Even to dress your doll, you need a sewing machine, an indispensable and omnipresent tool in any family or almost, even nowadays.

Historic fascinating of the invention stammerings of which raise to Charles Frédéric Weisenthal in 1755 the settling and the uncountable perfections sees taking place in which it gave place to become this small miracle which sews and embroiders relentlessly for our biggest pleasure.

Every country can advance men, patents, models. Let us retain Thimonnier ( 1829 ), Walter Hunt ( by 1833), Elias Howe ( 1844 ), Wilson ( 1851 ) finally Singer (1852) and we shall have a small idea of the lapse of time and the ingenuity which it was necessary to give us a sewing machine, a dream!

It is evident that it was at first intended for the adults, and at the very beginning, for the military dressmakers in particular, then for the women who had then the choice among some models.

1874

So " Le journal des Demoiselles " spoke about it and praised to numerous occasions this " magnificent worker " called " l'Etoile du Nord " ( the Star of the North ) " (by Hursqvarna), then " La Silencieuse Expéditive " (Silent Fast) (by Pouillien, engineer). This delicious newspaper often mentioned it, in 1869 ( See above), then in 1870 , 1872 , 1873, 1874 and 1875 when one says it..... " The Favourite of these Ladies " sold at Mister Seeling Store.

Finally and only then, (by 1860?) it addressed to the small girls who owed learn sewing, this one being a part of an very well education with the aim of the domestic economy.

And in October, 1876, the newspaper " La poupée Modèle " speaks about it in its tour(tower), describing it so: " With this charming small sewing machine of Mr Seeling, agent of the Company Wheeler and Wilson, 70, boulevard of Sebastopol, The Favourite of the Ladies, about whom we have already spoken to you so often in these columns, anything more simple that to make at home the most beautiful suits. This small elegant woman machine in a thread works with hand or foot and execute any sorts of works. "

This announcement is restored in December, 1876, then in August, 1877, but there with a small drawing machine for small girls.

And from 1878, one finds In the Louvre, "La Favorite Enfantine " (The childish Favourite ), small sewing machine, soutacheuse, for children, adapting itself on all the tables 6,25 F.

 

<-----Then, it is in the " Bon Marché ", on 1891.

In 1893, childish sewing machine in the small stitch, one thread, 21 cms x 39 cms à 14,50 F --- >

 

 

 

And again In the Louvre in 1894-1895, Working suitcase with sewing machine.

32 cm. 10,75 F.

35 cm. 13,75 F.

38 cm. 17,50 F.

42 cm. 22,50 F.

Charming and very complete, it should satisfy the children and the teenagers.

 

 

 

The store " La Ville Saint Denis " is not out done and proposes two models in 1897-1898
<-----the one on cuddly base goes in 9,75 F-
the other smaller in 6,90 F.

Again, " Le Bon Marché ", in the counter of drapery, in 1904-1905 , 2 models : Sewing machine for child, making the small stitch, 14,50 F.
and Sewing machine for children,
6,50F.---->

And here, " Les Galeries Lafayette " strikes a big blow in 1905-1906: " Pour ma Poupée "( For my doll). Beautiful box of making, articulated baby, sewing machine, necessities of sewing and album of patterns, 45 cms, 12,25 F.

<-------Everything is there, the work-box, the machine and even the Doll! Which beautiful present!

And " Le Bon Marché " continues in 1907-1908 with 2 new references:---> Sewing machine for children. Height
12,5cm, 7,25 F Sewing machine for children. Height 10 cms, 2,75 F.

In 1910, here is the first Singer for girls of whom we found the track as well as its text of presentation below. This delicious small machine was an enormous success and if we can not find it more almost in sales or at the traders of antique toys, it is that it is affectedly preserved by its current owners.

 

 

Two small machines above are absolutely similar and date very certainly the same period. Seen side crushes and side face, one can there admire the finiton, the robustness and the beauty... The reputation of Singer was not overrated. Here is really more than a simple toy, a true small tool for a kind needlewoman !

 

In 1912, " La Samaritaine " proposes among its toys, a sewing machine with accessories, for 3,9O F, and the other one with wheel polished in gearing, for 6,5O F (Ht 16cm), 8,5O F (Ht 17 cm) and 12,5O F (Ht 2O cm) And on the eve of the war, 1913-1914 " La Ville Saint Denis ", a sewing machine for child, in box, with note and accessories, which one supposes more or less complete because matched several prices: 13,90 F, 9,90 F, 6,90 F ,3,90 F and 1,95 F.

But the war is here...

The catalogs of department stores continued to appear during this one, but no novelty, naturally, is proposed. Manufactures start again just after the Armistice.

<-----So in 1919, they are " Les Trois Quartiers " whom there take agin one, specifying " perfect walking ". For girl, price 16,50 F.
And " Le Bon Marché " resumes also its sales in 1920-1921 : Sewing machine " Perfecto ". 20 F. Another model. 18,75 F and 29,75 F------->

 

<-----" La Samaritaine "in 1921 proposes again in its catalog " Toys New Year's gifts " a sewing machine, " in decorated and nickeled metal " for 18,9O F.

The next, year ( 1922-23 ) " Le Palais de la Nouveauté ", proposes three of different dimensions, stealing multiplier, with, it is clarified, one " very good mechanism "---------->
165 mm. 22,50 F. - 205 mm. 45 F 250 mm. 79

Let us return to the " Bon Marché " in 1923-1924, for " The Small needlewoman " with sewing machine, model, tools and accessories. 40 cms. 45 F ".
This set remind the box proposed before the war by " Les Galeries Lafayette ", but the doll disappeared, replaced by a dummy. And the price climbs from 12,25 F to 45 F.

