Object number
81/26/1-2
Title
Lead,
Collection
Exhibition
Creator
Description
A 'Lead' child's sewing machine with a bentwood case. The miniature sewing machine makes a single thread chain stitch. The metal machine sits on a wooden base. The machine was manufactured in Japan. Part of the Barnett Collection (81/25-81/143) which illustrates the history of the sewing machine. Nothing more is known of this machine's specific history.
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.
Physical description
1 sewing machine [81/26/1] and box [81/26/2]: metal, wood
Label Text
<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. // ... Second Shelf // … 81/26 Lead, Child's machine, single thread chain stitch</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: Sewing Machine // Accession number: 81/26 // Classification: // Negative number: // Acquisition method: // Acquired from, date: Barnett Collection // Store: // Condition: // Recorder, date: DJE, 20.7.81 // Description: 'Lead Trade Mark Foreign' with wooden case// Dimensions: // Associated information: // References: Barnett Catalogue No. 46', Citation in publication [E.J. Barnett, ‘Sewing machines: a catalogue of the Barnett collection’ ([Reading]: University of Reading, 1982] – '46 // Lead child's machine // This makes a single thread chain-stitch similar to the other child's machines.' (p.34), Barnett Collection Review (2011) - 'The Barnett collection catalogue contains all relevant information.', MERL Miscellaneous note: According to the Singer Sewing Information website 'The Lead Mk1 miniature toy sewing machine was a Singer 20 clone made in Japan between April 1933 and August 1941. For a time it was also branded as an ‘All Lead’. In 1931 the company was known as All Lead Mishin Seisakusho but in 1933 it was renamed Nakajima All Mishin Seizosho.' [http://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/toys/lead/ accessed 2018-01-24]
Production place
Japan
Production date
1933 - 1941
Object name
Material
Dimensions
- Length 243 mm
- Width 165 mm
- Height 210 mm
Associated subject