Tabitha Toy Sewing Machine
This
sheet brass travel / toy sewing machine dates from the late 1800's and was
manufactured in America by the Manhattan Brass Co. of New York. It
was patented in 1888 by a T. H. Martin. The patent # is 379,175. There are several different variations that can be found, and
examples marked
"Pearl" are very similar. There is one pictured in Glenda Thomas'
book in its original box, and it mentions and pictures other differently marked versions that can be found. It is a pretty rare machine,
and not one that turns up all that often. Cute!!
IOWA-TAB-1
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Click for pic IOWA-TAB-1 Good+. . . . . . . $795.00 Order
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Click for pic IOWA-TAB-1 Good+. . . . . . . . $695.00 Order
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IOWA-MOLDACOT-1 Good+ . . . . . . . $395.00
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Click for pic IOWA-MOLDACOT-BOX-2 Fine . . . . . . . $575.00 Order
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Click for pic IOWA-IDEAL-1 Good+ . . . . . . . $275.00
"La Queen"
Toy / Travel Sewing Machine
This
interesting looking miniature sewing machine is
marked La Queen Brevete S. G. D. G. on the sew plate. That inscription
basically means it is patented, and "S.G.D.G." (Sans Garantie
Du Gouvernement) is a disclaimer required by the government of France stating
that it does not guarantee enforcement of the claimed patent.
The base and
body appear to be a combination of stamped, bent and formed steel or brass.
It is a great looking design, but of dubious functionality.
References I have seen attribute the inventor to be the same S. A. Rosenthal
of Berlin who also holds the American patent for the Moldacot sewing machine,
a well known and much more commonly seen machine. It is
not known how many of these were produced or made it to the US. One
informational site I read claimed they were very rare. I could not
find any reference to this machine having an American patent. Very
unusual, and a must for any advanced collection.
"The
Pearl"
Toy / Travel Sewing Machine
The Pearl is very similar to the Tabitha, and Bob
Campbell notes they were probably made by the same company and fell under
the same patent. The pearl is a slightly heavier duty model with cast
brass parts instead of all stamped. It is a rare and hard to find
machine.
Moldacot Travel
Size Sewing Machine
The Moldacot was patented in America in 1885 by a
Sally Rosenthal who was from
Germany. A second patent was applied for
and granted in 1888 for improvements including the crank wheel this one
sports. Most of these unusual sewing machines were made in either
Germany or England. Earlier versions are operated by pushing on the
spring loaded plunger. They are well engineered and nicely made, but
almost universally panned as working machines. When first introduced
they were well advertised and promoted, but the firm ran into difficulties
and was out of business in just a few short years. It is unclear
exactly how many were actually produced against the claims the manufacturer
made in their promotional literature.
Moldacot Travel
Size Sewing Machine
The Moldacot was patented in America in 1885 by a
Sally Rosenthal who was from
Germany. A second patent was applied for
and granted in 1888 for improvements including the crank wheel this one
early model does not have. Most of these unusual sewing machines were made in either
Germany or England. This is an English model and was operated by pushing on the
spring loaded plunger. They are well engineered and nicely made, but
almost universally panned as working machines. When first introduced
they were well advertised and promoted, but the firm ran into difficulties
and was out of business in just a few short years. It is unclear
exactly how many were actually produced against the claims the manufacturer
made in their promotional literature. I have seen them over the
years in a few different colored boxes. This red version is marked on
the end Horrockses Calicoes are the best for Sewing Machines. I
suppose this was a distributer from the period that may have had the boxes
made up for them. The graphic on the lid of the machine is in fine
condition. A nice machine, ready forthe collection.
Ideal Sewing Machine
The Ideal sewing machine was patented in England in 1910.
There is some question as to when it was actually produced or marketed after that, but the
company disappeared in 1922 and it is not a commonly found machine.
When first introduced they were well advertised
and promoted and examples of those ads can be found elsewhere on the
internet.
This example is in fine condition with nearly all of it original nickel
plating intact. There is the name and other info stamped into the stitch
plate. The outer dome lid has been repainted, but the original
label in the center remains. It looks great.
