 March 1861.
    Machine Made:
  • Domestic Type 1860
  • Medium 1860
  • Large 1860

    • 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. 1891-1902
    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. By April 1862 - 1867
    Became:
    Guinness Sewing Machine Co. by Feb 1867 - 1868
  • Factory: 42 Cheapside, London 1862 - 1868
    Patent: 28 Aug 1861
    Exhibition Award: Certificate of Merit, London 1862
    Machine Made:
  • Guinness Shuttle April 1862 - 1868
  • Parker 1862 - 1865 (Imported)

    • Harpur & Mason Est 1890 - 1892
    AKA Harpur Bros & Mason 1892 - 1897
  • Factory: 72 & 74 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.
    Initially a sewing machine agent but from July 1869 claimed to manufacture the Imperial machine in Birmingham. In Nov 1873 Harris purchased the Franklin Works & Harris's machines were produced there under the name of the Imperial Sewing Machine Co.
  • Factory: Franklin Works, Park Road, Soho, Birmingham Nov 1873 - 1875.
  • Renamed Factory: Imperial Sewing Machine Works, Park Road, Soho, Birmingham 1876
  • Retail: Oriel House, 41 Bull Street, Birmingham.
    Machines Made:
  • Imperial (Wheeler & Wilson principle) July 1869 - Jan 1877
  • Challenge April 1871 - 1877 (Improved version Oct 1874)
  • Little Echo (Chain-stitch) Nov 1872 - June 1874
  • Eureka (Lock-stitch) Nov 1872 - 1877
  • Agenoria Nov 1873 - 1877
  • Birmingham (Singer principle) Jan 1874 - Jan 1877

    July 1877 Business taken over by: Royal Sewing Machine Co.

    • Charles Greville Harston pre 1872
    Became:
    Greville Harston & Co. Ltd by 1875 In liquidation Jan 1876
  • 10 Weaman Street, Birmingham by 1873
  • Factory: Bath Street, Birmingham 1876
  • Retail: 95 Bath Street, Birmingham
                  117 & 118 Bishopsgate Street Without, London.
    C. Grenville Harston left May 1875
    Machine Made:
  • Little Marvel 1875
  • Nonpareil 1875
  • G Machine 1875
  • S Machine 1875
  • T Machine 1875
  • W Machine 1875
    Note In 1871, 1872 the firm was producing the Harston Breech-Action at 95 Bath Street

    • Charles & William Harwood c1855 - 1872 +
  • Britannia Iron Foundry, Lower Loveday Street, Birmingham 1867.
  • Reed's Buildings, Shadwell Street, Birmingham 1860 Closed 1868
  • London Machine Works, Newtown Row, Birmingham Nov 1868 -1875
  • Retail: 54 New Summer Street, Birmingham 1859 - 1868 (Closed)
                  New Town Row Nov 1868 -1878
    Became:
    Harwood's London Machine Works Co. Ltd 1st January 1873 - May 1875 (in liquidation)
    Machines Made:
  • Thomas Types 1862 - 1873
  • Howe Types 1873

    • 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:
  • The Gresham Sept 1869 -1878 Patented March 1867 with reversible feed
  • The Seymour 1873 Made for Smith & Co.
  • Improved Gresham 1873 -1880
  • The Heron 1876 - 1882

    • Hewett, Allott & Walker Oct 1859 - May 1861
  • Offices: Central Chambers Sheffield 1859 - Dec 1860
    Moved to 34 Church Street, Sheffield Jan 1861
    Partners: John Hewett, Alfred Allott, Joel Eaton Walker partnership dissolved May 1861
    Machine Made:
  • Improved Patent Domestic machine 1859 - 1860

    • Hillman & Herbert Est 1876 - 1881+
  • Premier Works, Corner of South Street & Read Street, Coventry
  • Partners William Hillman & William Henry Herbert (Patent 5 Oct 1875)
    Machine Made:
  • Little Maid
  • The Hillman Lock-stitch 1878

    • J & B Holme 1868
    John Holme Post 1868 - c1873
  • Factory: Longford Buildings, Ormond Street, Manchester
  • Retail: 3 St Mary's-gate 1868
    43 Oxford Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock.
    Became:
    Oxford Sewing Machine Co. by 1874 - post 1876
    Machine Made:
  • Ariel Oct 1868 - Feb 1874

    • John Holroyd 1868 - Aug 1886
    Taken over by: Knitting Machine Alliance Ltd 1886
  • 159 and 161 Great Jackson Street, Hulme, Manchester 1886
  • Tomlinson Street, Hulme, Manchester 1886
    Machine Made:
  • Herberling 1883 - 1887
  • Wiseman hand Stitch Straw Hat machine 1883 - 1887
  • Hem Stitch 1885 - 1887
  • Moldacot Aug 1886 -Jan 1887

