Manufactured by
Singer Corporation, American, founded 1851
Belden Incorporated, American, founded 1902
Owned by
Sinclair, Clayton, American
Sinclair, Hazel, American
Subject of
Rock Rest Tourist Home, American, 1948 - 1976
Date
1921
Medium
paint on iron and wood with plastic and metal
Dimensions
H x W x D (Sewing Machine): 8 13/16 × 7 1/16 × 16 7/16 in. (22.4 × 18 × 41.8 cm)
H x W x D (Foot pedal): 1 15/16 × 3 3/8 × 6 1/8 in. (5 × 8.5 × 15.5 cm)
Description
A Singer model 66 sewing machine with a BZ 15-8 Singer motor from the Rock Rest Tourist Home. The treadle sewing machine is coated with black paint and embellished with floral, tendril, and foliate designs. Painted across the top of the arm is the name of the manufacturing company, [The Singer Manufacturing Co.], in Old English font gold text. The name, [SINGER], has also been painted in large gold text on the front side of the machine, and is capped on either side by "Red Eye" designs; a red elliptical shape framed with laurel wreaths on the top and bottom and accented green. At the top of the upright arm is a red, green, and gold tendril design that swirls around a gold star shape with five fleur-de-lis points. At the center of the upright arm, just below the stitch regulator, is an ovular brass badge attached with two small screws with the Singer shuttle, needle, and thread logo embossed on the front. Below the badge is an additional "Red Eye" design embellished below by a tendril and leaf design. The back side of the sewing machine is plainer with only the text [SINGER] across the arm and accented on one side with a "Red Eye" design. The balance wheel is silver with black spokes and a gold center plate. Attached to the needle end of the sewing machine arm is a silver tone face plate ornately etched with a vignette fleur-de-lis and tendril design. On the machine’s bed is a slide plate with one squared side and a D-shaped needle plate. The bed features a large roughly diamond-shaped design at the center with a gold and green cross at the center of a larger "Red Eye," inside an ornate gold frame accented with four petal flowers, leaves, and tendrils. Three edges of the bed are similarly embellished with the "Red Eye" design and gold bars, tendrils, and flowers. On the bed, just below the front of the vertical arm, is a brass plate with a stamped serial number that reads [G8539711]. Behind the balance wheel is a black rubber belt, stamped [SIMANCO 193066], attached to the motor on the back of the machine. On the front of the motor is a black plate with silver text and a large red and silver S-shaped Singer logo at the center. The text at the top of the plate reads [SINGER]. Text below on the left side reads [SEWING / CAT. BZ 15-8 / S. S. AU 52-38-24 / THE SINGER MFG. CO. / ELIZABETHPORT, N.J. / SIMANCO]. Text below on the right side reads [110-120 VOLTS / 0.53 AMP. / 25-75 CYC. & D.C. / MADE IN U.S.A.]. Vertical text along the right side reads [G 1602-20]. Attached to the motor is a black power cord for a black pedal. On the bottom of the pedal is another black plate with silver text and a large red and silver S-shaped Singer logo at the center. The text at the top of the plate reads [SINGER / SEWING MOTOR CONTROLLER]. Text below on the left side reads [VOLTS / 95-145 / AMPERES / 0.7 / PART NO: 196131]. Text below on the right side reads [THE SINGER MFG. CO. / ELIZABETHPORT, NEW JERSEY / SIMANCO / MADE IN U.S.A.]. Vertical text along the right side reads [287-48]. There is a small, black plastic Singer lamp with cord with a Belden plug attached to the machine above the motor.
Place collected
Kittery, York County, Maine, United States, North and Central America
Place made
Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
The Rock Rest Tourist Home Collection
Classification
Tools and Equipment
Type
motors
sewing machines (equipment)
Topic
Amusements
Black Enterprise
Black interiors
Business
Recreation
Segregation
Travel
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, Inc.
Object number
2011.12.18.1
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5185e255b-5ae9-41f2-b5b4-c6d567aa9386

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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