The Encyclopedia of Early American & Antique Sewing Machines: Identification & Values [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Carter Bays (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2006

Collectors are bound to love The Encyclopedia of Early American and Antique Sewing Machines, Third Edition. This brand new third edition now contains 100 new detailed photographs, bringing the total to almost 600. Most are in color, with a large number of machines that have not appeared before. Prices, text, and rarity indicators have been updated. The material on vintage sewing machines has been greatly expanded, and a new appendix with a selection of photos of vintage machines has been added. The book traces the history and development of the sewing machine industry from 1800 to after 1900. Almost all known U.S. manufacturers of sewing machines up to 1875 (and several beyond) are highlighted: Singer, Wheeler & Wilson, Shaw & Clark, Weed, Howe, and Holly, to name just a few. Do you own your great aunt's antique treadle sewing machine? This book will identify and give the history of the manufacturer. Specific information is provided on restoring antique sewing machines, and toy sewing machines are also given coverage. This title is the standard reference for early American sewing machines. 2007 values.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I was looking forward to buying and reading this book because I purchased the first two editions and thoroughly enjoyed them. Even my wife, who does not totally share my interest in sewing machines, enjoyed this book. I really liked the more detailed photographs of these early sewing machines and the abundance of color photographs were right on. Everything about this carefully researched book is first class and a great deal for the money...-James W. Slaten

About the Author

Carter Bays is an authority on early American sewing machines. He self-published his first book in 1993, then a second edition with Collector Books in 2005. He will be doing a third edition with Collector Books in 2006.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Collector Books; 3rd edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574325272
• ISBN-13: 978-1574325270
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #950,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comments on the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EARLY AMERICAN AND ANTIQUE SEWING MACHINES, October 28, 2006

By 

James W. Slaten - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Early American & Antique Sewing Machines: Identification & Values (Hardcover)

I was looking forward to buying and reading this book because I purchased the first two editions and thoroughly enjoyed them. Even my wife, who does not totally share my interest in sewing machines, enjoyed this book. I really liked the more detailed photographs of these early sewing machines and the abundance of color photographs were right on. Everything about this carefully researched book is first class and a great deal for the money. I would have enjoyed seeing more photographs of early trade literature, but I am not complaining. So, to Mr. Bays I say, "CONGRADULATIONS for writing another informative, collectable book about antique sewing machines." James W. Slaten

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stopped too soon, November 1, 2008

By 

Karen Tiede (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Early American & Antique Sewing Machines: Identification & Values (Hardcover)

Good history, great pictures, good section on care and restoration. Unfortunately for me, I have come into old sewing machines at the Singer 66 Red Eye point, and the Encyclopedia stops before it gets to those machines. The same is true for the Memphis models.

(Could be that the "100 years old = antique" rule has been applied.)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference book, October 2, 2008

By 

Mouseman (Lititz, Pa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Early American & Antique Sewing Machines: Identification & Values (Hardcover)

This is an awesome book for those with interest in early sewing machines. The photographs are first rate and the history is comprehensive and fascinating. The rating system puts all of the machines in perspective. I find myself referring to this book frequently.