    • Howe Machine Company Ltd January 1874 - Sept 1887 in liquidation
    This company was formed at the end of 1873 to purchase the European business of the Howe Machine Company of the United States.
    In September 1887 the company went into liquidation.
    In March 1889 the assets were sold to Firmin Mignot & Francois Fontaine who registered the company in Brussels.
    On 1st April 1890 the company was again placed in liquidation.
    In January1891 New Howe Machine Co. was registered & trading by May 1891 - 1894
  • Factory: Avenue Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland.
  • Retail: 64 Regent Street, London 1871
                  46 & 48 Queen Victoria Street, London. 1875 -1886
                  60 Queen Victoria Street, London. 1886
                  48 Queen Victoria Street, London. 1889
    New Howe Machine Co 135 Finsbury Pavement 1891
  • Exhibition Medal: Paris 1878
    Machines Made:
  • Letter A 1881 - family
  • Letter B 1881 - light tailoring
  • Letter C 1881 - 1887- heavy cloth
  • Letter D 1881 - heavy work - arm or platform
  • Letter E 1881 - universal feed
  • Letter F 1881 light tailoring
  • Letter G 1881 new hand chain stitc ,
  • Letter H 1881hand shuttle
  • F No.6 (High Arm) Introduced 1887 - 1889
  • Crown Howe 1889
  • Elias Howe 1889

    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. July 1919 - 1925 (Closed)
  • Factory: Sandycombe Works, Kew Gardens (purchased 1922)
  • Offices 66 Broad Street Avenue, London 1922
    Chairman: Harry Stone 1919 - 1922, Stephen Rowe 1925
    Machine Made:
  • Ideal (Type A) by May 1921
  • Ideal (Type B)
  • ISMAK Nov 1922 - 1924
    Production: Ideal - 3000 per month (1922)

    • Imperial Sewing Machine Co. Est Nov 1873 - Dec 1877 Closed
  • Factory: Franklin Works, Park Road, Soho, Birmingham Nov 1873 - 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 Dec 1873 - 1876
  • The Imperial (W & W principle) Dec 1873 - Feb 1877
  • Eureka (Lock-Stitch) Nov 1873 - 1876
  • Little Echo (twisted loop) 1873 - 1875
  • The Birmingham (Singer principle) Jan 1874 - Feb 1877
  • Challenge 1874
  • Challenge (new PatentStitch Indicator) Oct 1874 - 1876
  • Shakspear 1875?
    Harris sold his interests to the Royal Sewing Machine Co. in March 1878

    • W. Jackson & Sons c1867 - 1885
  • Factory: Warlingham, Surrey.
  • Retail: 1a Caroline Street, Eton Square, London. 1872 1874

    Became:
    Jackson's Patent Boot Sole Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1881 - 1883 (Closed)
  • 53 Cannon Street, London.
  • 11 Caroline Street, Eton Square 1885
    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 - March 1863
    Became:
    Jones & Co. 1864 - c1869
    Became:
    Jones Sewing Machine Co. Ltd 1st June 1889 - 1968
    1968 Taken over by Brother
    Machines Made:
  • W & W Type
  • Howe Types A, B, C 1870 - 1885
  • Universal Feed August 1870
  • Jones Hand 1879 -c1906
  • Family T.S. 1876 & Exhibited at Melbourne Exhibition 11th April 1881, 1885
  • Medium T.S. 1885
  • Elastic/ Boot Repairing Machine 1884 1885
  • Wax Thread 1885
  • Medium Spool 1889 -1930
  • Family C.S. Introduced 1894 - 1938
  • Medium C.S. 1900 - 1934
  • No.35 1936-1938
  • Central Bobbin Model B Oct 1957
  • Central Bobbin Model C Mar 1957 - 1963
  • Central Bobbin Model D Feb 1963 May 1966
  • Central Bobbin Model E (Foreign) July 1965
  • New Family
  • Family C.S. Model D53 Mar 1953 - 1957
  • Family C.S. Model D53A 1954
  • Wonder (Free Arm) Oct 1954 - 1957
  • Popular Oct 1956 - 1962
  • Family C.S.Model E 1962 1963
  • Century Limited edition Family C.S.Model E 1961 - 1962
  • Consort D63 Dec 1962 - 1963
  • Consort D64 July 1964
  • BT104 (CB) 1965
  • BT105 (CB) 1966

    Note: From the D65 onwards Jones models were made outside Great Britain

    • Charles T. Judkins Est 1852 - 1863 +
  • Retail:35 Corporation Street, Manchester 1854 -1856
                 1854 - 1856 23 Cannon Street West, London.
                 1863 -1865 - 22 Ludgate Street, London.
                 1866 – 1868 4 Ludgate Hill, St Pauls, London.
                  By April 1870 - 1871 16 Ludgate Hill, London.
                  By July 1875 - May 1879 - 98 Fleet Street, London.
    Became:
    Judkins Domestic Sewing Machine Co. Ltd by 1865
    Became:
    Judkins & Co. by 1871 - May 1879+
    Machines Made:
  • Domestic Hand April 1866 - Oct 1870
  • The Judkins - Lock -stitch April 1870 - May 1879
  • 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 - 1890

    • Benjamin Kettle 1857 - 1862
  • Factory: Grey Walk Works, Hunslet, Leeds
  • Offices Maude's Yard, Calls
    Machine Made:
  • Single Thread

