The sewing machine of Italian production
Back to the end of 1800 the first Italian sewing machines were produced by Prinetti Stucchi &
C., established in 1874 in Milan (which later
became Stucchi & C.) and by Sobrero of Turin. It was
only after the Great War that factories for sewing machines would arise in Italy.
In 1873 however it should be noted that Italy had a sewing machine exhibited at the Vienna World Exhibition. If it was a sewing machine manufacturer or just a dealer I couldn't say it now.
By 1924, Necchi set up his first sewing machine production facility with 40 workers to produce his first model.
In 1934 the Vigorelli. The factory Fratelli Borletti who was producing instruments on board vehicles at the end of the Great War, to employ the large female workforce, in 1936 it begins to produce sewing machines. His motto is "Borletti perfect stitches".
The Rimoldi, established in 1877 in Milan, was producing machines to sew hats, gloves and furs but only in 1938 they start to produced overlock machines.
Other companies that later took part in the market were the Salmoiraghi of Milan, Visnova of Belluno .
After World War II opens a phase of great interest and produce innovative and important models that are not yet highly sought after by collectors but that it is "keep an eye" and recover when possible because we have to wait some time for entering the world of researchers and collectors of ancient things. For example, the Visetta of 1949 designed by Gio Ponti, or the model 1100/2 Borletti, Mark Zanusso, of 1956, or the beautiful Necchi Supernova, 1953, Lydia, 1955, and Mirella, 1957 by Marcello Nizzoli. And attention to one of the last produced, Logica, of 1981, designed by Giorgio Giugiaro, a must for a collection from the third millennium.
MACCHINE DA CUCIRE
Bearing the above title (which is Italian for "sewing machine", we have received a copy of a handbook written by Signor Alfredo Galassini, professor of mechanics of the Technical Institute of Torino and published by Ulrico Hoepli of Milan. It is excellently printed, consists of 250 pages and contains about 100 illustrations. Its cost, too, is moderate, "lire 2.50", say two shillings in English money.
This is, we believe, the first book on the sewing machine published in Italy, which, by the way, boasts only one sewing machine manufacturer. Signor Prinetti, of Milan.
Not that Italy is far behind other countries as regards this class of literature, as we know of no handbook to the sewing machine in other countries than England, America, France and Germany. Our own manual, that by Mr. J. W. Urquhart, was issued as far back as 1880 (*) and so many changes have occurred since then that "Sewing Machinery" is now little more than ancient history. We do not know anything of the antecedents of Signor Galassini, but judging from his little book he has not been practically engaged in the sewing machine trade, or if so has long since retired from the same. The natural result follows: the manual is very much behind the line of progress. The author appears to consider that the Wheeler & Wilson Company have not invented any machine since their No. 8 and as to Singers, well, he refers to their "Oscillator" but not to the "V.S.". Then in his chapter on two-reel machines he only mentions that of Junker & Ruh, although a number of other machines have since been patented. We observe that most of the departments in manufacturing in which the sewing machine is used, are referred to, including shoe repairing, where Bradbury's "Elastic" is described and illustrated; also sack sewing, in which Laing, of Dundee, comes in for commendation. One of the most notable features in the book is the abnormal number of errors in spelling. We never remember to have met with such gross carelessness before.
What do our readers think of such errors as this journal being called the "Sawing Machine Gazette", not to mention Kilbow, Heberhing, Wheeler and Whilson, Dunhopp, etc. Numerous statistics of the trade are appended, but they are merely guesses and not worth quoting.
The Sewing Machine Gazette and Journal of Domestic Appliances
1894
(*)
Urquhart' Sewing Machinery, was not issued as far back as 1880.
The ancient history Mr. Urquhart' Sewing Machinery a Practical Manual, contains 42 illustrations and 170 (circa) pages of descriptions; Signor Alfredo Galassini' Macchine da Cucire e da Ricamare, contains 100 figures and 230 pages about.
It should not be judged the value of a book by its size.
About the "abnormal number of errors in spelling", I agree that Signor Alfredo Galassini should have paid more attention.
ABOUT SPELLING
see the names highlighted below
(same newspaper, same year of publication)
As reproduction of Historical artifact, this work may contain errors of spelling and/or missing words and/or missing pages, poor pictures, etc.