Sew What

As you enter the first level, you will be amid a local historic display of the local area and a display pertaining to the industrial side of Maryborough. At first we will be featuring the printing industry. After the gold rush days it was industry that kept this town alive. So here we pay tribute to the industry pioneers of this wonderful town. Printing goes as far back as 1930s in Maryborough. We are sure you will be surprised with the major part that printing played in this town's development. There is also a small display of Phelan's homes drawings. More displays in the planning include tool manufacturing, the knitting mill, railways and many more.

A tour or browse at your leisure.

  Feel free to wander through our collection and just feel the atmosphere , be amazed at the depth and scope of the display, or Judi or I will take you or your group (for no extra charge) on a guided tour. This will be a very interesting, at times funny, very informative and even quirky tour. We believe the tour will not only leave you impressed  but also will have you leaving saying "we didn't know sewing machines were so interesting". On an average a tour should take one hour.

Sew What ....A Century of Sewing Machines Display

As you enter this display you will be in the years of the 1960s, with several machines from this era - the atmosphere of the building and the display will alone create that scene. 

As you continue along the display you will be taking a step back, back and further back, Singers to the left and other brands on the right. From the 316K Singer (1960) back to the Cornflower fiddle base (1880). An amazing journey back in time. We virtually have one machine for every year,  from 1960 to 1876. Over 200 machines on display, we are sure you will be impressed.

Going from 1960 to 1950, 1940 and so on, ending up back in the 1870s. We have over 40 Singers, the rest comprise of many brands and styles from all over the globe. Years ago, sewing machines were a piece of furniture. After viewing this, we are sure, you will agree with that statement.

We believe you will marvel at the splendor, design, detail and craftsmanship that went into these magnificent machines. This display is totally privately owned, we may not know everything about the sewing machine. Give us time? Who knows? Until then, we welcome your advice.

Here are a few examples of what we have on display.

             Jones c1930, English                                           A beautiful Featherweight,  Singer 1951 with the 100 year badge                 

The world's first pocket sewing machine, this is amazing. Compare the actual size to the matchboxes.

People must have had big pockets in the 1880s! This is a must for serious collectors.          

           A German 1890s hand crank machine,                               A c1900 German treadle, this is vibrant, the decals 

          with mother of pearl inlay. Such a beauty.                                              are in fantastic condition. 

          Can anyone can help us with identifying this ?

          Our email address in on the contact page.

                       A Charles Raymond No 1, c1876 Canadian made. An exquisite machine in working order.

     

                                          
        An early Wertheim which is in beautiful condition. We are very lucky to have such a well restored exhibit.

                                               
          Welcome to our nursery - our collection of toy and miniature sewing machines 

           

         
An unusual Vulcan from England. Palitoy... You tell me who wouldn't love this? Casige, just beautiful

Vulcan toy machine Senior,1950s.  English Vulcan and Little Betty toys, c1940-50s, and a Australian Peter Pan.

              Early German toy machines c1900 (notice      A Baby, Regina, Palitoy and a Singer and a Peter Pan

             the front winder on one),                     .           A more modern Genius and an Essex at the 

Now back to the adults......

                         
               Bebarfald Bluebird, sold in Australia in the 1940s. This has a lifting device which elevates the machine when you raise the lid.

               Notice the chain across the back of the table behind the machine.

      
          This is our beloved Gritzner Selecta. Distributed by Thompson Brothers Australia. (Our home collection)
                         

              Early Ward Brothers. Imported machines for sale    A close view of Ward Brothers decal. Notice no Northern Territory or Canberra puts dating to before federation, also ANA logo.                                                                                                 

         A Ward Brothers Wardana machine in lovely condition - the map is shown in closer detail in the previous photograph. 

                   
An unusual Ward Brothers machine has a base made in Bendigo. It is believed that the company Bendigo Sewing Machines Ltd worked out of the W. Webb & Co. Flour Mill building. Commencing production in 1923, they made 1500 machines, but production only lasted 12 months. When we started researching, two machines were believed to exist, now six are known to be around. Of those six we have five in our possession, would be nice to find a few more. Finding this out blew us away, made only 70 kilometres away. Made in a flour mill and now is displayed in a flour mill - ironic ? Ward Brothers invested in the Bendigo Sewing Machines Ltd and transfers of Wardana were placed on machines. The complete treadle and machine (pictured above) are exactly the same as the other two, which are held by a historical society, and a private owner in Bendigo. We would love to hear if any more are out there, to our knowledge only six confirmed machines  and possibly two others but these are not confirmed.  

This stunning machine below is a Zundapp. Yes, you got it correct - Zundapp. This is not a motor bike but a very good sewing machine, Zundapp are better known for making motorcycles.

This deco looking machine is German made, is believed to have connection to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The story, as told  to us, was that this machine was given as a gift to an historic the family of a long term worker upon his retirement. Would love some confirmation on this story. Please feel free to tell us. We welcome any input.

 On the ground level we have working antique and vintage industrial machines for hire by the hour.

On the immediate right is a Union Special overlocker and in the middle against the back wall is a Jones HS3, ex Harrison and Smith .

In the foreground is the 132K.

29K4. 1919 and in perfect working order.         132K,this big boomer not only sounds like a jumbo jet  

                                                                        but sews perfectly.

44K having a little problem picking up stitch.        95K Industrial straight sewer - ex Maryborough  Knitting Mill.

Hmmm - wont beat me!   

A 306K, 99K, 66K and a 99K in plastic case      227P Made in Penrith, NSW, Australia - one of the few Aussie made Singers

1873 12K MOP. One very special machine.       1881 12K, a beauty,made the same year as the Mill was built.

Could look at this all day

1927 66K  this was donated as parts! Not a bad end result, for scrap.    1901 27K  Gingerbread. Beautiful display piece                                                                                                                                 

1882 IF, Cornflower Hand crank, is a delight .                              1920 127K, Purrs like a kitten . A delight.

1924 66K Redeye.  Made for the USA market                    New Home Hand Crank ....  Circa1890 . works a treat 

Two of our American participants. An 1876 Willcox and Gibbs and the White Treadle C:1885

Another of our Hew Home, American made , from L to R  1912 , 1890 then 1911. Lovely machines

Here is our latest recruit. Meet Trevor. Trevor did the restoration and we get the credit ! Bradbury 1905 English