    • Kimball & Morton Est July 1867 - 1887
    Partners: Alonzo Kimball & John Morton
    Note: A. Kimball left the partnership 5th May 1874
  • Factory: 21 Bishop Street, Glasgow July 1867 - 1872
                      80 Bishop Street, Anderston, Glasgow. By March 1873 - 1879+
                      11 Bothwell Circus, Glasgow. By 1885 - 1901+
        Became:
    Kimball & Morton Ltd by March 1887 - April 1907 (Voluntary Liquidation)
    Machines Made:
  • Combination Presser Machine Dec 1867 - 1868
  • Patent Overhead Machine Sept 1867 - 1903
  • Gathering Running Stitch Machine Dec 1881 - 1882
  • Stitch in Time - Hand Machine
  • Lion Sewing Machine (early model) 1868 - 1872
  • Lion Sewing Machine (late model) 1902
  • Family (Singer Principle) 1869-1905
  • Medium 1875 - 1905
  • Morton Hand 1889 - 1895
  • Medium High Arm 1902 - 1905
  • Domestic
  • So-All July 1890 - 1892
  • Eagle December 1892 - December 1898
  • Oscillator initially called The Lion Nov 1886 to October 1889, Oscillator 1890 - 1905
  • Casing Machines 1890 - 1905
  • Grommet machine 1892 - 1903
  • Sail Sewing Machine 1887 - 1903

    Note A Serious fire destroyed the companys Bishop Street factory in July 1879.
    In February 1889 its Manchester warehouse was destroyed by fire followed the month after by a fire at the Bothwell Circus factory.

    • Laing's Patent Overhead Hand Stitch Sewing Machine Co. Ltd. Pre 1875 - by Dec 1895 in liquidation
  • Factory: 4 Bain Street Dundee.
    Founder & Patentee : James Laing
    Patent 8493 12th Oct 1874
    Machine Made:
  • Industrial sack machine

    • Lancashire Sewing Machine Co. 1852 - April 1855
  • Offices: 36 Blackfriars, Manchester Jan 1853 - April 1853
    35 Corporation Street, Manchester by Aug 1853 - Oct 1853
    5 Corporation Street, Manchester By Oct 1853
    2 Lawrence Lane, Cheapside, London April 1853
    Patent: E. J.Hughs (Patent Agent) 10 Aug 1852
    Note: Machines Exhibited at the Irish Industrial Exhibition 1853 & Sydenham Crystal Palace Exhibition 1854
    Machine Made:
  • Lancashire shuttle machine 1852 - Feb 1853
  • Lancashire circular needle machine 12 Feb1853 - 1855
    Note: The Lancashire Sewing Machine Co appear to have used a number of different manufacturers to produce their machines including Sugden, Bradbury & Firth, Oldham, P Wood & Co, Leeds, A. P. Dresser & Co., Manchester & a company in Glasgow yet to be identified

    • 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

    • Alexander Mackenzie & Co Pre June 1860 - May 1862
  • 82 Miller Street, Glasgow by June 1860
  • 32 St. Enoch Square, Glasgow.
    Patent: 7 Feb 1862
    Became:
    Mackenzie Sewing Machine Co. By Sept 1862 - 1864
  • 62 North Frederick Street, Glasgow 1862
  • 32 St. Enoch Square, Glasgow.
    Machine Made:
  • No.1 Small 1860
  • No.2 Small with extra adjustments 1860
  • No.3 13-in Manufacturing machine 1860
  • No.4 18 -in Manufacturing machine 1860
  • 15-in table machine 1861
  • Family machine 1861
  • Mackenzie Cylinder Machine 1862 - 1863

    • 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 - By 9 Mar 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

    1874 Advertisement Copyright David Best

    A. Maxfield & Co. November 1872 - by 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.

    • McQuin c1875 - Oct 1882 - in bankruptcy
    Founder: Charles McQuin
    Became:
    Gibson & Co by Dec 1882 - June 1886 (Closed)
  • Neptune Works, 196 Icknield Street East, Birmingham.
    Machine Made:
  • Mc Quinn 1878
  • Neptune 1883 - 1885
  • Ruby 1883 - 1885
  • Countess 1883 -1885

    • J. Milne & Sons by Jan 1862 -
  • Factory: 43 Virginia Street, Aberdeen
    Machine Made:
  • 18-in table
  • £7 machine

    • H and W Mitchell & Co. 1856 - 1858
  • Factory: Becks Mills, Silsden, Keighley.
    Partners: H & W Mitchell
    Machine Made:
  • Mitchell's Improved

    • Moldacot Pocket Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est July 1886 - late 1887 (in liquidation Jan 1888)
  • Offices: 58 Coleman Street Tempoary Offices
    Bloomfield House, London Wall, London. By September 1886
  • Vendors & Promotors: Fredrick Nevill Clarke, Albert Douglas Moll, John Charles Cottam
    Agent: W. Morley & Gray, 36 Gutter Lane, London 1886 - 1887
    Machine Made:
  • Moldacot - push action July 1886
  • Moldacot - rotary handle available May 1887
    Manufactured by: W. M. Brown, Brearly Street, Birmingham, & J. Holroyd, Tomlinson Street, Hulme, Manchester

    Note: This company was formed solely to aquire the patent rights (dated 17 Dec 1885 No. 15513) for the Moldacot in Great Britain & Ireland. The company later purchasing the patent rights for the United States, India, & South America.
    Up to June 1887 9,100 machines had been sold.

