1874 Singer 12 Sewing Machine - Technology 150 Years Ago To Now

The extent to which technology has changed and improved over the last 50 years is truly remarkable. When one compares a device or machine which was state of the art 50 years ago to now, many striking differences may be observed; so imagine a comparison between a machine built nearly 150 years ago in the 1870s, to one built in our modern age. That is precisely what I have compiled in this post. I recently bought two sewing machines here locally, the first is a circa 1874 Singer 12 Treadle Sewing Machine, and the second is a circa 2010 Dressmaker II. Of course my favorite will always be the Singer 12, I was quite impressed by the very modern design of the Dressmaker II. The biggest differences are of course the styling, with the Singer having beautiful Victorian curves and ornate casting, and the Dressmaker having sleek, modern, contemporary styling. Next is the striking size difference. This Singer 12 is operated under manual power by a large, cast iron and wood treadle table, with the machine built from thick cast iron and steel. The Dressmaker is far smaller, built of colored plastic, very light, electrically powered, and with many more features than the Singer 12. There is a trade-off, that being that the Singer was built to last for many lifetimes, still in perfect working order after nearly 150 years, yet the dressmaker is more modern and compact, and for many, easier to use. They both have their highlights, and both serve as a testament to the incredible progress of human ingenuity and technology, and its remarkable advancement which only grows more rapid as time continues. So when ever you can, it is always fun to compare the technology of then and now, a practice which is really like traveling through time!