" Aux Trois quartiers ", in 1923-24, Three Sewing machines for girl are again proposed; looked manufacture, very good functioning. N ° 1 , 2 or 3:

<----------25 F, 53 F or 94 F.

And " Au Bon Marché ", next, year 1924-1925, TOY Sewing machine, three prices, so three versions more or less complete with different accessories but for the first time this small machine is qualified of " TOY " and neither " for girl ". What is not completely similar. Could one sew with or was it simply intended to furnish a room of doll  ?--------->

 

<--------In 1924/1925 " La Place Clichy " takes out the beautiful machine of cast iron, opposite to the left.

" Aux Trois Quartiers ", in 1926 , a sewing machine " Baby ", for child, in the perfect functioning is available for two different prices: 69 F and 37,50 F------->

 

 

 

" La Samaritaine " in 1930 proposes a sewing machine in cast iron enamelled for 43 F., 69 F. or 14O F., according to the size <------- which is not clarified.

-

Two years later, in 1932 , " Aux Trois Quartiers ", faithful in " Baby " propose several of them : Luxury sewing machine " Baby " with marquetry box. 175 F.,Machine without box. 90 F., 59 F., 37 F.------->

 

To the left, a half-page of advertisement for sewing machines " Baby ", in the

" Annuaire de la Chambre Syndicale des Fabricants de Jeux et Jouets" book of the Employers' federation of the Manufacturers of Games and Toys, on 1932.

<------------

" Aux Trois Quartiers ", 1933, always faithful in the mark, propose: Sewing machine " Baby ", looked mechanism 39 F, 64 F, 95 F, ----------->

Although made by the " Manufacture de Jouets Scientifiques " ( Factory of Scientific Toys ) COMBY & PANISSET, and called " Baby ", it does not seem that all the sewing machine " Baby " addressed the children only and was toys. It seems that it had it for children really some them, visible two on the advertisement, but the others addressed certainly a clientele of more warned small sewing. Their weak volume and their transportable side had certainly a big interest for the needlewomen in room and this " Baby's " name had been probably chosen because they were not cumbersome.....

Moreover that it is about " Baby ", as of " Faure ", " W.Bennet ", " Hurtu ", " Cel " or the other marksthese machines had a " toy " only the name so much they were minutely and carefully made. Mechanism and appearance were those of machines for adults.

 

<-------Still let us quote " Au Palais de la Nouveauté " 1933/34 this very complete, real machine limps with sewing, containing very numerous accessories.

 

We are there for a new turning point of the sewing machine but for adult. Indeed, in 1934 , Husqvarna launches his first electric sewing machines and from 1940 is also launched first Elna to electric command made with Establishments Tavaro.

And, now, we earth up again on second world war.

 

As regrettably! During the previous one, no novelty in this domain of the toy which lived during six long years on its stock if there was it still. But from 1949, " Le Bon Marche " takes up with machines for girls.-------->

The end of the war is going to mark the decline of the toy-machine or machine for girl "object of art". From 195O-1955, the proposed machines will be really toys: Simplification of the mechanism, utilization of tole or plastic, lively colours....

Among the last beautiful exemplaryies , let us quote this machine made in Germany, in British zone, so in the years 1950-1960. (Opposite and below)

" Baby " continues to seduce the young small sewing girls. They adopted a modern "look": lively colours, less angular forms, other materials....

<------------Years 50/60.

And then, it is the appearance of the numerous machines " Piq-Bien ". Here is that of the 1954, presented on its original box.
- -------- >

" Baby " presented in 1956 by the shop " Les Galeries "
<-----------

F.DAUZATS, from his part, manufacturer of toys in Nice, presents these three models of sewing machines " Piq-Bien " in " Nos Jouets,Nos Jeux " ( Our Toys, Our Games ), in April 1959.----------->

<----In 1960, America is not out done and made to fabrik " Brother " in Japan!

And opposite, " Piq-Bien " said " Standard "---->

<------In 196O, also, Elna proposes an elegant small machine in a box.

And in 1963, " Le Bon Marché " presents a sewing machine " Baby with " wheel ".... Good functioning " for 10 F.-------->

While in the same catalog represents a machine " Vulcan " guaranteed by Singer and working with four piles not supplied for 79 F., Change of significant price !

In the course of these numerous illustrations, we went through near century. Perenniality of this kind toy of which last beautiful and attractive presentations date the sixties and are due for the greater part to Singer and C.E.M.P.

 

 

To Singer, we know a very charming model of these years, in cast iron of aluminium, taken out in at least two complexions and presented into very beautiful limp.

The small machine appears to be a small jewel. Here is the presentation " Very beautiful Singer toy , up-market, to make as mom. Beautiful small possible realizations. Magnificent state functioning and conservation. Weight 1kg, width18,5 cm, height 18cm "

 

 

The C.E.M.P. from its part had at least three machines which we were able to list in three different boxes.

 

 

 

But 1960's sign the disappearance of sweet little neddle-women. The dolls of this time, and even now, are quite proposed with varied and important wardrobs. Besides, school program definitively turned the page "sewing". Only the magazine " Modes & Travaux  " (Fashions and Works) even proposes from time to time a pattern to dress her dolls which adult collectors anticipates to realize. This gives place as well in France as to the U.S.A. notably, to the competitions in Toy Shows, with prices, deliveries of decorations etc.... (U.F.D.C., Paris-Creation for example).

But it is very evident that these ladies execute their " masterpiece " mostly in the hand, sometimes in the machine, but with their machine, that is, a model for adults.

And then, and then there are many other machines which we found but without resources of information on their subject : Date ? Mark ? Characteristics ?.... We regrouped them in a slide show down ( only with Internet Explolrer ) :

< file://localhost/Users/helenebugatpujol/Sites/Sites-Pages/Image0.htm >

If you recognize one of it, thank you to send all the informations which you would have, to < >

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