Singer New Family Sewing Machine

Object/Artifact

-

Windham Textile and History Museum

Singer New Family Sewing Machine, Side View.: The image depicts an antique sewing machine with a sturdy, cast iron build, showcasing intricate and ornate metalwork details typical of vintage designs, resting on a wooden table surface in front of a window with horizontal blinds, giving the scene an air of nostalgia, history, and craftsmanship; the machine's wheel, lever, and needle assembly are visible, indicating its functionality for sewing tasks, while the background features soft, natural light streaming through the blinds, adding a warm and inviting atmosphere, highlighting the bygone era.
Singer New Family Sewing Machine, Side View.

The image depicts an antique sewing machine with a sturdy, cast iron build, showcasing intricate and ornate metalwork details typical of vintage designs, resting on a wooden table surface in front of a window with horizontal blinds, giving the scene an air of nostalgia, history, and craftsmanship; the machine's wheel, lever, and needle assembly are visible, indicating its functionality for sewing tasks, while the background features soft, natural light streaming through the blinds, adding a warm and inviting atmosphere, highlighting the bygone era.

Name/Title

Singer New Family Sewing Machine

Entry/Object ID

2026.22.01

Description

Singer sewing machine and cabinet. Serial # 440656. Class/model # 341658. Class/model New Family. Fiddle-shaped base. Black enamel paint. No gold leafing or other decoration. Treadle machine set into plain wooden cabinet. Based on serial number, 47,000 of these machines were alotted in 1870, made at the Singer factory at Mott Street in New York City. One drawer in cabinet, contains leather belt.

Use

Home sewing machine.

Context

According to Carter Bays, "The Encyclopedia of Early American & Antique Sewing Machines: Identification and Values" (Paducah, KY: Collector Books, 2007), 3rd ed., p. 210, "In 1865 [Singer] introduced the New Family machine (figures 2-274 and 2-275). The Singer New Family was the most widely copied machine of its day. Millions of similar machines were made by several other manufacturers from 1875 to about 1920. The machines was an enormous success for the Singer company, which sold more than 4,000,000 before changing the model in the early 1880s. All models sew a shuttle lockstitch, but there were a wide variety of cabinet choices for the customer, including hand-operated versions. The fanciest styles were full cabinet models utilizing heads covered with mother-of-pearl."

Collection

General Collection

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Singer Sewing Machine Company

Date made

circa 1870

Time Period

19th Century

Place

City

New York, NY

Region

Northeast

Continent

North America

Edition

New Family

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription plate

Location

Side of machine

Transcription

The Singer Mfg. Co. N.Y. Trade Mark

Language

English

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Machine, Sewing

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Machine, Needlework

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Needleworking Equipment

Nomenclature Class

Textileworking T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 04: Tools & Equipment for Materials

Material

Wood, Ferrous metal

Color

Black

Location

Location

Exhibit Room

Stairwell Gallery

* Untyped Location

Main Museum Building

Category

Exhibit

Date

April 19, 2026

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Date Examined

Apr 19, 2026

Examined By

Eves, Jamie

Provenance

Provenance Detail

According to donor, the machine was found in his mother's cellar after her death. It had been given to her by her brother (donor's uncle).

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

April 19, 2026

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

April 19, 2026