    • Moldacot (Colonial & Foreign) Pocket Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est Aug 1886 - 1888
    Became:
    United Sewing Machine Co. Nov 1888 In Liquidation
  • Offices: 58 Coleman Street Tempoary Offices
    Bloomfield House, London Wall, London. By September 1886
    Machine Made:
  • Moldacot - push action
  • Moldacot - rotary handle available May 1887

    Note: This company was formed specifically to aquire the patent rights (& sales) for Germany, France & Belgium and to take out patent rights in certain other specific countries notably Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Barbabdoes, Natal, Jamaica

    • 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 with J Newey retiring

    • Nussey & Pilling Est by April 1868 - July 1874
  • Factory: Park Works, 4 Park Lane, Leeds 1868 -1873
  • Retail: 1869-1870, S.W. Silver & Co., 2, 3 & 4 Bishopsgate Within, London, also 66 & 67 Cornhill, London. 1869 - 1871)
                  1873 - 1876 Charles E. Wilson, 20 (29? 1873 1874) Falcon Square, London.
  • Founders: Arthur Nussey & Altham Pilling - partnership dissolved 8th July 1874 with A Nussey carrying on the business
  • Exhibition Medal: Durham 1873
    Patent: Pillings 788 1866
    Became:
    Nussey & Co. July 1874 - closed by Jan 1878
    Machines Made:
  • Noiseless Tudor April 1868 -1877
  • W & W Principle 1868 - 1876
  • Little Stranger No’s 1, 2, 3, 3a, 3b, 4, 4a, 5, 5a, 5b, Jan 1869 - 1876
  • Improved Little Stranger March 1871 - 1877 (New take up available Jan 1872)
  • Nussing & Pilling Family April 1873 - 1877
  • Byron 1874?- 1877
  • The Launceston (Labelled Little Stranger)

    • William Pearson & Co. 1856 - 1875
  • Neville Iron Works, Little Neville Street, Leeds 1856 - 1875
  • Chadwick Street, Hunslet, Leeds. by Sept 1881 - April 1886
  • Showrooms 19 and 20 Little Neville Street, Leeds opened May 1871
    Partners: Joseph & William Pearson Partnership dissolved Oct 1864
    Partners: Marshall Henry Pearson & John Wood Pickard dissolved 1878 continued by Pearson
    Machines Made:
  • The Neville 1870
  • The Pearson 1869 - 1875
  • The Pearson No.2

    • Pendelton Machine Company Ltd c1875 - Feb 1877
  • Factory: Orchard Street, Whit Lane, Pendleton, Lancashire.
  • Offices: 27 Ward's Buildings, Deansgate, Manchester.
    Founder: George Bradbury
    Manager: Charles Bradbury
    Machine Made:
  • Unknown but using Bradbury & Lomax's patents
    Note: The factory was capable of producing 300 - 400 machines per week

    • Pitt Brothers Est 1852 - 1885 +
  • Factory: Water Lane Cleckheaton 1855 - 1866+
    Alma Foundry, Liversedge, Yorkshire By 1878 - Feb 1887 (Closed) Joseph, Edward & William Pitt note partnership disolved in 1874 but company continued.
    Machine Made:
  • Thomas Principle 1862 - 1863
  • Circular Feed 1876 - 1883
  • No. 1a Singer system 1883
  • No. 2 Manufacturing 1883
  • No. 2 Arm Manufacturing 1883
  • No. 3a Princess 1883
  • No 4
  • Family 1884
  • Medium 1884

    • 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: Gibralter Place, Kettering 1862
                     Dalkeith Place, Kettering.
                     Champion Sewing Machine Works, Victoria Street, Kettering 1872 1870.
    Founder: Owen Robinson
    International Medals : Sydney - 1880 Gold
    Machines Made:
  • Patent Lift for Flowering or Chaining 1865
  • Patent Cylinder machines for Goloshing & back strips 1865
  • Champion Jan 1862
  • No.1 Champion 1867 1880
  • No.2 Platform (Howe Principle)1863 -1877
  • No.3 Platform (Howe Principle)1863 -1865
  • Cut & Heeler 1867
  • R. Heeling & Attaching
  • Universal 1874
  • Family Treasure 1874
  • Little Treasure 1882
  • The Kettering 1880
  • No. 1 Family 1880 1881
  • No. 2 Medium 1880 1881

    NOTE: Owen Robinson was a silk weaver before becoming a clock & watch repairer.

