The Warren Antique Sewing Machine Collection.

08/10/2018

All Information is in the Photo Albums which is the first item on the "More" option.

28/04/2017

The Warren Antique Sewing Machine Collection.'s cover photo

20/01/2017

This is a Singer 28K, vibrating boat Shuttle (VS) machine manufactured in 1903 at Kilbowie, Clydebank, Scotland. The serial number is R829586 VS and the “K” is used to denote Kilbowie as the origin. They are still very common because so many were built over a period from the mid 1880’s to the late 1930’s. Singer and other manufacturers were also making the faster and quieter transverse boat shuttle systems or the rotating hook models which had bigger shuttle bobbins that required less frequent re-winding. However, the VS was cheaper and many people still had faith in the older system.
The decals on this example, known as “Victorian”, are almost complete but show a little discolouration after 110 years. It is not uncommon to find a 28k from the 1930’s still in mint condition. The internal mechanism is mainly cams and levers with the shuttle moving from left to right in a curved boat race. The Jones CS ans D53 in the Warren Collection use an almost identical mechanism.
Singer, already established in the USA, opened their Glasgow factory 1867 and by 1885 had moved into the biggest sewing machine factory in the world at Kilbowie.

14/01/2017

This is the Challenge designed and first produced by the Royal Sewing Machine Company in 1872 solely for the successful businessman and distributer Joseph Harris. The company was already manufacturing the famous Shakespear machine which has almost identical mechanics as the Challenge but a different shape in the casting. Later, but for a short period only, a similar machine, the Avon, with a different shuttle mchanism was produced. The general shape seems to have been inspired by the highly decorative Agenoria made by Arthur Maxfield. The Challenge is a transverse lockstitch with a straight shuttle race and a unique stitch regulator. This example has the serial number 144573 and “The Royal Sewing Machine Company Limited, Smallheath, Birmingham on the work plate. There is an embossed brass plate cover on the front depicting a knight offering a challenge along with the name and place of manufacture. This machine dates from around 1877.

05/01/2017

Antique Sewing Machines from the Warren Collection

There is a new website for the collection here:
http://teahippo.uk/thewarrencollection/

22/12/2016

A red version of the Singer 20. Very Common. Made by the Essex engineering Works, 12 Wanstead Road, London E11.
Year 1950

12/12/2016

This ¾ size fiddlebase is almost certainly a German Vesta by L.O. Dietrich. There are no identifying marks, even under the bed but the overall design is the same as the Vesta/Titan range. It has a threaded nut to hold down the bed and tension discs at the top left of the needle-bar cover similar to other Vesta's where as the Winselmann Titan usually has a simple catch screwed into the woodwork and a wire hook respectively. It also has the earlier bobbin winder and the fiddle base design would tend to put it as an early machine perhaps from about 1930. The serial number is 4975240. It uses the same transverse shuttle mechanism first employed in he Singer model 12 but the flywheel is placed in the centre of the pillar giving better stability on this lighter machine. The wooden base is recessed at the back to give extra space for the flywheel. The decals are 98% intact consisting of a gold leaves and flowers and overall, given its excellent condition, this example is highly collectable. The firm began in 1871 at Altenburg, Germany. Kohler and Winselmann left in 1877 to form their own company, Kohler & Winselmann which, like L. O. Dietrich, was based in Altenburg. Dietrich changed its brand name to Vesta shortly after Dietrichs death in 1904.
Circa: 1930

30/11/2016

This is a Rhenenia by Tittel & Nies. It is a version of an earlier Grover and Baker machine. There is no takeup lever but instead, the thread passes round a pair of discs mounted on top of the needlebar, as the bar rises so thread is drawn from the spool. The needle bar and shuttle are controlled via a horizontal cam under the plate. There was originally a colourful flower decal with gold foliage on the bed but much of this has faded in this example. I have seen an advert for an almost identical machine from Junker & Ruh with the spelling "Renania". These have wider shuttle plates than the Tittel and Nies machine. The company began in 1863 by Wilhelm Tittel and became Tittel and Nies, Germany in 1884 with Gottfried Nies as a partner. The firm was taken over by Adolf Knoch in 1911.
Circa: 1890

16/11/2016

This is a low arm transverse shuttle model G Gritzner fiddlebase. There is not a great deal of information on these but the serial number on this one is only 38887 so it was definitely produced between 1872 and 1892 with the numbers numbers in the region of 280000 at the end of this period. Therefore C1880 would be a safe estimate for this machine. The action is almost identical to the Singer 12 fiddlebase but this model has a very heavy, ornate cast iron base instead of the usual wooden casing. Very little of the decals remain. A search has revealed few survivors but all the ones that I have seen so far are in poor decorative condition. Gritzner began in 1872 at Karlruhe in Germany. The firm expanded rapidly, making other products such as bicycles and motorcycles. The model G seems to have been a diversion because most of their early sewing machines were based on the Singer 12 or the typical High Arm TS with a rectangular base in wood. The other Gritzner in the Warren Collection is a High Arm TS with stunning coloured decals and mother of pearl inlay.

