AMERICA’S OLDEST SE W NG MACHINE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 176, 11 July 1927, Page 4

AMERICA’S OLDEST SE W NG MACHINE.

The following extract from; an American paper is interesting;’ to read. When we think what i’n boon the sewing machine has been*' to women the world over, we can: realise what our grcat-great-graadnußthers had to contend with before such machines were introduced. No doubt there are some veary old machines even in New Zealand, brought out by our hardy piomeers, and taken out to the backblofcks.-. with anxious care. Perhaps the owners of oldl machines could communicate wiljh the “Tribune” and an idea of the oldest machine in this country couldi be arrived at. “Results just announced rof the continent-wide search of tbe 100 oldest sowing-machines in Canada and the United Stales revrlls that in this day, when a twotj ear-old automobile is considered '‘old,” thousands of women are stilfriseaving on machines that their mothers and even grand-mothers used nearly three-quarters of a century rigo. “The first successful sewingmachine was put on the market. in 1851, and the search for the, oldest machines still in use brought to light 100 machines from 68' to 74 years old. Most of these vßire still m everyday service.

During the search, which ijsas carried into every part of Canaria, letters were received from 153,8)10 owners entering machines in thebcontest. More than 100,000 of these (were at least 40 years old, but the twinning machines were all manufactured before the beginning of the Ataserican Civil War or Canadian Confederation.

MACHINE IN CRANBROfRt ,JS 73 YEARS OLD.

Letters from the winners tindluded stories of pioneer women Who* carried their machines aerpss the plains and Rocky MountaiWS when they went to make new homos—one even went around Cape Horn—stories of women who founS a way to make a living for their s children through this invention whwti came closer to their lives than 3iad any before in history, and simptta stories of family life. “Included among the 'Canadian winners were Mrs P. W.. Willis, Cranbrook, 8.C., who emtered a machine 73 years old: J.,' T. McQueen, New Glasgow, N.S-,,;and Mrs Fred Joyce, Toronto, OnL.,, whoso machines have each giwesi sixtyeight years of service, anty Mrs D. W. McCain, Humberstoiuc, Ont., who entered a machine of lithe same age- * “And so the records run of this first labour-saving device to; be introduced into the home, the. invention which effected a new epeph in the lives of women. To-day, it- is difficult to find a home thief, is not equipped with some kind mf sewingmachine. It is estimated ’that there are at present more than .23,000,000 sowing-machines in family use.’’