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

    Royal Sewing Machine Co. By Nov 1867 - June 1877
  • Factory: Bishop Street, Birmingham c1869 to Nov 1871
    Herbert Road, Small Heath, Birmingham. From Nov 1871
  • Retail: 32 Union Street, Birmingham Thomas Shakespear selling Royal sewing machines Nov 1867 - 1879.
  • Founder: Thomas Shakspear later joined by George Illston (Manager)
    Became:
    Royal Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est July 1877 - December 1881
    At the same time it became a limited company it took over the sewing machine business of Joseph Harris who had been in partnership with John Judson trading as the Imperial Sewing Machine Co. The intention was to manufacture all machines which both firms had previously made.
    Became:
    Royal Machine Manufacturing Co. Ltd Est January 1882 - January 1888 (Closed)
    Machines Made:
  • Royal Nov 1867 - Jan 1879 Treadle Wheeler & Wilson type availiable with silent movement Nov 1869 & improved feed 1871
  • Royal Alfred Nov 1868 - May 1872 Hand Wheeler & Wilson type
  • Shakespear Sept 1869 - 1882 (also labelled as Monarch for Smith & Co. 1874 1875)
  • Shakespear 1882 - Dec 1887 (Improved with patent feed, loose wheel)
  • The Single Thread Jan 1870 - Aug 1874
  • Challenge Aug 1871 - Apl 1873? (not June)
  • Challenge July 1878 - Aug 1882
  • Eugenie (Single Thread) New Dec 1872 - June 1881 (also labelled as Regent for Smith & Co. Jan 1874 -1877)
  • Milton 1872 - June 1881
  • Avon Feb 1874 - Jan 1879
  • Windsor April 1874 - 1888 (also labelled as South Kensington, Hyde Park, Parkinson, Eureka, Richmond)
  • Agenoria July 1878 - 1883
  • Times July 1878 - Jan 1879
  • Times A 1883 -1884
  • Times C 1878 -1888

    Note:
    Herbert Rd factory capable of producing 5,000 machines per week
    The Royal Mail bicycle produced April 1880

    • 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 Lock Stitch Sewing Machine Co. Ltd 1883 Closed 1885
  • Depot: 233 Regent Street, London
    Machines Made:
  • Self Acting Lock Stitch 1885
  • Self Acting Lock Stitch & Button Hole Nos 1B, 2B, 3B 1885

    • Wm Sellers Est 1854 - pre June 1867
  • Factory: Victoria Works, Keighley 1861 -1863
        Airedale Works, Larkholme Lane, Keighley. by July 1865 - Aug 1921 (Closed)
  • 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 (Died 1908)
  • Exhibition Medal: Amsterdam 1869 for The Seamstress
  • Production: 1875 15000 per annum
    Became:
    Wm Sellers & Co. - pre May 1867 - April 1880
    Became:
    Wm Sellers & Sons By Dec 1880 - August 1921 (Closed)
  • Partners: J.R. Sellers & J. M. Sellers c1921

    Note: James P. Allen was selling Sellers machines under his own name c1869 from 12 Walbrook. Sellers & 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 - 1861
  • Universal Feed 1870 1884
  • Stitchwell Family & Medium 1870 - 1887
  • Seamstress July 1869 - 1884 Wheeler & Wilson Type
  • Hand Lock Stitch 1870? 1877 - 1878
  • Howe Types No. 1 & 2 1870 - 1884
  • Thomas Types Nos 1, 1 2, 3 1878
  • No. 4 1884 - 1887
  • Sellers V.S.
  • Sellers Central Bobbin 1904 - 1905

    • 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 - June 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, Inventions Exhibition 1885 Gold Medal
    Became:
    Eclipse Machine Company Est June 1890 to May 1923 (Closed)
  • Factory: Rochdale Road, Oldham.
  • Partners: Fred & Tom Rothwell
    Machines Made:
  • Eclipse S Family 1873 - 1894
  • Eclipse S Medium 1887 - 1894
  • Eclipse A (Howe Principle) 1873 - 1890
  • Eclipse B 1873 - 1890
  • Eclipse C 1873 - 1890
  • Eclipse Hand (Jones class) 1887 -1894
  • Eclipse Reversible 1885 - 1887
  • Eclipse Oscillator 1887 - 1894

    • R. E. Simpson & Co. Est 1858 - By April 1877 Closed
  • Factory: 90 Maxwell Street, Glasgow. June 1859 - 1870
    Moved to:
    Eagle Factory, Bishop Street, Glasgow 1871 - 1872
  • Retail: 116 Cheapside, London. Jan 1861 - 1872
  • Patentees: J. T. Jones & R. E. Simpson February 15th 1859
    Partners: R. E. Simpson, James Cremer, J. T. Jones partnership dissolved 9 June 1859 but business continued under new partnership of:
    Robert 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
  • Exhibition Medals: Dublin 1865, Paris July 1867, East Lothian June 30 1873 - Silver
    Machines Made:
  • No. 1 13 inch Table Machine (Family) 1860 - 1868
  • No. 2 18 inch Table Machine (Tailoring)1860 - 1874
  • No. 3 Arm Machine 1860
  • No. 4 Double- Action small arm June 1860 - 1868
  • No.5 1865
  • The Simpson (Family) Singer Principle 1869 - 1874
  • The Simpson (Medium) Singer Principle

    • 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 - By Feb 1876 closed
  • 120 Tennant Street, Birmingham by 1866
        133 Tennant Street, Birmingham 1867.
         18 & 19 Edmund Street, Birmingham by Dec 1868 - 1875
    Machines Made:
  • Peoples
  • Little Wonder 1870 - 1873
  • Wheeler & Wilson Principle 1870 - 1872
  • Howe Principle 1870 - 1872
  • Thomas Principle 1870 -1872
  • Wax thread 1870 - 1872

    • 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. 1889 - Closed by March 1893
  • Retail: Lombard Street
    Moved to:
    3 Oxford St, London.
  • Patentee: John Alfred Postans
  • Proprietor: Wilmot Holland ordered 12,000 So-All machines from Kimball & Morton but only 2,000 were sold in 4 years. The remaining 10,000 were sold off by Trustee in Bankruptcy.
    Machine Sold:
  • So-All (manufactured by Kimball & Morton) 1889 -1890

    • 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 - 1887(August) stopped sewing machine production.
    Machines Made:
  • Princess of Wales 1883
  • Queen Jan 1887
  • Improved Express
  • Pique Glove Sewing Machine
    See also Newton Wilson & Co.