16/10/2016

This is Frister & Rossmann, a High arm TS Variant 4, serial number 1110685, manufactured in about 1905 and sold through W. Pierssene 49 Fore Street London.
The gold decals are in the Oak Leaves style. It has a new patented bobbin winder

Robert Frister & Gustav Rossmann started a small sewing machine workshop in 1864 near Berlin. They began producing Wheeler & Wilson models and later a Wilcox and Gibbs clone until they had to move to bigger premises. By 1872 they were producing a copy of the superb Singer 12 fiddle-base. This, very well engineered, transverse shuttle design was the precursor of later models such as this High Arm number 4 variant.
Very soon Frister & Rossmann became Germany's largest sewing machine company. Gritzner took over in 1925 but they still produced machines under the original name. In the UK they sold from many outlets via an agency run successively by I Nash, Herman Loog, S Loewe, W. Pierssene from 1899 and finally O. Quitmann from about 1920. They were also badged by Harrods of London. Their machines won Medals at exhibitions in Sydney, Amsterdam , London, Edinburgh, Adalaide, Melbourne, and of course, Berlin.

10/10/2016

Jones Family CS - Serial Number 335764, Circa 1920.
This Jones Family CS,“cylindrical shuttle”, machine is still quite common in the UK. It first appeared as a hand driven domestic machine in 1893 and went to over 600,000 machines until about 1935.
It was often re-badged and sold on by other distributors such as the Co-op which sold the C.W.S. Federation with a colourful flower motif.

Jones seems to have ignored many mechanical innovations over its 40 years production period. In this 1920’s model there is minimal use of cogs, only in the handle housing and the rotating hook and transverse action is overlooked for the outdated boat shuttle oscillating from side to side in a curved race.

William Jones started making sewing machines in 1859 and in 1860 formed a partnership with Thomas Chadwick. As Chadwick & Jones they manufactured sewing machines at Ashton-under-Lyne until 1863. Thomas Chadwick later joined Bradbury & Co. Whilst William Jones opened a factory in Guide Bridge, Manchester in 1869. The firm was re-named as the Jones Sewing Machine Co. Ltd in July 1869 and later became Brother UK Ltd.

This model as was endorsed by Queen Alexander, wife of King Edward VII who succeeded Queen Victoria, and so has 'As supplied to Her Majesty Queen Alexandra' on the decal just above the shuttle winder. It dates from around 1920.

09/10/2016

A Singer12 with Ottoman Carnation decals. This is a fiddle base using a "boat" type transverse shuttle. with a striking "Peacock" or "Ottoman Carnation" design from George Alfred Squire of, New Jersey, first seen in about 1884. Variations were used on other machines. The other, 1873 model 12 in the collection has a pivoting lever for disengaging the drive to the machine, whilst this 1888 version has a button behind the flywheel which has to be pulled and twisted to disengage the drive from the main shaft. This model also has a more sophisticated bobbin winder.
Circa: 1888

05/10/2016

The Jones Hand, made in Guide Bridge, Manchester, was introduced in 1879. It was made in large numbers and remained in production for some 20 years, the earliest versions do not have a take-up lever and the tension discs are mounted on the arm of the machine. From 1891 onwards a Brass medallion replaced the centre decal and in addition to the Company stamp the words- 'As supplied to H.R.H. The Princess of Wales' work surface. The Jones Hand was badged for various retailers up until c1907 so other makers names are often seen on these machines. William Jones started making sewing machines in 1859 and in 1860 formed a partnership with Thomas Chadwick. As Chadwick & Jones they manufactured sewing machines at Ashton-under-Lyne until 1863. Thomas Chadwick later joined Bradbury & Co. Whilst William Jones opened a factory in Guide Bridge, Manchester in 1869. The firm was re-named as the Jones Sewing Machine Co. Ltd in July 1869 and later became Brother UK Ltd. This machine employs a transverse boat shuttle mechanism forming a lock stitch. This one has flower mitif on the bed.
Circa: 1890

