The Willcox & Gibbs chain stitch machine was extremely popular and as such it was copied by a number of British and German manufactuers including Bradbury & Co, Britannia Sewing Machine Co, Pollack & Schmidt, and Frister & Rossmann although the latter had automatic tension.
This example has no makers name or mark but was sold by London sewing machine merchants Smith & Co. which was established in 1863 and which had premises at 30 Edgeware Road, Hyde Park and 4 Charles Street, Soho, London in the 1870's and early 1880's.
Fitted with the European style hand wheel its highly ornate support gantry is finished in gold paint which appears to be original. The cloth plate is stamped "Smith & Co, 30 Edgeware Road, London" and the machines serial number is stamped in a similar position to that of Willcox & Gibbs machines. Sadly the Glass Tension device for this machine is missing.
