ISMACS International
International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society
(Picture and Text Courtesy of
Dorothy Brumleve)
The first Singer machine specially designed for family sewing was commonly known as "the Turtle Back" and was produced in 1856. It had a vibrating overhanging shaft, for actuating the needle-bar, and a reciprocating shuttle. Motion was given to the mechanism from the rocking treadle through a driving wheel carrying a broad leather belt capable of carrying much greater power than was required for its purpose.
ISMACS is an organization totally independent of all sewing-machine manufacturers, past or present and is not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in these pages. Please Note: Do not contact any ISMACS official in an attempt to solicit a valuation - it is not possible other than by hands-on assessment and your request will be ignored.
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