02/10/2016

Singer Model 66 with Oscillating Hook The Model 66 was introduced in 1900 with production continuing to the 1950's. The machine was made as a hand crank, treadle and electric variant. Various decal patterns were used on these machines and although the Singer company did not name the decal patterns over the years collectors have given them names. In America the Model 66 had a decal pattern known by collectors as Red Eye which was introduced c1910. This pattern was not available in Europe instead a pattern collectors call Lotus was used on machines made at the Singer's Kilbowie factory. The Singer Model 66 is common in Great Britain. This was made in 1922.
Circa: 1922

29/09/2016

This is my earliest Wanzer machine.....

https://www.facebook.com/AntiqueSewingMachineCollection/photos/a.105478729545986.9855.105114519582407/976779942415856/?type=3&theater

This Little Wanzer dates from the early 1870's and was originally from Hamilton, Canada.. The patent dates on the needle bar cover are accompanied by the words "Time Utilser" which the company used as a Trade Mark. It has a more ornate balance wheel than earlier models. The base is black laquered slate where as some models have white marble.

The action is unusual, consisting of a shuttle oscillating in a small vertical arc.

28/09/2016

The Kimble and Morten Oscillator is a close copy of the Singer model 16-81. It utilises a vertical oscillating hook lock-stitch mechanism with a barrel shaped bobbin similar to those in modern domestic machines. It does not use the usual cam system to move the needle-bar but instead incorporates a crank with a cam on the horizontal axis to work the thread tensioning lever.
The decals are striking and follow a gold floral motif with mother of pearl pieces embedded around the edge of the bed.
It is the heaviest machine in the Warren collection, a little clunky in use but very robust. Other examples I have seen have been designed for use with a treadle. This one has a large hollow wood base with rosewood veneer. There is a large void under the handle which, on most other manufacturers machines, has a compartment for storage but is completely enclosed in this model.
The first examples of this design, with a different set of decals, appeared in about 1886 to 1889, so this one would be later, perhaps circa 1895. The serial number is 123436.

Kimball & Morton was established with a factory at 11 Bothwell Circus, Glasgow in 1867. They produced many domestic and industrial sewing machines including a model shaped as a lion, the Sew-All and the very rare Eagle, also in the Warren collection. The Oscillator was one of their more expensive domestic models. The firm became a limited company in 1887 and by 1895 the address was given as 11a Norfolk Street Glasgow.

26/09/2016

I just gave this a little clean. It is a German Stoewer Premier fiddle-base. There is another in slightly better condition in the collection.

30/08/2016

The Warren Antique Sewing Machine Collection.

17/07/2016

A Heinrich Grossmann machine for making straw hats. This Dresden company made many varients, based on the Wilcox & Gibbs machine, with different fittings designed to carry out all the functions required in the hat making industry during the mid to late 1800's. These were always factory models so there is no crank handle. They were meant to be bolted to a table so the base on this one has been added recently. This one is similar to the Wilcox and Gibbs Straw Hat Machine model 200 described as a "Visible Stitch Straw Machine".
Circa: 1864

25/06/2016

This is a Raymond Household sewing machine from about 1885 made in Guelph, Canada. Raymond is known for the New England style of ornate machine (or Wier in the UK) and later its Family 1, 2, and 3 lock-stitch models. The Household was produced from 1872 for about 10 years. The bobbin winder on this one appears on an 1881 patent and the tension rod is mounted vertically showing that this is a later design. Earlier versions had a horizontal tension rod at the top of the needle bar mechanism. They are now considered rare and highly sought after by collectors. T. H. Steer is stamped into the shuttle plate. This is Thomas H. Steer, a sewing machine agent and dealer of 21 Northernhay Street, Exeter, according to the History, Gasetter and Directory of the county of Devon. The building still exists and has been turned into flats.
Circa: 1885

23/06/2016

This is an early White's Peerless Hand machine. Whites also produced a treadle or "foot" driven version. It has a transverse boat shuttle moved by an elegent lever system in a curved shuttle race. There is an ornate support for the tension discs on top of the arm and a k**b extending from the front of the base to alter the stitch length. The thread uptake lever has an unusual transverse mechanism which is abandoned for the more conventional design in the later "New Peerles" models. It is a rare example of an iron based portable and was in very poor condition when I found it. There is usually a frieze on the workplate but it has been attacked by rust on this example. Thomas Howard White started producing chain stitch machines in 1858 in Templeton, Massachusetts. In 1866 he established a factory at Canal Street, Cleveland, Ohio and was trading as the White Manufacturing Company making New England type machines. The firm became the White Sewing Machine Co. in 1876. This White Peerless dates to around 1885.
Circa: 1885

22/06/2016

https://www.facebook.com/groups/asmcuk/

This group now has over 2000 members.

