Sewing machine on wood and iron stand with footrest, spool and original cover.

Singer manufactured the first reliable easy to use sewing machine with a lockstitch mechanism (bobbin) which was much easier to thread than other machines. In production from 1866 – 1906 it was the first machine in history that could sew multiple thicknesses of fabric.

Years later, once the patents ran out, nearly every manufacturer of sewing machines in the world made an identical copy to the Singer 12. It was simply the best of its kind at the time, the Apple iPhone of yesteryear.

This example is in good condition and is in working order.

SIGNIFICANCE

Sewing at home was an important skill for women all over Australia for making and repairing garments, especially for those living in remote and regional areas with no shops or merchants.

This machine was used and maintained in Victoria by the donor’s husband’s great aunts Margaret Honora Stagg and Mary Harris who were born in the 1880’s.

It is a rare in-tact example.

Object ID: WMA 1506 - Singer number 12 Sewing Machine

Grey cover with yellow outside border.  Inside are yellow flowers made of three circles (two on top, one under), a black stem with four black leaves.  Off the stem are eight smaller circles, four on each side.  The inner border consists of a yellow border with a black one within.  In the inner border is a drawing of a woman, from behind, wearing a long dress with a belt her hair in a bun.  She is hugging a boy whose face is hidden behind hers.  He is wearing shorts, and knee socks.  They are standing at the top of house outside stairs.  To the left of them is another woman, facing us, from waist up.  She is wearing a hat and long sleeves and appears to be holding a coat.  In the background is a street and two houses.  There is a a fence and stairs leading up to the front door of the house on the right.  Four windows and a door are visible.  The inside front cover has “11-3” written in pencil in the top, left corner, written over with what appears like “Teri’s” with “O/N” under it. 

The title page includes:  Christy’s Mission and Other Stories by Lena Tyack (author of ‘The Knights of Albany Cross,’ etc., second impression, R. T. S., 4, Bouverie Street, London, E. C. 4.  Opposite of it (on the left) is a color illustration of a woman, a boy, and a girl at the bottom of house stairs.  The woman is pointing up.  The caption says “’Now go to bed at once,’ said Margaret.  [See page 23.” (no right bracket) 

Twelve and three-tenths (12.3) mm wide, 18.5 mm high, 1.8 mm high.

One hundred twenty-eight (128) pages.  At the bottom of page 128 is “Printed in Great Britain by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.”

Hardcover.  No dust jacket.  Good condition.

There is no date of publication.  However, an online search resulted in 1905 from several sources.

The spine is missing the binding.  The bottom of the spine, or from another angle, the bottom left corner, of the book is chewed. 

The back cover is covered has many water spots and what looks like white paint.

Object ID: NPWHF1152 - Book - "Christy’s Mission"

Materials: paper

Dimensions: 12.3 mm wide, 18.5 mm high, 1.8 mm high

Maker: Hazell, Watson and Viney

Medical chest of metal with hinged lid. Olive green colour. Contains numerous medicines, ointments, bandages and medical equipment (such as thermometers and syringes) as well as several inventory lists from 1962-1974 and other paperwork.

Object ID: NPWHF0009 - Medical Chest

Materials: metal box & medical supplies

Dimensions: H 33 cm, W 38 cm L 41 cm

Maker: Brownbuilt

Set of 6 syringes 1 cc, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 a) 1 cc glass outer 8.5 cm L with a 10 cm blue plunger. On the end of syringe is a 1.5 cm stainless steel nozzle. Inside of nozzle has a hollow "male"connector which extends 4 mm above nozzle. Nozzle has 2 defined sections but in one entire part. Top 5 cm is slightly wider and has two 1 cm long x 2 mm wide locking grooves on each side for locking in of needle. On side of syringe is measurement numbers and lines being 0-1 cc with 1 ml increments marked and longer lines to define 5 ml increments. On the other side of line is 0-16 m with small divisions. b) 2 cc glass syringe which has a total length of barrel of 5.5 cm with a 1 cm glass tip. 3 mm in diameter opposite end has two coils of wire with twist on end. Plunger is 5 cm length inside syringe with head 1.5 cmx .5 cm deep. Syringe barrel has a line with 0-2 ml with 1.5 divisions on other side 40 cm with line divisions at ever 10 m with smaller divisions. c) 5 ml glass barrel and plunger. Barrel is 7.5 cm L x 2 cm outer diameter. 1.5 cm internal diameter with stainless steel nozzle which is 1 cm with locking grooves which are .5 cm. It has a stainless steel .5 cm wide band curving around barrel of syringe with 2 hooks onto lip for stabilization. Plunger is 8.5 cm L x 1 cm with a head 1.5 cm x .5 cm Markings 0-5 cc increments- Long marks at every cc. Small line markings at each .2 cc. d) is a 10 ml glass syringe with a barrel which is 9.5 cm with a .5 cm lip x 1.5 cm diameter. It has an attached stainless steel nozzle which is 1 cm in length with 2 locking grooves of .5 cm each. Total length of plunger is 11 cm with internal 8.5 cm. Head is 1.5 cm x 2 cm. It has a .5 cm stainless steel band around top of barrel. e) 20 cm glass syringe which has an outer barrel which is 11 cm x 2 cm with a .5 x .5 deep neck. Additional 1.5 cm x .4 cm with opening for attachment of needle. This is off-centered to one side. Plunger total length 13 cm- internal length 10 cm. Neck of 1.5 cm Head is .5 x 2.5 cm wide. f) 50 cc syringe. Outer barrel is 13 cm L x 4.5 cm D with stainless steel nozzle 1.5 cm L x 1 cm D attached. Nozzle is off centre of barrel end. Plunger is glass tube 15.5 cm L x 3 cm D. With nozzle and plunger it is 18 cm L. Barrel is marked in lines in 10 cc increments.

Object ID: NPWHF0723 a,b,c,d,e,f - Set of 6 Syringes

Materials: glass, stainless steel,

Hat pin - metal with ball at top.

Object ID: NPWHF0017 - Hat Pin

Materials: metal

Dimensions: L 9.5 cm, D of ball 8 mm

Wall hanging, ink drawing on square piece of cotton fabric of Algebuckina Bridge on the old Ghan railway line.

Object ID: NPWHF0019 - Wallhanging

Materials: ink, cotton fabric

Dimensions: H 88 cm L 90 cm

Iron-metal base blue speckled enamel body, wooden handle petrol container with knob.  Stand-flat metal petrol container - metal (tin?) painted yellow with printed instructions in black.  Pumps - brass and metal, one mottled orange, the other wooden.

Object ID: NPWHF0024 a,b,c,d,e - Iron -- Petrol, with Measuring Can and 2 Pumps

Materials: Iron metal with blue speckled enamel and wooden handle.Stand metal Can metal (tin?) Pumps one metal one wooden

Dimensions: a) H 17cm W 11 cm L 27cm b) L 19cm W 12cm H 1.5cm c) D 7cm H 12.5cm d) L 16cm D 2 cm closed e) L 19cm D 2cm (pump unable to close fully

Maker: Coleman Lamp and Stove Co. Ltd.

Breadmaker in three (3) parts, NPWHF 27a support stand, cast metal Y shaped with central hole for handle and turner, curved edges.  NPWHF 27b handle cast metal, curved, with wooden knob (paint wearing off knob).  NPWHF 27c hook, cast metal bent slightly off centre.

Object ID: NPWHF0027 a,b,c - Breadmaker

Materials: stand, cast metal, handle cast metal with wooden knob, hook cast metal.

Dimensions: 27a. stand H4-5 cm, W 17 cm, L 34 cm 27b. handle H 2-5 cm, W 12 cm, L 28 cm, 27c. hook H 3-5 cm, W 20 cm, L 34 cm

Maker: Landers, Frany and Clark

Cast iron stand, painted black with three (3) legs and decorative handle.

Object ID: NPWHF0029 - Iron Stand

Materials: cast iron painted black

Dimensions: H 4 cm, W 12 cm, L 24 cm

Maker: T Johnson

Scales NPWHF 31a with dish NPWHF 31b and six (6) cast iron weights 2 lbs NPWHF 31c, 1 lb NPWHF 31d, 8 oz NPWHF 31e, 4 oz NPWHF 31f, 2 oz NPWHF 31g, 1 oz NPWHF 31h.  The scales are of cast iron, painted enamel blue sprckled white, with a round pan for weights and a four (4) prong for dish to rest in.  The dish is made of metal, rectangular with concave edges.

Object ID: NPWHF0031 a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h - Scales with Dish and Weights

Materials: scale cast iron, painted blue enamel speckled with white, dfish is metal, weights also metal

Dimensions: 31a scales H 16-5 cm, W 9 cm, L 25 cm. 31b. dish H 6 cm, W 19 cm, L 26 cm, 31c 2 lb weight D 9 cm, H 2cm, 31d 1lb weight D 7cm, H 1-8cm, 31e 8oz weight D 5-5cm, H 1-5cm, 31f 4 oz weight D 4-5 cm, H 1-3 cm, 31g 2 oz weight D 3.5 cm, H 1 cm. 31h 1 oz weight D 3 cm, H 0-8 cm

Maker: Metters

Teapot with lid.  NPWHF 33a, teapot, is painted white enamel with blue rim and handle.  NPWHF 33b, lid, white enamel.

Object ID: NPWHF0033 a,b - Teapot and Lid

Materials: a. tin painted with white enamel with blue rim and handle b. lid white enamel.

Dimensions: NPWHF 33a, teapot H 18cm D 14cm at base NPWHF 33b. lid H 4cm D 12cm

Biscuit cutters identical in shape but of differing sizes, each made of a circular piece of corrugated tin the top edge rounded, with a semi-circular handle of a strip of flat tin.  The two (2) larger sizes (NPWHF 40a,b,) have their handles broken off.  Each cutter fits inside one another.

Object ID: NPWHF0040 a,b,c,d - Biscuit Cutters

Materials: tin, corrugated, and flat handles.

Dimensions: a, D 9 cm b, D 7 cm c, D 5.5 cm d, D 4 cm