    • Starley & Co. 1869 - September 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 & Co November 1872 - June 1873
    Became Smith & Starley July 1873 - 30 June 1877
  • 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 31 July 1877 - 1879 (In Liquidation by Sept)
    Machines Made:
  • Little Dorrit 1875 - 1877
  • The 0 Machine Aug 1874 - 1875
  • Little Europa Dec 1873 - 1884
  • Europa Nov 1872 - 1876
  • Europa No.2 Aug 1874 -1875
  • Europa No.3 Aug 1874 - 1884
  • Queen of Hearts 1873 - Dec 1878 also sold as The Little Hereford, Sans Egal
  • Godiva (Hand)

    • Note: Made " Royal Rink" Roller Skates 1876

    T & F Sugden 1857
  • Rhodes Bank, Oldham.
  • Partners: Thomas & Frederick Sugden
    Became:
    Frederick Sugden & Co. Closed Dec 1861
  • Waterloo Street & King St Manchester
  • 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 1889 - 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
  • No. 7 Feb 1891
  • No. 9 1897
  • No. 10 1897
  • Cylinder Golosh 1897
  • Twin Needle Double Shuttle 1897
  • High Arm Family 1893 - 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
    Belle Sewing Machine Co
  • Offices 127, Strand London
    Machine Made:
  • The Little Belle

    • taylor sewing machine

    William Taylor

    Taylor's Patent Sewing Machine Co. Pre Oct 1869 - 31st December 1875
    Became:
    Taylor's Patent Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est 1st January 1876 - 14 June 1879 In liquidation
  • Factory: Eastgate, Great Driffield, South Yorkshire.
  • Offices: Holbourn Viaduct 1871 - June 1873
    97 Cheapside, London By 17 July 1873 -1880
    4 Lawrence Lane, London 1880
    Manager: William Taylor
    Patentee: Taylor 1866, 1868, 1870
    Exhibition Medal: International Exhibition Altona (Silver)1869, Industrial Exhibition Hamburg (Silver)1869, Vienna Exhibition August 1873, South African International Exhibition, Cape Town July 1877
    Machines Made:
  • Taylor's Patent 1871 - 1874
  • Improved Taylor August 1874 - 1879
  • The Favourite 1871
  • Taylor's Twisted Loop July 1875 - May 1878
  • Taylors Patent No. 3

    Note: All manufacturing equipment sold by auction September 1880

    • F. W. Thomas

    1871 Advertisement Copyright David Best

    W. F. Thomas & Co. Est 1853 - c March 1886>
  • Factory: 54 Union Passage, Birmingham. From 1861 to 1879
                    101 New Town Row, Birmingham.1876 - 1886 (Closed)
                    11 Clerkenwell Close, London. 1880's - c1895
  • Retail: 22 Skinner Street, Snow Hill, London Oct 1854
                      34 St Martin's Le Grand, London by March 1856 to 1865
                      66 Newgate Street, London March 1856 - Jan 1867
                      1 & 2 Cheapside, London by May 1860 - May 1878 (by Oct Closed)
                      Regent Circus, Oxford Street, London July 1863 - Dec 1872
                      Oxford Circus, London By Oct 1872
                      67 St Paul's Churchyard, London 1866 1867
                      48 Holborn Viaduct, London. by Aug 1877 - c1880
                      30 Aldersgate Street, London. 1880 - 1899+
  • Exhibition Medals: Paris 1855, London1862, Paris 1867.
    Became:
    Thomas Sewing Machine Co. Ltd June 1892 - Dec 1897 (reconstructed May 1894)
    Became:
    The Thomas Manufacturing Co. Ltd Est 1899 - 1906?
  • Factory: 11 Clerkenwell Close, London.
  • Retail: 30 Aldersgate Street, London. 1894 - 1897
         6 Dowgate Hill, London
    Machines Made:
  • No.1 1854
  • No.2 1854
  • No.01 Domestic 1860 1896
  • No.1, 1b, 1860 - 1896
  • No.1D, 1E c1870
  • No.2, 2b, 2c 1860 - 1872
  • No.2T, 2T double action c1870
  • No.3, 3b, 3c 1860
  • Thomas 1867
  • The London
  • Circular Head c1870
  • "A" Registered Shuttle (Holly) June 1869 - 1875
  • Domestic Hand (Chain Stitch) 1860 - 1876
  • No 3b Boot Machine 1875
  • The Post Machine 1883 1885
  • Singer Type 1885
  • Button Hole Machine 1885 1896
  • Wax Thread 1885
  • Helmet Machine 1885
  • No. 4 G Sail Machine 1885
  • No.1 Small Machine - collars 1881 -1885
  • No.1 B 2 Glove Machine with two needles 1885

