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Subiaco Museum > Records

SEWING MACHINE: 'WERTHEIM' HAND OPERATED

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c. 1870

Subcollections

Museum Treasures

Overview

Squat 4 legged arabesque-designed base above which is a curved arm detailed in gold leaf arabesque design, with 2 cotton reel holders. The curved-spoked cogged operating wheel on right hand side has wooden bulbous-shaped knob handle. 'Wertheim' brass plaque is inlaid within base of machine.
Stamped on back section of bobbin plate: 'D.N.M.F/J.W./F.R.7M/patent'. Stamped on front section of bobbin plate is 'Hugo Wertheim/Melbourne' within on oval. Round gold markers mark stamp shows a dwarf with a pick on a rock with a banner across the top.

Historical information

Serial number of machine is DPP15549.
This machine was given to Mr Pretl by one of his customers for his daughter to play with. Mr Pretl was an Interior Decorator around 1950. Mr and Mrs Pretl cannot remember the customer's name. The customer was Hungarian by birth and had been given the machine by a German friend. In 1984 John Olive tried to obtain accurate information on this object but as all Wertheim's records were destroyed in Germany during World War II this is not possible.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-43-1984.230

Item type

Inscriptions and markings

Hugo Wertheim Melbourne
Serial Number DPP15549

Keywords

Museum Treasure

Year

Statement of significance

Technology. Example of hand operated sewing machine c1870

Public Location

DISP.MUSEUM.HALL

Subiaco Museum

Subiaco Museum

Organisation Details
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