Name/Title
Casige Toy Sewing MachineEntry/Object ID
1998.L.01Description
Toy sewing machine, Pre WWII. Black painted base pedestal with feet spread out and deep curve in the middle. Wooden handle on the turning mechanism which has curved triangles. Art Deco/Tole sled graphics in red, green and gold on black. Made of stamped metal painted and chrome finish. Raised sewing bed.
Casige Sewing Machine.
Casige was one of the great German toy makers of the 20th century although the original company had been founded some 50 years earlier. Specializing in piano locks.
The company name comes from a mixture of letters of the founder of the company, Carl Sieper( Carl Sieper of Gevenbroich, Gevelsberg) and his town of Gevelsberg, Westfalen in Germany. Ca--si--ge.
A year after Queen Victoria's death in 1901 Carl Sieper II, the grandson of the original company founder, was asked if he could supply cheap small sewing machines to schools. Carl had already seen the huge Muller toy factory and had a tour. He knew that to expand his company he needed contracts and a lucrative school contract would be a good start into the sewing business.
The first sewing machine to come off their production lines was the model No 1 in 1902 not the 0 which did not appear until around 1910.
Carl must have known that he was going to produce sewing machines before 1902 as it is impossible to set up such a business quickly. To change the factory around with the foundry and machining would have taken months if not years.
Casige produced toys from 1902 right up until 1975.
Originally Casige produced locks hence the company trademark of a great German eagle clasping a key said to be the key to their success!
Casige produced millions of machines in endless patterns and designs. https://sewalot.com/casige_sewing_machines.htm
Casige was one of the great German toy makers from the 1930s through the 1950s. After the Second World War, Casige produced toy sewing machines for Straco Toy Sewing Machine Company in England. https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/antiques/a683/casige-sewing-machine-appraisals-0607/Dimensions
Height
8-1/2 inWidth
9-1/4 inDepth
4-1/2 in
