Sewing Machines

After reading a post on another topic, my interest was triggered, so I did a bit of research and found out that there is quite a connection to Coventry with the sewing machine. The below extract is from Graces Guide. "1859 European Sewing Machine Co established in King Street, Cheylesmore, Coventry by James Starley and Josiah Turner to import and market sewing machines from America" I am going to dig a little deeper, but any help shall be appreciated.

I love my Singer sewing machine which will be 53 years old later in the year and came from Owens. It wasn't made in Cov. but the city does have a history with them. Wasn't Starley a bicycle manufacturer?

It appears that James Starley got into sewing machines due to his then employer John Penn buying a "rare and expensive" sewing machine. When it broke down, James mended it and also improved the mechanism. Penn was a friend of Josiah Turner who was a partner in Newton Wilson and Co, who had actually made the machine. This led to Starley joining Newton Wilson in 1859. Starley and Turner started the "Coventry Sewing Machine Company" around 1861. It was after that date that Starley got into bicycle manufacture.

There is a book, Mick, ‘Wheels within Wheels’ by Geoffrey Williamson, the story of the Starleys of Coventry you might find interesting.

A bit more of the timeline moving from sewing machine to bicycles. From Gracies Guide COVENTRY SEWING MACHINE CO. Coventry, Warwick, England Formerly the European Sewing Machine Co.. 1868 July. Mention of the Coventry Sewing Machine Co in a minor court case. 1868, their Paris agent, Rowley B. Turner (Turner's nephew), brought one of the new French "bone-shakers" (see Michaux Velocipede) to the factory and the company soon started making bicycles. He obtained an order for 400 velocipedes to be exported to France but the Franco-Prussian War forced the company to build up the home market instead. 1868, May 21, British Patent GB 1.678 to James Starley, of the Coventry Sewing Machine Company, Coventry, in the county of Warwick, for the invention of improvements in sewing machinery. 1869 February, the company had received an order for a large number of velocipedes; the directors brought this to the attention of the general meeting since it was outside the articles of association (see image right). The name was changed to Coventry Machinists Co 1883 The Coventry Sewing Machine Co was listed to be struck off the register of companies. Part of the original building at Cheylesmore was used by the Company's direct descendants Swifts of Coventry Ltd to manufacture cycles until the end of 1930.

Hi Mick. Keep looking and reading about this great man and his sons, also read about the jackblock flats, this is true history of Coventry. Plus why the walls round your city were pulled down if you don't know.

I know he is mentioned in lots of different topics, but I am surprised he does not have one dedicated to him.