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DATING & IDENTIFYING
NEW HOME SEWING MACHINES
Briefly told, the history of sewing-machine manufacture in Orange began with the making of machines in the present location by Andrew J. Clark and William P. Barker. But two men were employed and the first machine was known as the “New England single thread hand sewing machine.”
In 1865 Mr. Clark bought out his partner and in 1867 a new firm was organized with the name of A. F. Johnson & Co., the works were enlarged and the manufacture of the well-known “Gold Medal” machine was begun.
In 1869 the firm was reorganized as a corporation, taking the name of the machine, with Mr. Clark as president and John W. Wheeler as secretary and treasurer. The sewing-machine combination was at this time at the height of its power and it was under a license that the “Gold Medal” was made and the “Home” first introduced in 1870.
In 1877 the patents expired, the business was open to all and the “New Home” was then introduced.
In 1882 that title was substituted entirely for the “Gold Medal,” the old company officers continuing, with Allen Schenck as vice-president and William L. Grout as superintendent. From the small beginning already noted the area of buildings occupied by the company has increased gradually, until now its flooring comprises an area of nearly 450,000 square feet. The engraving on the preceding page gives a better idea of the great works than the most detailed description can do. The different departments are all of large space and altogether furnish employment for over 600 workmen. Two 100 h. p. boilers furnish steam heat and there are two 80 h. p. boilers and two engines kept in reserve in case of need. Water power from Millers river is generally used, and for this purpose there are seven turbine water wheels equal to 300 horse power, and this is supplemented by power furnished from a Corliss engine of 250 h. p. with four boilers and another engine of 100 h. p. and two boilers. In the manufacture of the company’s sewing-machines over 500 different machines are in constant use costing from $100 to $4000, or nearly $1,500,000. Each separate piece of the “New Home” sewing-machine has several machines for its production and completion.
QUICK DATING
Around 1862, William Barker and Andrew J. Clark began producing the "Pride of the West" machine, later calling it the "New England Single Thread Hand Sewing Machine".
In 1867 a new firm was organized with the name of A. F. Johnson & Co..
0 ........................................................
PRIOR 1880
181.702 ...............................................
+ 76.130 1881
257.832 ...............................................
+ 76.129 1882
"New Home" was established in 1882
333.951 ...............................................
+ 96.128 (X3) 1883-1884-1885
622.355 ...............................................
+ 47.000 1886
670.071 ...............................................
1887
741.966 ...............................................
1888
821.326 ...............................................
1889
975.558 ...............................................
1890
1.009.830 ............................................
1891
1.110.628 ............................................
1892
1.225.772 ............................................
1893
1.328.940 ............................................
1894
1.404.142 ............................................
1895
1.478.150 ............................................
1896
1.563.650 ............................................
1897
1.649.650 ............................................
1898
1.743.885 ............................................
1899
1.845.000 ............................................
1900
1.955.150 ............................................
1901
2.088.950 ............................................
1902
2.209.550 ............................................
1903
2.312.700 ............................................
APPROX DATE OF MANUFACTURE IN ORANGE, MASSACHUSETTS