Sewing Machine Museum
Albrecht Mey Collection

1790

London/England

The original version of this first ‘sewing’ machine from 1790 no longer exits. It was reconstructed in 1874 based on patent drawings that were found, built by the Englishman Newton Wilson, and can now be seen at the Science Museum in South Kensington in London.

The machine shown here was faithfully replicated by our engineers Richard Nufer and Thomas Rückauf. The wooden components were made by the Stingel carpenters workshop in Albstadt-Ebingen. The machine is in working condition.

1800

Mayen/Rhineland

Pointed caps and liberty caps could be sewn with this machine, which in its day was technically quite an accomplished chainstitch sewing machine. The crank-controlled needle bar, continuous fabric conveyance via a spiked wheel and further details are characteristic of special sewing machines, some of which are still in use today. 

What makes this machine unique is the specifically devised needle with an eye at its pointed end. This needle design is what made the subsequent invention of the lockstitch sewing machine possible.

1814

The ‘sewing hand’ from Austria.

This machine was able to sew a stitch similar to a knotted double lockstitch thanks to its eye-pointed needle. The sewing hand sews from the bottom up with the fabric stretched over the machine in a frame and the needles stitching through it from below.

Unfortunately, the invention did not bring him any economic success. Madersperger died alone at nearly 83 years of age in a poorhouse in St Marx near Vienna.

1831

France

This machine made it possible to sew as many as 200 chainstitches a minute. It was equipped with a barbed needle connected to a needle bar that was moved up and down with a treadle.

He registered a patent for the machine and built approximately 80 sewing machines in Paris, which were used in military workshops. French tailors feared this would lead to their unemployment, which is why they destroyed Thimonnier’s workshop.

1846

The pictured machine is a faithful reproduction of the world’s first functioning double lockstitch sewing machine.

1853

USA

This is the first machine with a rotary hook, which only later became a success. In today’s domestic sewing machines, this part is called a bobbin.

1854

Thomas

England

One of the first free arm sewing machines, which made it possible to easily sew tubular pieces of cloth, such as closed sleeves.

1855

USA

The archetype of the modern sewing machine. Singer, who had German roots, was born in America.

The first Singer sewing machine is in the possession of Roni Schmid in Switzerland.

1861

USA

This machine was built in the USA, but unfortunately the manufacturer is unknown.