Antique White Sewing Machine
Singer Company’s Greatest Rival: Antique White Sewing Machine
Thought there are a few information about the antique White sewing machine compared to Singer, they are a reputable sewing machine company that have helped people in their love for quilting, sewing and crafting. Second to Singer, White was a large and well know sewing machine company in the United States. But unlike their competitor, White didn’t offer as many models nor do they change them very often. Found by Thomas White, the White’s sewing machines where patronized by the people because of their superior engineering and timeless, durable sewing machines that gave Singer a run for their money.
In the 1800’s White produced one of their earliest sewing machines. It was named the New England and was sold at that time for $10. The New England was an extremely small sewing machine, measuring only a mere 6 x 9 inches. It was only until 1876 that White decided to go mainstream and compete with Singer.
White’s focus was on creating a sewing machine that can perform several functions such as tucking, cording and braiding. They also released batches of sewing machines that were protected with wood materials. And so the White Family Rotary sewing machine or FR as it is commonly called, was created. The most common White sewing machine, it is the utmost reverse of the Singer sewing machine. In Singer sewing machines, the hand wheel rotates toward you, the White rotates away from you. As for the thread, in White it rolls off the bobbin in an easy direction unlike the Singer sewing machines that cut back over a lip.
Some examples of antique White sewing machines that are of special interest are the White Peerless ¾ size hand crank, White treadles, and White Mt. Vernon. The White Peerless 3/4 hand crank is one of the beautiful VS machines that vary in tension systems and hand crank installations. The Peerless uses the very same strange bobbin with the shaft just like the VS does. White treadles are popular types of sewing machines but the most sought after is the Mission or Arts and Craft style with an FR machine inside. Another rare antique White sewing machine is that Mt. Vernon. A lovely piece of sewing machine furniture, the Mt. Vernon is an electric sewing machine with cast in decoration or an embossed FR.
Antique White sewing machines may only play second fiddle to Singer, but in their own right they have developed wonderful sewing machines that changed many people’s lives.