25/05/2016

This Frister & Rossmann from about 1885 is a close copy of the Singer 12. They were produced from 1872 at Skalitzerstrasse, Berlin. The brass plate says that it was distributed from 19 Fore Styreet, London by the agent S. Loewe. It also has the Frister and Rossmann logo with the words Fabrikmarke stamped on the shuttle plate. The decal pattern of gold foliage and mother of pearl inlay is known as the Snowflakes & Shield. It is a transvers shuttle lock-stitch and the engineering is top quality.
Circa: 1885

18/05/2016

This has Original Brunonia etched on the shuttle cover and the logo for Bremer and Brückmann at Braunschweig in Germany, There is a fainter stamp on both cover plates bearing the words "Martin, Mecanicien, 45 R Aux Siers, Alencon" so this is probably from a distributer in Paris. They were produced between 1876 and 1900 and also imported and re-badged by distributers such as Atlas, Collier and Harris. It is identical to the Atlas Model A known to be imported by J Collier and Son, 136 Clapham Road, London. There was also an Atlas Sewing Machine Company, London, selling very similar machines with slightly different raised decoration on the base. This was meant to resemble the scales of justice which was the logo of the Atlas company. It has a horizontal cam under the workplate with two grooves to control the movement of the needle bar and shuttle and is a close copy of an earlier Howe design.
Circa: 1888

03/05/2016

Profile Pictures

02/05/2016

A Stoewer Premium fiddlebase.
There are no marks relating to the origins of this machine. It is 3/4 size with mother of pearl decoration. The flywheel is large for the size of the machine. However, it is almost identical to a small fiddlebase Stoewer made in Stettin, Germany (Now Szczecin, Poland). These were imported and retailed by W. J. Harris & Co., Limited, London. Bernhard Stoewer opened his own repair workshop in Stettin in 1858, when he was 24 years old. He shortly began manufacturing, creating the second oldest sewing machine factory in Germany.
Circa: 1905

11/04/2016

This is a New White's Peerless Model "B" re-badged with the name Swan. However, the name "White" is stamped on the shuttle. Thomas Howard White started producing in 1858. At first these were chain-stich models made in Templeton, Massachusetts. In 1866 he had a factory at Canal Street, Cleveland, Ohio, re-named as the White Manufacturing Company making New England (Raymond/Wier) type machines. The firm then became the White Sewing Machine Co. in 1876. This New White Peerless dates from around 1895 and has six U.S. Patent dates listed on the shuttle plate, from1884 to 1890. It has a transverse boat shuttle driven by the same elegant but simple lever sytem as the earlier "Peerless". The bobbin is unique because it has a hollow axle which slides over a rod inside the shuttle and the handle is on a bent rod held in place by an unusual spring device. The decals, in gold, yellow, red and green are stunning and still in very good condition.
Circa: 1885

11/04/2016

Harris Defiance. There are similarities in the shoulder bulge, the shuttle plates and the scrolls supporting the needle bar mechanism between this machine and the Elsa; so this is almost certainly an import from Baach & Klie/Lehnmann of Germany and sold by W. J. Harris & Co. 219 Old Kent Road, London. I have the instruction book for this which gives Harris as the manufacturer. This is very unlikely as Harris just imported and re-badged machines. They sold a number of machines with the name Defiance or Defiant. This is a lock-stitch with a curved shuttle race. Later versions of this model had the needle bar mechanism enclosed and the scrolls at the end of the arm omitted. It was in very poor condition when I saved it and all the decals were already eroded.
Circa: 1895

04/04/2016

Probably made by L.O. Dietrich, H. Köhler and G. Winselmann at Altenburg in Germany for Gamages, which was a large London Department store. The only mark says "foreign" but there are plenty of identical machines with the same decals marked as Gamages. Also, Winselmann and Dietrich made very similar machines called the Titan K and the Vesta. The machine is three quarter size with recessed crank and a transverse boat shuttle.
Circa: 1935

28/03/2016

This is a Stoewer, from Germany, imported by Harris and sold as the Harris Premier No.2. It is a typical High Arm Family TS type, with gold angel decals. The casting around the shuttle plates is flat whereas, on most similar TS machines there is a raised rectangular area around the shuttle plates. Otherwise, the design is identical to models produced by many other manufacturers during the early 1900's. There are no markings anywhere, not even a serial number. Circa: 1905
Circa: 1905

