Name/Title
Standard Sewing MachineEntry/Object ID
2023.19.1Description
Standard brand treadle sewing machine in cabinet, c. 1905. The Standard Sewing Machine Company was founded in 1884 and located in Cleveland, OH. It was one of the many sewing machine companies founded after the dissolution of the Sewing Machine Combination, a patent pool and trust created by the Howe, Singer, Wheeler & Wilson, and Grover & Baker companies and based on the Elias Howe patent. See https://millmuseum.org/sewing-revolution/ for more information about the Combine. Standard's most popular model was the Standard Rotary, which was manufactured relative unchanged from the 1880s into the 1910s. This particular model carries patent dates through 1904. (Standard also made the Minnesota "L" and Kenmore sewing machines, the latter for Sears Roebuck.) Standard was bought by the Osaan Company in 1929, and later acquired by Singer in the 1930s. The sewing machine is a treadle-only machine; there is no motor.
This machine once belonged to Caroline Murphy of New Milford, CT. She used it to sew clothing for her family, including her son, Allen Murphy. Caroline Johannah Sauck Murphy was born 9 Sep. 1900 (one source) or c. 1901 (1930 U.S. Census) in New Milford and died in 1986. Her parents were Robert H. Sauck and Johannah Hansen Sauck. In 1900 Robert Sauck was a tobacco sorter who rented his home in New Milford. He migrated to the United States in 1880 from German Poland. Caroline was one of six children. Robert married Johannah (or Hannah) Hansen, who had migrated to the United States from Denmark or Sweden. Caroline married Stanley C. Murphy c. 1928, and their only child, Allen (or Allan), was born c. 1930. The 1930 U.S. Census shows them living in New Milford Village in a home they rented. They owned a radio. Stanley was born c. 1902. He was born in Connecticut, as was his father. Stanley's mother had been born in Germany. Stanley worked as a house painter for many years. Stanley appears in the 1910 census as a child living with his parents Howard and Carrie in New Milford. Howard was a house carpenter who rented his home. In 1930, Caroline was a stay-at-home housewife and mother, but in 1940 she was employed as a machine operator in a bleachery. Caroline's father had been born in Germany and her mother in Denmark. Caroline passed the sewing machine on to her daughter-in-law, and eventually it become the property of Caroline's great granddaughter, Naomi Murphy of Vernon, CT. Because the sewing machine appears to have been manufactured c. 1905, it is clear that Caroline acquired it used, perhaps from her own mother Johannah, who was a young housewife in New Milford in 1905.Use
Sewing at home for domestic use.Context
The dissolution of the Sewing Machine Combine and the subsequent creation of many small sewing machine companies led to a drop in prices. Where once only middle class families could afford home sewing machines, by the beginning of the 20th century, many working class families owned them as well. The Murphys and Saucks were definitely working class in the early 20th century, although Robert Sauck and Stanley Murphy were skilled workers who at least sometimes made enough money to enable their wives to stay at home. While Standard sewing machines were more expensive than Singers (as a big corporation, Singer could afford to undercut its competitors -- or, eventually, buy them out), its prices would have been in the range of skilled workers, especially if the machine had been purchased used. Standard's advertisements acknowledged that its prices were higher than some other companies, but claimed to really be "the cheapest" because its machines were better built.Collection
Sewing Machine CollectionMade/Created
Manufacturer
Standard Sewing Machine Co.Date made
circa 1905Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
City
Cleveland, OHRegion
NortheastContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Machine, SewingNomenclature Primary Object Term
Machine, NeedleworkNomenclature Sub-Class
Needleworking EquipmentNomenclature Class
Textileworking T&ENomenclature Category
Category 04: Tools & Equipment for MaterialsLocation
Location
Room
Dugan Mill Factory Floor ExhibitBuilding
Duagn BuildingCategory
TemporaryDate
September 17, 2023Provenance
Provenance Detail
This machine once belonged to Caroline Murphy of New Milford, CT. She used it to sew clothing for her family, including her son, Allen Murphy. Caroline Johannah Sauck Murphy was born 9 Sep. 1900 (one source) or c. 1901 (1930 U.S. Census) in New Milford and died in 1986. Her parents were Robert H. Sauck and Johannah Hansen Sauck. In 1900 Robert Sauck was a tobacco sorter who rented his home in New Milford. He migrated to the United States in 1880 from German Poland. Caroline was one of six children. Robert married Johannah (or Hannah) Hansen, who had migrated to the United States from Denmark or Sweden. Caroline married Stanley C. Murphy c. 1928, and their only child, Allen (or Allan), was born c. 1930. The 1930 U.S. Census shows them living in New Milford Village in a home they rented. They owned a radio. Stanley was born c. 1902. He was born in Connecticut, as was his father. Stanley's mother had been born in Germany. Stanley worked as a house painter for many years. Stanley appears in the 1910 census as a child living with his parents Howard and Carrie in New Milford. Howard was a house carpenter who rented his home. In 1930, Caroline was a stay-at-home housewife and mother, but in 1940 she was employed as a machine operator in a bleachery. Caroline's father had been born in Germany and her mother in Denmark. Caroline passed the sewing machine on to her daughter-in-law, and eventually it become the property of Caroline's great granddaughter, Naomi Murphy of Vernon, CT. Because the sewing machine appears to have been manufactured c. 1905, it is clear that Caroline acquired it used, perhaps from her own mother Johannah, who was a young housewife in New Milford in 1905.Created By
historian@millmuseum.orgCreate Date
September 17, 2023Updated By
historian@millmuseum.orgUpdate Date
September 17, 2023
