This week we feature another participant in one of the many Eight Hour Demonstration parades held in Bathurst in the early 1900s. This week’s photo is the Singer sewing machine entry drawn by a sturdy horse. There are two Singer sewing machines as well as examples of sewing possible on the machines, the latter displayed around the sides. Five men are accompanying the entry, two of whom are on the seat at the front of the wagon. The presentation is mounted on Bathurst carrier Mr G. Winslett’s wagon (hired for the day, one assumes).
The Singer Manufacturing Company established its head office for the Western District in Howick Street in Bathurst prior to 1899. In September 1901, the office donated a handsome Singer sewing machine, valued at £14 14s, to the Cowra Show Society as the prize for its guessing competition.
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Around the time this photo was taken, possibly 1912, the company placed a removal notice stating that the Singer Sewing Machine Company had opened in new premises in Keppel Street, next to Hodge’s undertaking establishment.
Few readers would argue about the sewing machine being one of the most useful possessions ever invented. It was probably one of the most important machines ever devised. What is considered to be the first real sewing machine was invented by Englishman Thomas Saint, though his design had to be modified to operate.
Inventors from Germany, France, Austria, America, England and Scotland tried their own ideas in the early 1800s. Some machines worked, but they usually had severe drawbacks. While most were made from metal, one French machine was made from timber.
An Englishman named John Fisher developed a sewing machine in 1844 and although he originally intended it to be used for making lace, it could sew short pieces of cloth. It was, however, a working sewing machine. Not long after, American farmer Elias Howe showed his design prototype. In 1845, he tried to sell his design to the local Massachusetts tailors.
Despite the machine being a success, it seemed that the hand sewers didn’t want to lose their jobs. An English businessman who made corsets paired up with Elias to try to promote the idea in Britain, but it wasn’t successful. The partnership didn’t work and Elias returned to America.
Returning home, he found that his sewing machine idea had been accepted by the public. As well, numerous companies were manufacturing their own sewing machines, including Singer. As the companies were breaching Elias’s patents, much litigation followed. The designer was successful.
As it turned out, Singer was basically a manufacturer, though it did some research, beginning with a patent in 1851 for “Improvements in Sewing Machines”. What made the company successful was its sales methods – it offered a hire-purchase method and used hard-hitting sales and advertising tactics.
At one time, Singer employed 53,000 people and used 4000 vehicles and 6000 horses. In manufacturing alone, work was found for 12,000 people.
The company opened offices around Australia and in its best year had 40,000 Singer machines, each marked with its own consecutive number, leased to people all over Australasia. With the large number of Singer sewing machines sold, the company was able to set up classes in the Bathurst Technical College in William Street, supplying all the sewing machines and paying the teacher.
Most pupils would then want their own sewing machines at home. They had learnt on a Singer and it was natural that the young ladies would want their own Singer.
The Singer company supported the annual Bathurst Show for many years, often donating a Singer sewing machine as a grand prize. In 1899, it gave both a machine and £25 in cash for the section. Mr R.L. Gilmour presented the prizes, accompanied by Mr Rutherford and Mr Suttor.
