The Harris Hand Sewing Machine

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1914

Subcollections

Overview

THE HARRIS
SERIAL NO 84098T
W.J.Harris was a company based in London which distributed sewing machines to retailers. They did not produce any sewing machines on their own account, but badged machines made by many other makers with the Harris name.

They sold machines made by American and European companies, the company was founded in the 1870s and continued until 1960.

This machine has been researched and is believed to have been made by Stoewer (Germany).

Historical information

W.J. Harris was a London-based company, founded in the 1870s and operating until 1960, that functioned primarily as a distributor rather than a manufacturer of sewing machines. They sourced machines from various American and European makers, branding them as "The Harris". Many of their hand-cranked machines were manufactured by German firms like Stoewer.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2020.897

Item type

Themes

Material

Contextual information

Although the sewing machines they sold were 'badged' as Harris machines, they didn't actually make any of the sewing machines themselves. When they proudly advertised themselves as 'manufacturers', this actually applied to their other products, and not to the sewing machines they sold. Harris sewing machines were bought in from a variety of manufacturers included Stoewer, Haid & Neu, New Home,Eldredge/National, Jones etc.

Keywords

Sewing Machines

Place made

England, United Kingdom

Year

1914

Primary significance criteria

Social or spiritual significance

Last modified

Tuesday, 10 February, 2026

Completeness

100