27/03/2016

Frister and Rossman. This is a High arm Family type, TS (transverse shuttle) Variant 5 model. The decal style is known as Red Lilies. These decals appeared from 1908 until at least 1938. After 1920 there is a letter K on the inside of the arm with further variations to the design. These are still quite common and many have been preserved in good condition. This is the first model in my collection, bought for £30 inb 1973. This is what started it all off. It has a lot to answer for.
Circa: 1910

26/03/2016

Stoewer TS - Cherub and Birds Decals. In 1858, when he was 24 years old, Bernhard Stoewer opened his own repair workshop in Stettin, Germany, producing sewing machines as one of the oldest factories in Germany. This machine has the Stoewer logo embossed on an oval brass plate. The flywheel is much larger than is usual on this type of machine. The cherubs and birds are in gold and blue.
Circa: 1912

13/03/2016

An Atlas Model B by Grimme, Natalis and Co. Braunschweig for the Atlas Sewing Machine Co. Camden Town, London. It is probably a model called the "Original Princess". This is a lockstitch machine with a curved shuttle race moved by a cam on the lower axle. From about 1880. On this one "Manufactured in Germany" and the numbers 124471, Rd44397 and 51180 is stamped on the shuttle plate. The number 471 is stamped on many of the parts. The white dots are mother of pearl inserts but unfortunately, in this example, there are three missing along the front.
Circa: 1880

13/03/2016

The Atlas Model A - Justice variant.
This machine has J Collier and Son, 136 Clapham Road, London stamped on the shuttle plate and the serial number 77727 on the casting. Collier would have been an importer, probably from Germany. There are no other identifying marks but I have seen photographs of an identical machine bearing a brass medallion with the inscription “The Atlas Sewing Machine Comy, London” and “Justice Trade Mark” around a figure holding a sword and a pair of scales. The raised casting on the front is meant to resemble a pair of scales. Apart from the decoration on the casting it is very similar to the Original Brunonia made by Bremer and Brückmann.

10/03/2016

Gritzner Number 1. This is a High Arm Family type,Transverse Shuttle machine. This one has a beautiful well preserved flower decal with mother of pearl inlay and carries a brass oval plate embossed with the Gritzner logo.
The firm was established in 1872 by M. Gritzner and by 1902 the Gritzner company had produced a million machines being Germany's largest sewing machine manufacturer. In 1897 the Company started making bicycles and then motorcycles in 1903. They took over Frister and Rossmann in 1925, merged with Kayser in 1931 and was finally taken over by Pfaff in 1957.

10/03/2016

Richard Mott Wanzer moved to James Street, Hamilton in Canada from Buffalo, New York, where as a personal friend of Isaac Singer he made Singer and Wheeler-Wilson machines. His own early designs included the Little Wanzer, the Wanzer Model's A and B, all of which are represented in this collection. He soon expanded into King Street (1860) and then acquired the Canada Sewing Machine factory in Barton Street (1878). He traded as The Wanzer Sewing Machine Co Ltd in Great Britain and France from offices in London at 4 Great Portland Street (1863) and 131 Boulevard Sebastopol, Paris (1867). His machines won medals at International Exhibitions including the 1867 Exposition Universelle de Paris, The World Exposition 1873 and the Gold Medal, Centennial Medal and Diploma at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. The Company closed in 1892. This is the model "B", a lock-stitch utilising a boat shuttle in a curved race. The mechanism under the deck is moved using a cam.
Circa: 1888

07/03/2016

This is a later version of the Wanzer 'A', with the straight shuttle race. The machine was further improved with the addition of an updated bobbin winder. The Company name & London address - Gt Portland Street London are stamped on the slide plate. "WANZER A" is cast on the underneath of the cloth-plate, and the machine sits in an ornamental cast iron base.
Richard M. Wanzer started manufacturing sewing machines in Canada in 1858 in a workshop on James Street, Hamilton. In 1878 the Wanzer Company purchased the Canada Sewing Machine Company, Barton Street, Hamilton developing the site for its purpose built factory which was completed c1880 and which was capable of producing over 100,000 machines a year.
The firm seems to have traded as The Wanzer Sewing Machine Co Ltd in Great Britain and France where there were offices in London at 4 Great Portland Street (1863) and 131 Boulevard Sebastopol, Paris (1867).

03/03/2016

There are no identifying marks on this but I believe it to be a Muller (or Meuller) number 4. It is very like the number 5 but with a different base. The decoration is identical to many Muller number 5 machines. It uses a looper to form a simple chain stitch.
Circa: 1905