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The Busy Bee
Sewing Machine Company
This web page was created by David BestŠ 2007 - 2010 see copyright notice below
The Busy Bee Serial No. 4267.
Manufactured by The Busy Bee Sewing Machine Company, 5 New Street, Worcester. The firm was known to have been producing sewing machines between at least 1872 and 1879 and was run by Alfred M. Baylis.
This machine is in excellent condition and is fitted with the Willis & Rice automatic bobbin winder which Henry Willis and George Rice patented in 1866, it was designed to ensure bobbins were evenly wound. There is no facility to disengage the balance wheel during bobbin winding.
The needlebar cover is stamped with the company name and address together with the machines serial number 4267. A second serial number 19986 appears on the casting under the slide plate. This leads us to believe the company may have had the castings manufactured by another firm possibly The Royal Sewing Machine Company, Birmingham and then the machines were assembled at Worcester.
The company Trade Mark - a bee clearly visible on the cartouche between the raised gadrooning on the base.
This machine was kindly donated to the collection by Florence Taylor, Drybrook, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and we are most grateful to her relatives Brenda & Gerry Cinderby.
