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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 world wide. Over the last two decades Alex has been painstakingly building this website to encourage enthusiasts around around the Globe.
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It
has always been a question that has meandered through my messy mind. How
could a plump recluse and widow somehow manage to rule over the greatest empire the
world has ever known? How could this shy old dear possibly be the head
of a country where truly the sun never set on her dominions? During her
reign tiny little Britain became the most powerful country in the world, with the
largest empire that had ever existed, ruling a quarter of the world's
population. How crazy is that! And how politically
incorrect now!
Victoria was the only child of Prince Edward (Duke of Kent) and Princess Victoria Mary Louisa of Saxe-Coburg. Queen Victoria was born on the 24 May in 1819 at Kensington Palace, London. Her father died eight months after she was born so she never knew him. Victoria was christened 'Alexandrina Victoria'. However, from birth she was formally addressed as Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria of Kent. Queen Victoria's reign spanned sixty four years, from 1837 - 1901. She is the longest reigning monarch in our UK history. She reigned for exactly 63 years, seven months, and two days (June 20, 1837 to January 22, 1901). Queen Victoria was only 18 when she came to the throne and she had lot's to learn but Victoria never went to school. She was taught at home by special tutors. At the age of 21, Queen Victoria married her cousin, Albert of Saxe-Coburg, a handsome German Prince. They married on the 10th February 1840 at the Chapel Royal in St. James's Palace. Victoria had nine children though three died before her which must have been heartbreaking. Also her handsome husband died far too young which led Victoria into a ten-year spell of morning. During that period it was fashionable to wear black like the Queen. It was a severe period for costume. Queen Victoria had 40 grand-children and 37 great-grandchildren while she was alive. Today her relatives are scattered all over the world and many of her children married into the other royal families of Europe. Queen Victoria died on 22 January, 1901 at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. She was 81. She is buried in a mausoleum at Frogmore, Windsor. She was survived by six children, 40 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren, including four future sovereigns of England: Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII (who abdicated) and George VI. Although dozens of machines had royal names and connotations during her amazing reign she only approved of one sewing machine company of which I am aware. That company was James Galloway Weir. in 1891. Click on the link to see their full history. However, many companies had names on their sewing machines such as The Royal made by the The Royal Sewing Machine Company of Small Heath, Birmingham, England. The Jones Sewing Machine Company had Royal approval from the future Queen Alexandra. Also over the decades many have used the name Victoria on their sewing machines. The machines come from all over the world but have nothing to do with Queen Victoria.
Also, many companies sent her sewing machines in the hope that they would get Royal Approval or even a positive letter. Most were sent back unopened to their suppliers. One unique sewing machine is in the Wimbledon Sewing Machine collection owned by my old friend Ray Rushton. I remember the first time he showed me his sewing machine with the Royal Connection in his amazing collection. He had just won it at auction for around £23,500. The most ever paid for a sewing machine. I looked on in awe at the beauty and all the extra work that had gone into such a special machine right down to glass engraving. Did Victoria ever see it? I bet good money she did.
The machine was made by Pollack & Schmidt at their American Sewing Machine Factory in Hamburg. I am not sure if there was a connection with Taylor Sewing Machines. P&S made Wheeler & Wilson clones including the one that Ray bought from Christies in London in 1997. He paid the highest price ever paid for a sewing machine to date. It was made for the daughter of Queen Victoria, Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa, Vicky and given to her housekeeper come nanny, nurse and bottle washer on her retirement. Another crafty try by Singers in 1922. One of the first electric domestic sewing machines was sent to Queen Mary. Queen Mary sent a polite reply... It affords me great pleasure to receive this new electrically driven sewing machine which you have so kindly brought me for a wedding present. I thank you sincerely for this very useful gift, and highly appreciate the good wishes you express for my future happiness, Mary, Buckingham Palace. The good news was plastered over the front windows of every Singer Sewing machine shop up and down the country. Another advertising success for Singers but was it Royal Approval?
In all my research the only sewing machine company to actually receive
proper Royal Approval from Queen Victoria was
James Weir sewing machines
which, after 1890, were marked with
her royal approval.Their
literature from 1891 proudly states:
In 1897 Singers, not to be outdone, Singers produced a unique model to mark Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. She had reigned for 60 years and was still going strong. The Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Singer was made in limited numbers, maybe even as low as 100.
Eric Carter, a colleague of mine and a keen collector who ran his sewing machine business in Paignton, Devon, where Isaac Singer bit the dust, had more to add. Eric told me that only a handful of these machines were ever made, in fact only 100 had the picture of Queen Victoria on the bed of the machine. That makes these machines super-rare. I have only seen two in a lifetime of collecting and one was in such poor condition it could have been my granny that I was looking at! If you ever come across a Queen Victoria sewing machine please do let me know I would love to add a picture to my site. 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.
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Well that's it, I do hope you enjoyed my work.
I have spent a lifetime collecting, researching and writing these pages and I love to hear from
people so drop me a line and let me know what you thought:
alexsussex@aol.com.
Also if you have any information to add I would love to put it on my
site.
Fancy a funny read: Ena Wilf & The One-Armed Machinist
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CONTACT: alexsussex@aol.com Copyright © |
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