[nb-NO]Object number[nb-NO]
81/101
[nb-NO]Creator[nb-NO]
[nb-NO]Description[nb-NO]
This is an 'Anita B' Sewing machine manufactured by H. Grossmann. The industrial machine makes straw hats and uses a single thread chain stitch mechanism to produce a zig-zag stitch. The machine is black metal with the company initials 'HG' on the front. The serial number is 103329. The object is part of the Barnett Collection. Nothing more is known about the history of this specific machine.
Invented in the early 19th century, the sewing machine sped up the process of making clothes both domestically and commercially. Within the home, it reduced the amount of time women spent tailoring clothes for their families, enabling them to craft more garments for sale. Due to the sewing machine, the clothing industry flourished, with different fashions becoming available for the middle classes. However, workers did not see an increase in wages and they suffered in dreadful working conditions. The demand for better wages formed an important arm of the suffragette movement.
[nb-NO]Physical description[nb-NO]
1 sewing machine: metal
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>Part of the Barnett Collection of Sewing Machines // James Nutcombe Barnett was a University of Reading member of staff from 1964, working for the Department of Cybernetics and Engineering, until his death on October 4th 1978. The sewing machines were bequeathed to the university and became part of the Museum of English Rural Life collection in 1981. // The descriptions below include: manufacturer's name, model, use and when available a date. // ... Third Shelf // … 81/101 DRGM, USA, 'Anita B', zig-zag stitch possible for straw hats</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
[nb-NO]Archival history[nb-NO]
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: Sewing machine // Accession number: 81/101 // Classification: // Negative number: // Acquisition method: // Acquired from, date: Barnett Collection // Store: // Condition: // Recorder, date: JVB. 27.7.81 // Description: Anita B sewing machine DRGM USA //Dimensions: // Associated information: // References: Barnett catalogue No 63', Citation in publication [E.J. Barnett, ‘Sewing machines: a catalogue of the Barnett collection’ ([Reading]: University of Reading, 1982] – ‘63 // Anita Industrial machine // This is believed to have been used for making straw hats and uses the Willcox and Gibbs single thread chain-stitch mechanism, but it produces a zig-zag stitch.’ (pp.48), MERL Miscellaneous Note: According to the Needle Bar list of German Sewing Machine Manufacturers and Distributors H. Grossmann of Dresden made sewing machines named 'Anita B'. [http://needlebar.org/main/makers/germany/index.html accessed 2018-01-24], MERL Miscellaneous Note - Grossmann manufactured sewing machines in Germany before World War 2. Little is known about the company, as their premises was destroyed by Allied bombing in 1943. [Added by Tim Jerrome for the Barnett project, 2022]
[nb-NO]Production place[nb-NO]
Dresden
[nb-NO]Object name[nb-NO]
[nb-NO]Material[nb-NO]
[nb-NO]Dimensions[nb-NO]
- Length 240 mm
- Height 225 mm
- Width 155 mm