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Newton Wilson & Co.
This web page was created by David & Lin Best©2005 - 2008 & David Best 2009 - 2014 see copyright notice below
Company History
Newton Wilson & Co. was founded by William Newton Wilson one of the pioneers of the sewing machine industry in Great Britain who was involved in the sewing machine trade from 1851.
For many years the company imported machines such as the Boudoir and Grover & Baker machines from America. In 1864 Newton Wilson & Co. started manufacturing industrial sewing machines these were copies of Howe and Singer machines with production being undertaken at the factory of Campion & Johnson, Woolpack Lane, Nottingham.
The firms first domestic machines were produced in 1866, these were both chain stitch models known as the Queen Mab (Patented 14th Feb 1866) and the Cleopatra which were capable of producing 500 and 1000 stitches per minute respectively. The Company’s factory moved to Pope Street, Birmingham a year later and the its first lock-stitch machine – the Penelope was introduced as was a rotary principle machine known as the Dorcas.
In 1869 production of the The Princess of Wales lock-stitch machine commenced, this machine was to form the mainstay of the firms domestic sewing machine range. Production of the Penelope stopped in 1870 with the Doras being withdrawn a year later.
The castings of the Princess of Wales machine were redesigned c1870 becoming highly ornate. A modified version of the Princess of Wales machine was added to the range in 1874, known as England’s Queen it had the facility to produce herringbone stitch. A portable light weight machine - the Queen Bess was also introduced in this year. In 1875 production commenced of further models - The Queen O’ Scots and Wilson’s Patent Singer. By 1876 Wilson’s Patent Whistler was also being manufactured.
However the firm had financial problems and in 1877 John Cornforth took possession of the St Georges Foundry having previously advanced Newton Wilson a total of £21,183.
It appears John Cornforth and William Newton Wilson came to a mutally benificial arrangement with the manufacturing being carried out by a new firm The St. George’s Foundry Company at the Pope Street factory. The retail side continued to be undertaken by Newton Wilson & Co. at 144 High Holborn London until 1883 when a new Depot at 102 Southampton Row London was opened.
By 1884 the manufacturing firm had become The St George’s Engineering Co. and was advertising that it was the sole manufacturer of the Princess of Wales and Queen machines.
Other machines produced by the companies were: Tower c1876, Perfection c1877 & a machine known as Wallace Ash c1880 for a Portsmouth dealer.
Newton Wilson & Co ceased trading c1891 less than a year after Newton Wilson had left, sadly he did not enjoy a long and happy retirement for he died in 1894 aged 67 after a long illness.
Princess of Wales Serial No. Unknown.
Although this machine is in poor condition it is an early example of the Princess of Wales machine and was produced in late 1869 or early 1870. It is very much the ugly duckling with simple castings when compared with the later machines below.
The balance wheel is a plain casting and the bobbin winder has to be manually engaged using a thumb screw to press it against the balance wheel. On later versions the bobbin winder is driven directly from the balance wheel. This was further improved to allow the balance wheel to be disengaged for easier bobbin winding which also reduced wear on the sewing mechanism.
The Newton Wilson & Co. Trade Mark - the Prince of Wales feathers is cast centrally into the scalloped base with the name of the machine spanning it which is partly obsured by the bobbin winder.
On the cloth plate just the Company name and principal London address - 144 High Holborn, London appear along with the word Patent. There is no serial number anywhere on the machine however many parts are stamped VII.
Princess of Wales Serial No. 88989.
This machine was probably produced c1878. The highly ornate decoration is cast into the base along with the name Princess of Wales and is then hand painted in gold.
The cast decoration also features on the balance wheel, which provides a direct drive to the bobbin winder.
On each corner of the base the Newton Wilson & Co Trade Mark - the Prince of Wales Feathers appears.
Attention to detail is outstanding, note the small porcelain handle to operate the presserbar.
The Newton Wilson & Co. Trade Mark appears again on the front left of the cloth plate with the German motto "Ich Dien" which translates to "I serve". The Company's principal London address - 144 High Holborn is also given with the machines Serial number stamped just below.