    • Two Reel Lock Stitch Sewing Machine Co. Ltd Est June 1891 - 1897 (Closed)
  • 5 and 6 Great Winchester Street, London June 1891
  • 62 Albion Street, Birmingham. 1892 -1895
  • 35 Colmore Row, Birmingham. 1896,1897
  • Factory: Argyle Street, Nechells, Birmingham 1895 - 1897
    Founders: Daniel Jones & William Mc Pherson
    Patentee: Daniel Jones - Patents 3428(1885), 5375 (1887), 9089 (1889)
    Machines Made:
  • Jones Oscillating Two Reel Oct 1887
  • Jones Rotary Two Reel Oct 1887
  • Jones Rocking Lever Oct 1887
  • Two Reel Lock stitch - production started 1893 at 150 machines per week
  • Jones’ Patent

    • Unicum Automatic Button Hole Machine Co. 1886
  • 31 Paternost Square & 11 Rose Street
    Became:
    Patent Button Hole Machine Co. 1891 - 1892
  • Factory: 72 - 74 Greys Inn Road
  • Offices 4 Newgate Street
    Machine Made:
  • Unicum 1886
  • New Unicum1891 1892
  • New Unicum1891 1892
  • Duada 1891 (changed to Euada 1892)

    • Universal Sewing Machine Co. (Oldham) 1874 - 1876 (Closed)
  • 89 Lees Road, Oldham
    Became:
    Universal Sewing Machine Manufacturing Co. Ltd By Feb 1876 - Closed By 15 May 1876
    Machine Made:
  • W & W Type

    • Varley & Co

    see Wilson ,Varley & Wolfenden

    Varley & Wolfenden

    see Wilson, Varley & Wolfenden

    Vickers Ltd - sewing machines from 1915 - 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

    • Charles Voase 1863
  • Reinhardt's Yard, Briggate, Leeds 1863
  • 22 North Street, Leeds 1870 - 1872
    Machine Made:
  • Howe Principle May 1863 - 1870
  • Thomas Principle May 1863 - 1870
  • Wheeler & Wilson Principle 1870

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

    Edward Ward Est 1860 - c1877
  • Factory: 73 Castle Street East, Oxford Street, London by July 1861
    9 Wells Street, London By Aug 1861 -1890
  • Exhibition Medals: 2 Medals 1870
    Became:
    E. Ward & Co. c1878 - August 1892 Closed
    Machines Made:
  • Improved Thomas Jan 1863
  • Elastic Machine
  • Flowering Machine 1865 - 1875
  • Cross arm
  • Closing machine
  • Howe Type
  • Lily
  • Arm & Platform Mk1 by April 1875 - 1877
  • Arm & Platform Mk2 (improved) 1877 - 1892
  • No. 12 machine 1888
  • Alert 1888

    • James Warwick c1866 - March 1888
  • Factory: 49 Rutland Street 1866
                  76 Port Street, Piccadilly, Manchester April 1868 1870
                   59 Hilton Street, Manchester By Nov 1872 - Mar 1888.
                  25 Hilton Street, Manchester. Mar 1888
    Machine Made:
  • Lancashire type
  • Thomas Principle
  • Victoria 1868 - 1871 Wheeler & Wilson Principle
  • The Warwick 1874 Singer Principle
    Note: By 1888 40,000 sewing machines had been produced
    Became:
    Luke Warwick (brother)by Mar 1889 - 1892
  • Factory: 25 Hilton Street

    • 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 1882
  • Medium 1882
  • Victoria (Wheeler & Wilson Type) 1872 - 1882
  • The Watson

    • Waverley Machine Manufacturing Co. 1870 - Feb 1873
  • Factory: North Esk Mill, Dalkeith, Scotland.
    Machines Made:
  • The Waverley

    • James G. Weir Est 1866 - 1889 Closed
  • Factory: Belmont Street, Chalk Farm Road, London.
  • Retail: 2 Carlisle St, Soho Square, London.
  • Exhibition Medal:Dublin 1872
    Machines Made:
  • Weir's 55s April 1868 - 1872 became:
  • The Globe by April 1873 - 1880 (42s without improvements)
  • Weir's 55s 1872 - 1880 (with Weir's Patented improvements)
    NOTE: It is not clear if James Weir actually produced the above
    machines or whether he had them manufactured.
    In 1892 it was reported that the Weir had cost 26s to produce in Canada, 16s when made in France and 12s when made in London and that for some years 18,000 p.a. were made.
    Machines Sold:
  • The Lady's 1867 - 1877 supplied by I. Schoeder, Darmstadt, Germany.
  • American 1867 1870
  • Weir's 55s April 1868 - 1876 supplied by Chas Raymond, Canada until 1876
  • Victoria 1870
  • Jackson 1870
  • Zephyr May 1874 - 1879 supplied by Böttcher, Germany.
  • Comet December 1877 - 1878
  • Argus 1877
  • Aurora November 1878 - 1879

