Historical information

Isaac Singer who founded the Singer Sewing Machine Company in 1850 did not invent the sewing machine but did design and patent excellent modifications to the accepted design. His business model made the company such a success. He launched the first popular installment payment plan for his machines. This made sewing machines affordable to the average person. Before this, only factories and companies owned sewing machines.
Sarah McLean acquired a Singer Sewing Machine in 1917 from a Singer distribution shop in Prahran on a hire purchase installment plan. This enabled her, like many housewives of the time, to more efficiently make and repair her family's clothes using a pedal machine rather than relying on laborious hand-sewing.The hire purchase booklet is a handy explainer of how Sarah (and many other women) was able to acquire her own sewing machine.Booklet donated to the Museum by one of Sarah McLean's grand-daughters, Judith Challis, so that it could be displayed alongside the sewing machine which had been previously donated by another grand-daughter, Kristy Waring.

Significance

The Singer Sewing Machine enjoyed well-deserved popularity in ordinary households across the country.

Physical description

Treadle-operated Singer sewing machine

Inscriptions & markings

Inscriptions on Sewing Machine
On top: 'The Singer Manufacturing Co.'
Front: brass plate - '15K28; oval brass plate - THE SINGER MANFC.CO'
Base: 'F7351589'
Inscription on front of booklet: '7655L/Mrs Sarah McLean/Emerald'