When I visited Tooting Bec for my 'Above the Underground' challenge, I came across this museum. I'd never heard of a sewing machine museum before. Anyway it is only open for a couple of hours on the first Saturday of the month. So last Saturday as I was in the area I decided to have a look.
It turned out to be far more interesting than I expected.
There were loads of machines everywhere. All neatly labelled. Many types I recognised from my youth but others I wouldn't even know they were sewing machines.
Ruston had started a small business in the 1900s repairing and selling sewing machines. He kept any unusual machines or ones that had an interesting story. Eventually these machines were put on display in his shop. This is the original frontage of his first shop
This one was owned by Queen Victoria. I doubt she ever used it except as a plaything.
It is this museum that has provided sewing machines for historical dramas and films including Downton Abbey. It also sourced all the sewing machines for the 'All Saints' shop window displays. It is free to visit the museum and there is a very interesting talk and tour included.
Those machines are works of art.
ReplyDeleteThe figurines look so aged and cultural
ReplyDeleteI can remember plenty of treadle sewing machines around when I was young but I never saw any family member ever use one. It was a bit of fun to sit there without the machine engaged and see how fast you could make the big wheel spin. It's a wonder we never lost a finger.
ReplyDeleteAn important museum.
ReplyDeleteI have fond memories of my mum sitting at her Singer sewing machine.
All the best Jan
My grandma had an old Singer machine ! I landed up in a museum for old irons ! Imagine how interesting for somebody who never irons ! The old sewing machines are nice to look at, but I am not inspired at all !
ReplyDeleteNormally I would not be very interested in sewing machines, but my grandfather's story made the topic very personal. My grandfather's parents were both killed in the Ukrainian pogroms, leaving the youngest 5 children without care givers. My grandfather (11) and his younger brother (9) were given jobs in a Singer Sewing Factory, together working on one machine. Eventually Mrs Singer, mother of 10 children of her own, took my two relatives into her home as foster children. Although they never finished primary school, they were grateful for the rest of their lives to the Singer family and company.
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing story. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteWho would think there were so many different makes of sewing machine
ReplyDeleteSome of those look very complicated contraptions! I wouldn't know where to start on them. But good that their history is being preserved.
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