Name: London Sewing Machine Museum
Rating: 5.0

London Sewing Machine Museum

London Sewing Machine Museum, Balham High Road, London, UK

1-90 Years

Website

Contact

Message

Description

This museum charts the history of the sewing machine from 1850 to 1950. Among more than 600 machines on display are the first Singer machine, a unique machine originally owned by Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, and a patent machine sent from America for the Great Exhibition.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Steps with handrails to entrance

What to see

There are around 700 in total exhibited in glass cabinets, the focus being on domestic sewing machines dating from 1829-1885 and industrial sewing machines made between 1850-1950. The centrepiece of the display is the sewing machine made for Queen Victoria's oldest daughter on the occasion of her wedding, while the oldest machine on show is a rare Thimmonier wooden sewing machine, treadle operated and still in working order.
Built up over 40 years by one man, Ray Rushton, the collection is one of the most extensive and best of its kind in the world and is something of a mecca for sewing enthusiasts, as well as sewing machine collectors.

Website

Contact