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Posted 4 years ago
Couchca
(1 item)
I have had this machine for a few years and haven’t found much information on it. I think it is a rebrand, but not sure of the original maker. Would love to know more about it. Any help is appreciated!
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I haven't seen one of these in years and never seen the brand name before.
Hi, Couchca. :-)
I suspect your instincts about your machine being a "rebrand" are correct.
The term more generally in use for vintage machines like this is "badging":
http://needlebar.org/main/badged/index.html
The name "LA EMPERATIZ" (The Empress) suggests a company in a country where the main language is one that is Latin-based.
Google Translate suggests that it's Spanish (because French, Italian and Portuguese all return different results for "The Empress").
However, that patent information on the lid suggests a German company ("MASCHINE" being German for machine).
A Google Image search using the criteria "german humpback sewing machine" produced a hit that took me to this site (a very good resource for vintage sewing machines):
http://www.sewmuse.co.uk/german%20sewing%20machines%201.htm
This machine looks very much like yours, except for the National Sewing Machine Co. medallion:
http://www.sewmuse.co.uk/national%20express.jpg
*snip*
Guhl & Harbeck was established in 1867 in Hamburg. The company produced a wide range of sewing machines many of which were for export. The company later diversified into producing typewriters. Having survived two World Wars the company finally closed in January 1970.
One of Guhl & Harbeck's best selling machines was the Original Express chain stitch machine which was sold under many different names.
*snip*
You'll notice that the decal set even looks like the same.
Keramikos, thank you so much! This is awesome information. I will be sure to keep the info with the machine so it’s history is not lost. Thanks again!
Couchca, You're very welcome. :-)
It would indeed be prudent of you to print out the text and still images, because while the Internet is "forever," information has a way of moving around on it, and links can become defunct.
A search for "Guhl & Harbeck Original Express" provides more, similar machines, e.g.:
http://www.dincum.com/library/lib_gh_original_express.html
Willcox & Gibbs apparently had Guhl & Harbeck make some for them:
(Translation courtesy of Google Translate)
*snip*
Willcox & Gibbs' single-thread sewing machines that sewed chain stitches were produced by Guhl & Harbeck in Hamburg. They were marketed under the brand name "Original Express". The German machines were widespread in Norway. This machine was patented in 1881.
*snip
https://digitaltmuseum.no/011024247383/symaskin
There's even a demonstration video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCjnbl6Ei8Q
One more tidbit. :-) That little design on the cover encircled by "ORIGINAL MASCHINE" is Guhl & Harbeck's logo:
http://www.naehmaschine-antik.de/de-g-h-oe.html
http://www.antiktechnika.com/guhl--haarbeck.html
I was curious about the 1881 patent cited on the cover, and a search for Guhl & Harbeck 1881 patent turned up a few tidbits in Google copies of old publications.
I won't burden this comment with the long, gobbledy-gook Google links, but provide the publication specifics.
The first is from "The Commissioners of Patents' Journal," published by the Great Britain Patent Office in 1881
*snip*
2366 FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL Engineer and Patent Agent in the city Hamburg Germany for an invention of Improvements in covers for sewing machines. A communication to him from Guhl and Harbeck Sewing Machine Manufacturers of Hamburg in the German empire Dated 30th May 1881.
*snip*
The second provides more specifics, and is from "The Engineer, Volume 53," published by Morgan-Grampian in 1882:
*snip*
2366 COVERS FOR SEWING MACHINES FHF Engel Hamburg 30th May 1881 A communication from Guhl and Harbeck Hamburg. 6d The cover is constructed out of one saddle shaped middle plate and two sheet iron end platos furnished with spring hooks that catch either into openings formed to the foot plate of the machine or to metal plates or pieces attached to the table plate of the machine.
*snip*
So that explains to me those two holes in the footed platform, although they might already have been obvious to you. :-)