Posted 1 year ago
Japan2023
(12 items)
I do believe it is a vintage sewing machine carrying case. 16 1/2 wide, 9" deep, and 9" high. There are no maker marks on the case itself. The bakelite sewing kit was inside but don't recognize the mark. Interested to know the maker and age.
Hi, Japan2023. :-)
So the only clue we have is that mark on the lid of the Bakelite box.
Unfortunately, try as I might, I can't make out what appears to be initials on the mark.
Could you perhaps take a better-focused picture of the mark, edit your post, and replace the current picture of it with the new one?
Hi again, Japan2023. :-)
Thank you for acting on my suggestion about a better picture of the mark on the Bakelite box lid, because that did the trick. I used Google Lens to search for it, and Husqvarna popped right up:
https://cybermotorcycle.com/images/marques/husqvarna-1946-logo.jpg
https://cybermotorcycle.com/marques/husqvarna/husqvarna-logos.htm
Then I got really lucky and hit paydirt with a picture of a similar case at silverbobbin dot com with a credit to the creator at flickr dot com:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/risager/4588067095/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/risager/4588067453/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/risager/4588688320/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/risager/4591320679/
So, a case for a Huqsvarna C1 21.
Here are a couple similar Husqvarnas at Worthpoint:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/fantastic-working-vintage-viking-3936847251
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-viking-husqvarna-sewing-2074990774
About the Husqvarna class 21:
*snip*
The Class 21 series of Husqvarnas were made from 1955 until 1966, and there were 3 versions that I know of, called 21, 21a [ed note: see Jessicah's review of the 21a here] and 21e. In North America they are branded as 'Viking'.
*snip*
https://zigzaggers.typepad.com/zigzaggers/2008/11/husqvarna-21.html
Maybe they figured that the average American had too much difficulty wrapping their tongue around a name like Husqvarna. };-)
BTW, if you have trouble accessing that link above: I did too when I tried to go back to it. Dunno why. :-(
Here's somebody reviewing a Husqvarna 21A:
https://tightacres.blogspot.com/2016/02/husqvarna-viking-type-21a.html
About Husqvarna:
https://ismacs.net/husqvarna-viking/brief-husqvarna-viking-history.html
https://www.husqvarnaviking.com/About/About-the-Brand
Japan2023, Here is a manual for a Husqvarna 21A:
https://archive.org/details/husqvarna21aautomaticmanual/page/n45/mode/2up
There's a picture of the case towards the front of the manual, and a picture of the little ivory-colored attachment box with the Husqvarna logo on the lid just inside the back cover.
One thing the manual doesn't explain is the function of the outlet in the case as seen in one of the flickr pictures.
Was it perhaps a power converter? Is there some kind of outlet on the exterior of the case?
Thank you for all the time you put into looking this up. I never thought to look into it.
Japan2023, You're quite welcome. :-)
Vintage sewing machines have become something of a minor obsession with me, and initially I feared that I'd find nothing about this case.
Once you provided the clear picture of the logo, information came quickly --except for that outlet inside the case. That still mystifies me. :-(
do you collect them?
I have seen sewing machines but not many cases.
Japan2023, No, I don't collect vintage sewing machines, only vintage sewing machine information.
It's why I wouldn't call myself a vintage sewing machine expert. I think I would have had to disassemble completely, clean, refinish, reassemble, and tune at least one VSM to consider myself even an apprentice. };-)
Now, if you want a peek at just part of the collection of a bonafide VSM collector and expert, take a look at the collection of the late CW user Bernadette:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/31518-my-antique-sewing-machines-some-of-them
My vote for the all-time most beautiful vintage sewing machine is this nickel-plated Mundlos Victoria vibrating shuttle:
https://www.naehmaschine-antik.de/de-mundlos.html#o-v
BTW, I took another look at that flickr picture of the little built-in compartment in the Husqvarna suitcase, and realized that it's a storage compartment for the foot pedal. D'oh!
That is a beautiful sewing machine! What an interesting hobby. I guess I will have to decide what to do about the case. The funny part is I love to look up vintage pieces I have. Thanks again. Your help was beyond what I was hoping for.
Japan2023, You're more than welcome. :-)
I like it when mysteries are solved. Which, BTW, if you read this, can you mark this post as Mystery Solved? I always forget to ask.
FYI, I poked around some more, and found some slight variations on the vintage Husqvarna sewing machine case. It looks like it also came in an off-white with a brown check interior:
https://laurelleaffarm.com/item-pages/industrial-vintage-Viking-Husquvarna-21E-sewing-machine-free-arm-manual-case-Sweden-Laurel-Leaf-Farm-item-no-z41583.htm
And other Husqvarna models came with that case, such as the model 19:
https://archive.org/details/husqvarna19ezigzagmanual.pdf/page/n1/mode/2up
Other makers offered cases. Here's a vintage advertisement for an Elna that had a case:
https://bvisayc556.wordpress.com/2016/12/30/sewing-resolutions/
Husqvarna Viking is still around, and offers modern cases, e.g.:
https://www.husqvarnaviking.com/en-CA/Accessories/Large-Roller-Bag
https://www.husqvarnaviking.com/en-CA/Accessories/Deluxe-Burgundy-Roller-Bag
As to your vintage Husqvarna case: you could either store your own portable sewing machine in it, or find somebody with a vintage Husqvarna portable sewing machine who's dying to get their hands on a vintage case.
I don't know of anybody personally, but there are all kinds of vintage sewing machine enthusiast groups out there, e,g.:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VintageSewingMachines/
https://www.quiltingboard.com/
https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/
Then there are always outfits like eBay, Craigslist, etc.
Good luck. :-)
I can't Thank you enough for all the information. I will be looking into the Facebook page. The case is in mint condition. I posted this thinking it wasn't an interesting sewing case and didn't expect a response. I bought it cause I liked it and have been using it for storing things. I don't have a real sewing machine.
Japan2023, You're very welcome, but I actually was thinking that the victoriansweatshop group would be your best bet, because of the history of these various groups.
I don't want to get into the details here, but if you want to know more, you can email me (my email address is in my profile).
I'm sorry if I sound mysterious or dramatic, but in fact CW S&T has its own rules. :-(