Question:
I just dragged up from the basement a treadle sewing machine that apparently belonged to my MIL. The wood cabinet is in bad shape and I was thinking of just dragging it to the curb and putting a "FREE" sign on in hoping that someone would haul it away. What stopped me was that the sewing machine itself (which is not even connected to the cabinet anymore) is the brand "Lorain" which happens to be where we live. I googled "Lorain sewing machine" to see if the machine does inded have any ties to our city and couldn't find anything. Does anyone have any kind of info on sewing machine makers? Thanks!
Answer:
Tanya,
I'm heading to bed with an bursae infection...
but I think there's a lot of info at the Smithsonian site about old sewing machines. Or maybe HCQ would have some info. My brain is going out of commission for a bit here...
Elaine
Answer:
Interesting! It appears the A.G. Mason Sewing Machine Company, located in Cleveland, made a zillion machines and called them by a zillion badge names as well! Guess they wanted your $ whether you knew they were getting it or not! So much for avoiding the brand after a bad experience. (Not to imply they were bad.) I didn't research much further, but you'll have better luck finding info using A.G. Mason I presume....
http://www.needlebar.com/makers/usa/agmason/
Answer:
Thanks fraidycat! How interesting. Lorain is only about 30 miles west of Cleveland so I wonder if that factored in AG Mason's decision to use that name? The company went out of business in 1916 which is years before my in-laws moved to Ohio. The machine came out of their house but quite frankly my MIL did not appear to be the type of woman who had ever sewn a single stitch in her life so I guess it just ended up in their basement at some point. If it was actually affiliated with our town in some way I was going to see if the historical society wanted it.
Feel better Elaine! Thanks for the suggestions.
Answer:
Originally Posted by mapledr Lorain is only about 30 miles west of Cleveland so I wonder if that factored in AG Mason's decision to use that name? The company went out of business in 1916 .... If it was actually affiliated with our town in some way I was going to see if the historical society wanted it. I think I would ask them if they are interested. Who knows...maybe they'll figure out a connection.
Answer:
Well, I guess we will be keeping the sewing machine after all. DH asked why the machine was in the garage and I told him about my plan to ask the historical society if they would be interested in it. He swears he remembers his Mom using the machine and apparently he would rather we keep it. So we will haul it to the new old house where it will sit in the basement for the next 20 years like it did at this house. I don't blame him...I would want to keep it if it was my Mom's.
Answer:

Well, at least that's one project you won't have to finish BEFORE you move!
Elaine