|
||||
|
|
Alex I Askaroff
Alex has spent a lifetime in the sewing industry and is considered one of the foremost experts of pioneering machines and their inventors. He has written extensively for trade magazines, radio, television, books and publications worldwide.
Over the last two decades Alex has been painstakingly building this website to encourage enthusiasts around around the Globe.
|
|||
|
The American Sewing
Machine Co The American Buttonhole, Overseaming & Sewing Machine Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The American Sewing Machine Company was founded in Philadelphia towards the end of the American Civil War. The name was a perfect unification to reflect the new United States of America.
Interestingly their first sewing machines boasted an 1850 patent (a year before Isaac Singer produced his sewing machine). This was probably for use of one of the patents from another manufacturer that had been extended, probably Elias Howe or A B Wilson's feed mechanism but I am not positive. From 1863, for the next 10 years, they regularly patented their own overseaming, sewing machine and button hole machine improvements.
Their fist sewing machine was, as advertised, a button hole type of machine, capable of over seaming or wrapping a thread around an edge to create and cover a seam with a stitch that would not unravel. The stitch was made by sneakily swivelling the needlebar assembly and I cannot find the patent which is annoying. I must have checked over 1000 patent records that I have and not one on the American Sewing Machine mechanism described. It is possible that the ideas were patented under the owners or inventors names not the company. The only patent records I could come across for the American Sewing Machine were for minor improvements like the Franklin Foell patent of 1882 which was for minor improvements to the feed and shuttle of a previous patent by G S Rominger. No big patents I am afraid. The only names I have come up with are those listed above and Harry Smith and Harry Drury. The New American Sewing Machine Model 6
The American Sewing Machine company were based in Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This unique machine had filled a niche in the market, but it was just a niche, a small part of a huge sewing market. Daniel Furber Nichols 1837-1899
Daniel Furber Nichols
became
the General Manager of
the
American Button Hole, Overseaming and Sewing
Machine
Company
after he mustered out of the Civil War.
He had accepted the commission of Captain in Company G, 5th United States Colored Heavy Artillery and served in the post-War occupation of the South until 1866. He was honorably discharged on May 20, 1866, one of the very last Civil War volunteer officers to be mustered out. After the war Nichols took up residence in Philadelphia, and eventually became general manager of The American Buttonhole, Overseaming and Sewing Machine Company. By 1869 they were producing lockstitch, overseaming and button hole machines and in 1873 the American Buttonhole and Overseaming Company. The company were still listing patents in 1882 as The American Buttonhole, Overseaming and Sewing Machine Company of Pennsylvania. Then they became the American B-HO & Sewing Machine Co. and finally they changed to The American Sewing Machine Co. The American Sewing Machine Co It was not long before the American Sewing Machine Co produced a normal sewing machine called the New American Sewing Machine.
The American Buttonhole & Sewing Machine Co
The American Sewing Machine Co produced a range of attractive and practical sewing machines right up until the later part of the Victorian period. Their range included the Improved American and the High-Arm American, industrial, boot and leather machines. My personal joy is the New American Model 6 hand crank. These are quite rare as most of the machines were treadle not hand. The American Sewing Machine of 1873
The American Sewing Machine Co exported to Europe and sold machines through agents such as Newton Wilson in London. Apparently the Company had their own offices and storage at Queen Victoria Street, London. Smithsonian Production Numbers 1-7792 1869 7793 - 22366 1870 22367 - 42488 1871 42489 - 61419 1872 61420 - 75602 1873 75603 - 89132 1874 89133 - 103539 1875 103540 - 121477 1876 What is a dream on the American Sewing Machine model 6 is the fact that they used a shuttle but it took a round bobbin. It was a sort of mix between two cultures the best of both and it worked a treat. People who have used the American Sewing Machine say it sewed a near perfect seam. An American Sewing Machine still a looker even with hardly any gold left. Imagine what it would have looked like when new.
The American Sewing Machine model 7 had already developed into the standard looking sewing machine shape that was to dominate all sewing machines for decades. The New American Sewing Machine
You have to be a bit careful as there were several companies using the American on their sewing machines such as Goodrich, National, Weir and New Home. Several were available from the giant Sears mail order company of North America. Even James Weir advertised one of his models as the American Hand Sewing Machine.
Watch me on YouTube demonstrating a walking foot Raymond from the same period http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNCUTFwKrt0&list=UL This is a link to an early Raymond Walking Foot machine with a clever automatic tension device made in Brattleboro. The American Sewing Machine Co brought out many patents from 1870 until 1881 but then developments seems to have slowed. The company seems to have disappeared around 1896 but if you have any information on this I would love to hear from you. On 23 October 1899 Daniel Furber Nichols was fatally injured while riding a bicycle in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
The American No 1 sewing machine below from Stephanie Adams
OUT NOW!
Most of us know the name Singer but few are aware of
his amazing life story, his rags to riches journey from a little runaway
to one of the richest men of his age. The story of Isaac Merritt Singer
will blow your mind, his wives and lovers his castles and palaces all
built on the back of one of the greatest inventions of the 19th century.
For the first time the most complete story of a forgotten giant is
brought to you by Alex Askaroff.
News
Flash! Alex's books are now all available to download or
buy as paperback on Amazon worldwide.
"This
may just be the best book I've ever read."
"My five grandchildren are
reading this book aloud to each other from my Kindle every Sunday.
The way it's written you can just imagine walking
beside him seeing the things he does. News Flash! Alex's books are now all available to download or buy as paperback on Amazon worldwide.
|
||||
 I love to hear from people so drop me a line and let me know what you thought: alexsussex@aol.com. Fancy a funny read: Ena Wilf & The One-Armed Machinist
I am sewing machine technician in South Africa and enjoy reading your pages. You sir have made me proud to be a mechanic. I originally I wanted to be a motor mechanic but could not get a job now I am content.
Thanks once again.
I am thrilled to have discovered your web site – what a wealth of
knowledge, history, and trivia.
Thanks so much.
Rebecca Grace
Daniel
Furber Nichols was my Great Uncle. Note: Mark provided some great information about D F Nichols for this page. Many thanks Mark.
As a
new collector I have found your site
has increased my knowledge in
a short time to a degree
that I couldn't have imagined. American Sewing Machine Co
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||
|
American Sewing Machine CONTACT: alexsussex@aol.com Copyright ©
|
||||
