Posted 10 years ago
chelsearoby
(1 item)
Does anyone know what model this sewing machine is? I cannot seem to find a model number or anything about it. Thanks!
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I have one like this GrayBar and the model number on mine is 1A, if that helps. I got mine from my mother in law who got it from her mother.
This machine is a National Expert BT of a later design. National had quite a long association with Western Electric. Graybar, is the name made up from Gray & Barton, the telephone and electrical company started by Enos Barton and Elisha Gray in 1869, became Western Electric in 1872 when Western Union bought in to the company. There was a patent dispute case between Alexander Graham Bell and Western Union, which was settled in 1879, as a result Western Union agreed to cease telegraphic production, in return for a 20% share of all telephone rentals for 17 years. After Western Union subsequently got out of Western Electric, American Bell (AT&T) acquired the major share of the company in 1881 and Western Electric became AT&T’s manufacturer.
As electric home appliances became popular, around 1915, Western Electric started branding (not making) appliances such as washing machines, and sewing machines, which they sourced from leading manufacturers. In 1925 the Western Electric company separated their telegraph and electrical arms, and the electrical supply branch was named 'Graybar' in honour of founders Barton and Gray, while their telegraphic branch continued as Western Electric. In 1929 the employees of 'Graybar' then bought out their own branch of the company from Western Electric. After surviving the stock market crash in 1929, and the great depression of the 1930’s, Graybar recovered and became prosperous. In 1941, Graybar acquired the remainder of Western Electric.
The machine will have a serial number under the front bobbin slide cover. The Graybar name dates the machine to post 1925, and I would guess more towards 1940.