Object number
81/55/1-2
Collection
Creator
Description
This is a Willcox & Gibbs sewing machine, contained in a wooden box. The metal machine is painted black with gold decoration and sits on a wooden base. The machine produces a chain stitch. The machine was manufactured in the USA and the hand wheel was produced at Coalbrookdale near Telford. The object is part of the Barnett Collection. Nothing is known about the history of this specific machine.
Physical description
1 sewing machine and 1 box: metal, wood, rubber?
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: Sewing machine // Accession number: 81/55 // Classification: // Negative number: // Acquisition method: // Acquired from, date: Barnett Collection // Store: // Condition: // Recorder, date: DJE, 23.7.81 // Description: Willcox and Gibbs sewing machine company New York London Paris 'JEA Gibbs patent June 2 57 ... Under Royal Letters Patent July 4 1871. Contained in wooden box. // Dimensions: // Associated information: 'Automatic silent sewing machine' for family sewing. Business established 1859. Advantages: automatic tension, self-registering stitch indicator (showing no. of stitches to the inch), machine is noiseless. 'Special purposes:- millinery, gloves, frillings, neckwear'. This was the most popular and most reliable of the many chainstitch machines. // References: Willcox and Gibbs' booklets (3) // G Rogers Cooper, The Sewing Machine, Washington DC 1976, p123 // Barnett Catalogue No. 9.', Citation in publication [E.J. Barnett, ‘Sewing machines: a catalogue of the Barnett collection’ ([Reading]: University of Reading, 1982] – ‘9 // Willcox and Gibbs machine // The story of the invention of this popular type of chain-stitch machine is remarkable. In 1855 James Gibbs, a Virginian farmer, saw a wood-engraving of a Grover and Baker machine (no. 1 [81/73]) in a newspaper advertisement and was curious to know how it could sew. The mechanism below the table was not visible and it did not occur to Gibbs that were was an underthread. He thereupon conceived the idea of a rotating hook, which would take hold of the needle thread and manipulate it into a single thread chain-stitch. He produced a model of a machine made in accordance with his revolving hook principle, which he patented in 1857, and in partnership with Charles Willcox commenced its manufacture. The company still exists, but now makes only industrial sewing machines. The revolving hook takes the loop of thread from the needle and retains it while the cloth moves forward. As the needle descents for the second stitch, the hook again takes a loop of thread from the needle, which in being expanded tightens the previous loop, drawing it off the hook into the cloth. (pp. 6-7), Barnett Collection Review (2011) - 'This important but common domestic machine was manufactured in the USA by Wilcox and Gibbs. The hand wheel or hand crank was produced at Coalbrookdale near Telford, UK, a variation introduced for the European market. The date of production of this particular machine post-dates the 1872 introduction of automatic tension. This machine is more or less indistinguishable from 81/58.', MERL Miscellaneous Note - James Edward Allen Gibbs decided to start his own sewing machine company in the 1850s, determined to make a cheaper and more elegant machine than Singer. Gibbs lost much of his wealth in the American Civil War but his business partner, James Willcox, ensured the company’s survival. Their unique selling point was their machine’s single thread chain stitch. Henry Leland, who invented the Cadillac, worked for Willcox & Gibbs and claimed he learned many of his key skills there. [Added by Tim Jerrome for the Barnett Project, 2022], MERL Miscellaneous Note - From TR BNT P2/B232: Common attachments included the Quilter, the Gatherer, the Narrow Hemmer, The Medium Hemmer, and the Feller. The booklet strongly recommends the application of "Cosmoline" oil, which was supplied by Willcox & Gibbs, but urges users not to apply oil to the automatic tension.
Production date
1872 - 1872
Object name
Material
Dimensions
- Length 360 mm
- Depth 245 mm
- Height 300 mm
Associated subject