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Salesman or Inventor with an early sewing machine | Sewing426 of 726 |  |  |
Posted 2 years ago
scottvez
(554 items)
This carte de visite (CDV) dates from the late 1860s- early 1870s and was photographed by J.P. Brown of Cambridge, Ohio.
The man is showing off a treadle sewing machine and has what appears to be a catalogue with the company logo on the table.
Any information on the machine is appreciated.
Reproduction of this image in any form is not authorized.
Scott
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Cartes-De-VisitesCartes-De-Visites (CDVs), were part of a major shift in the 1860’s from gla…
SewingVintage sewing items are highly collectible, showcasing the history of fash…
Any thoughts on the sewing machine in the photograph?
Scott, my perception is that the "book" isn't showing the logo, but a sample of embroidery, specifically a monogram. So, he could be showing this "new" feature of the machine, something as simple as the feeder, but impossible to tell.
The photographer, J. P. Brown, was in Cambridge, Ohio, in 1887:
http://books.google.com/books?id=jxgWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA729&dq=%22J.+P.+Brown%22+photo&hl=en&ei=mMWlTsbpEYOusAKSxsyKBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBDgU#v=onepage&q=%22J.%20P.%20Brown%22%20photo&f=false
Using that timeline and your dating of the CDV, I "very" quickly looked at patents. Here is a machine, patent filed 1898, that looks similar to the one in your photo. The earlier machines I saw weren't similar to the one in the photo (see wheel at end that is close to the cabinet):
http://www.google.com/patents?id=Tz1aAAAAEBAJ&printsec=drawing#v=onepage&q&f=false
A sewing machine stand, patent filed 1886:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=iuhEAAAAEBAJ&printsec=drawing#v=onepage&q&f=false
Based on the above, I haven't helped you one bit. :-)
Thanks, solver.
I am confident that the image is much earlier than the 1880s or 90s. The thin stock, straight corners, gold lining, and plain backmark are all consistent with the 1870s at the latest.
I was hoping one of the "sewing machine" collectors would have a quick answer on the machine!
Scott
The machine looks like it could be a Davis Vertical Feed. They did have a machine sold as 'Browns' but I don't know if it's connected. The company was formed in 1868 at Watertown NY and moved to Dayton OH in 1890.
Thanks Bernadette, I appreciate your input.
Was the Davis Vertical Feed from the early years of the company?
Scott