City of Armadale - History House > Records

SEWING MACHINE - SINGER

« Prev Item Next Item »

Overview

A wooden cabinet housing a Model 66K Singer Sewing Machine. The cabinet is mounted on a cast iron stand which incorporates a treadle for powering the sewing machine. The name [SINGER] is set into the design of the cast iron stand. The cast iron stand also features metal roller feet.
The wooden cabinet is designed to allow the sewing machine to be hidden within the cabinet. A hinged wooden leaf, attached to the left of a raised wooden section of the cabinet top, swings over the the left revealing the sewing machine within the cabinet.
The front section of the raised area swings up and forward. When the sewing machine is swung up from the cabinet, the front section is then lowered again, locking the sewing machine into its working position.
The cabinet has three drawers on either side of the knee opening in a vertical alignment. The drawers are attached to the underside of the cabinet, and hooked onto the cast iron stand. These drawers feature embossed decorations on both the drawer fronts and the sides of the drawer set.
There is also a rotating pull-down drawer at the front of the cabinet which is divided into three compartments for storage of sewing accessories.
The sewing machine is a Model Number 66K heavy duty domestic sewing machine, manufactured at the Kilbowie plant in Scotland, UK, and features Lotus flower decals on the machine. The base plate of the machine features a colourful "Lotus" design, with floral designs around the edges. The needle end of the machine features a silver coloured embossed metal face plate, also featuring the Lotus design. The opposite end of the machine features a 9-spoked cast metal balance wheel.
A brass plate is riveted to the machine with [THE SINGER MANFG. CO / TRADE MARK] embossed on it. The serial number [Y6422987] is stamped onto a brass plate inset into the base of the machine.

Historical information

This sewing machine was purchased by the Western Australian Department of Education for the Armadale State School some time in the 1930s. it was one of a number of sewing machines purchased for the school and were used to teach sewing to the schools female students. The sewing machines were used at the school through to the late 1960s early 1970s.
In 1984 the sewing machines were sold via a fund-raising auction for the school when it was preparing to move from its Third Road location to its new site on Carradine Road. This machine was purchased by Jenny and Graham Hantler who's children were attending the school at this time. The sewing machine was used as a decorative piece in the Hantler's Bedfordale home for the next 38 years.
This model of Singer Sewing Machine was manufactured between 1929 and 1939 at Singers Kilbowie factory in Scotland.
'Domestic Science' or 'Home Economics' classes were primarily taught to female students to prepare them either to be 'home makers' or domestic servants. Domestic Science classes covered cooking, nutrition, hygiene, sewing, laundry, clothes making, infant care, home decoration and household management skills. In the 1960s and 70s 'domestic science' classes began to be seen as promoting sexism and inequality as it encouraged female students down a set path. School curriculum underwent considerable revision in the 1980s and 90s and 'domestic sciences' and the 'manual arts' classes became more inclusive and were re-designed with a more vocational focus. Now Early Childhood, Health and Well-being, Textiles and Fashion or Hospitality are taught instead.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-COA2022.93a

Material

Cast Iron

Wood

Inscriptions and markings

[THE SINGER MANFG. CO / TRADE MARK / Y6422987]

Keywords

HANTLER Graham Mr

SINGER SEWING MACHINE Co

GREAT BRITAIN

Armadale State School, Third Road Armadale

Armadale Primary School, Third Road Armadale

Bedfordale

HANTLER Jennifer Mrs

Statement of significance

This item is part of a collection that tells the story of going to school in the City of Armadale from the late 1800s through to modern day. The collection aims to show how these experiences have either changed or stayed the same over time. The collection is also part of a wider collection that focuses on the stories and experiences of how children have grown up in the City of Armadale.

City of Armadale - History House

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback