The museum is housed with 600 of the domestic and industrial sewing machines from 1850- 1950. The collection has been collected over period of 50 years. The collection is owned by the Managing Director of the Wimbledon Sewing Machine Co Ltd, Mr Ray Rushton. Ray Rushton’s father began to sell second-hand sewing machines after the Second World War and Ray was the one who transported and renovated the machines.
The aim of the London Sewing machine museum is to show how the changes have been made to the sewing machines throughout the years.
The museum displays the sewing machine which was owned by the Queen Victorian’s eldest daughter. The sewing machine has been given as a wedding gift.
The first singer machine is also there and it is used as a room decorative item rather than a working machine. Those are still available in flea markets and antique shops.
Charlie Chaplin’s sewing machine also can be seen.
A patent machine from America sent over for the Great Exhibition is also included in the collection.
Some of the sewing machines have been hired by film makers for their movies to display the machines of particular types or periods.
The Museum is opened on the first Saturday of every month.
Price
Free to enter the museum.
Donations welcome.
Open Close Time
Open on the first Saturday of every month 2pm - 5pm.
Address
292-312 Balham High Road
London
SW17 7AA
Telephone
(0)20 8767 4724
+44 (0)20 8767 4724