    • Whight & Mann Est 1859 - 1878 Closed
  • Factory: Gipping Works, Station Road, Ipswich.
  • Retail:April 1862 - July 1863 122 Holborn Hill, London.
                 by 24 July 1863 - Jan 1876 143 Holborn-Bars, London.
                 by Oct 1876 1877 12 Holborn-Bars, London.
    Founders: George Whight & Aldridge Mann
    Became:
    George Whight & Co.By Feb 1878 - 1892
    Factory : Circus Road, St Pancras, London By April 1879
    During this period the machines sold were imported
                 143 Holborn-Bars, London April 1879. Moved to Regent Street 1892
    Machines Made:
  • Excelsior March 1861 - 1877 (Patent 12 Jan 1861)
  • New Star July 1863 - Jan 1865 Foxwells Patent (Judkins)
  • Alberta May 1868 - 1876 Wheeler & Wilson Principle
  • Princess 1869 -1871
  • Prima Donna June 1871 - 1876 (note old stock being sold off in Feb 1879)
  • Holborn Express 1869 - 1872
  • Little Darling 1874 -1875
  • Family machine (Singer Principle) Oct 1876 - 1877
  • Duchess - chain stitch Oct 1876
  • No.2 Machine (Thomas principle) 1874
    Machines Sold:
  • Improved Singer Low & High Arm 1887
  • New Excelsior 1879 Supplied by Junker & Ruh
  • Columbia 1877 Supplied by Junker & Ruh
  • Prima Donna Family (Singer Principle)

    • Newton Wilson

    Illustration from a Newton Wilson & Co
    1876 Price List

    W. N. Wilson & Co Pre 1855 - August 1858
    Patent Chair Manufacturers & dealers in patent sewing machines
    Partners: William Newton Wilson, William Newton, & Joseph Michael Wilson
    Offices 5 Cooper Street, Manchester 1855 - 1857
    Became:
    Newton Wilson & Co. Est 1858 - 1882 + (Sewing machines produced from 1864 on)
    Partners: William Newton Wilson & Joseph Michael Wilson Sept 1858 - Aug 1861
    Partners: Newton Wilson, Josiah Turner
  • Factory: Hoyle's Factory, Woolpack Lane, Nottingham. 1864 - April 1866

                   Pre 1866 - May 1872 Smeeton Works, Pope Street, Birmingham the name then changed to St. George's Foundry May 1872 - 1877
    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 - 1887 pre Aug 1887 ceased sewing machine production
    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 - 1882 144 Cheapside, London.
                  1867 - 1874 210 Regent Street, London
                  Moved to 246 Regent Street, London.
  • Exhibition Medals:1867 Paris 1873 Vienna

    Machines Sold:

  • Lancashire May 1855 - Feb 1859
  • Boudoir December 1858 - 1866 supplied by Chas Howland
  • The Cottage 1858 - 1861
  • Blake 1862
  • Knotted Stitch supplied by Grover & Baker Feb 1860 until Jan 1865
  • Royal Elliptic 1863 - 1867
  • American Button Hole May 1868 - 1869 supplied by American B.H.O & Sewing Machine Co.
  • Express supplied by G & H

    Machines Made:

  • Duplex Oct 1864 - 1866
  • Royal Elliptic A, B, D types 1864 - 1866
  • Howe Type 1864 - 1866
  • Singer No. 2 Type 1864
  • Queen Mab (single thread) Introduced by Dec 1865 - 1877 (Licenced by Willcox & Gibbs June 1867 - March 1870 patent expired Aug 1870)
  • Cleopatra (single thread) Introduced by Sept 1866 - 1877 (Licenced by Willcox & Gibbs June 1867 - March 1870 patent expired Aug 1870)
  • Penelope (lock stitch) Introduced Nov 1867 - Jan 1870
  • Dorcas (lock stitch) Introduced Nov 1867 - May 1872
  • May Queen Dec 1868 - 1877
  • Princess of Wales Introduced Oct 1869 - 1887
  • Englands Queen March 1872 - 1876
  • Queen Bess April 1873 - 1877
  • Queen O' Scots (Twisted Loop) Dec 1873 - 1877 believed renamed Erin for Irish market (Jan 1874)
  • Wilsons Patent Singer 1874 - 1887
  • Wilsons Patent Whistler 1876 - 1877
  • Tower 1876 - 1881
  • Perfection 1877 - 1879
  • Express (loop stitch) 1887
  • Wallace Ash 1876 - 1877 (for W. Ash 7 Russell Street, Landport, retailer)

    • 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.
  •         23 Bucklersbury, Mansion House, London, (J. D. Dickson - Agent)
    Machines Made:
  • Cyclops 1882 - 1905
  • Cyclops Family (Singer system) 1872 - 1875
  • Hand 1885 1886(with take up)
  • High Arm Family (Fiddlebase) introduced 1889 1890

    • William Winter

    1870 Advertisement Copyright David Best

    William Winter Est By Aug 1859 - Jan 1873
  • Factory: Commercial Court, Briggate, Leeds. 1859 - 1862
                     1863 - Feb 1869 7 South Brook Street, Leeds.
                      August 1869 - Dec 1873 Invincible Sewing Machine Works (Paragon Works) 20 Swinegate, Leeds.
    NOTE: Works & equipment sold off in January 1873 by the Trustees in Bankruptcy to F. Spong & Co who were in liquidation by July 1874

    Machines Made:
  • Howe Types 1, 2, 3 1861 - 1865
  • Singer Principle 1861 1863
  • Wax Thread Cylinder Machine 1865
  • Platform Machine 1865
  • Family 1872
  • Flowering 1869 1873
  • Invincible 1868 - 1872
  • Boot Repairer 1867
  • Bespoke 1872