DATING

WANZER SEWING MACHINES

In 1860 Wanzer rented a stone building in Hamilton with the backing of the iron-founding firm of Edward Gurney and began to manufacture the first sewing-machines made in Canada. He soon went into partnership with John Neil Tarbox, forming R. M. Wanzer & Company, which initially produced machines designed by the Wheeler & Wilson and the Singer companies in the United States.

In 1860-61 the first sewing machine factory in Canada was established at Hamilton by Richard Mott Wanzer who, during the late 1850s, seems to have had a small sewing machine shop in Buffalo, New York, which manufactured Singer machines.

By 1864 Wanzer employed 70 mechanics and the company boasted an output of 60 machines a week.

In 1868 Wanzer introduced a second model, the “Little Wanzer”, Its compact size, simplicity and low price ($25 in 1870 or $30 on a stand) made it an instant favourite and more than 4.000 machines were sold in the first year alone.

Increasing production in the 1860s had prompted Wanzer to erect a new, four-storey factory. An energetic and enterprising businessman, he had added a large wing to the factory by December 1870, equipping it to produce 1.000 machines a week.

Prior to the Patent Act of 1872 in Canada, manufacturers were free to copy American patents or to incorporate patented features into their own machines.

By 1874 nearly 200.000 of these lock-stitch machines had been sold.

In 1886 the company has made one million and a half of sewing machines. Their output of machines has reached 1.500 per week.

In 1890 the Wanzer Sewing Machine Company, one of Canada's most important manufacturers for over a quarter of a century, passed out of existence.

QUICK  DATING

1860 ........................... 0

1861

1862

1863

       + 3.000

1864

       + 3.000

1865

1866

1867

1868

          +4.000

1869

1870

            + 20.000

1871

            +  40.000

1872

            +  40.000

1873

            +  40.000                    200.000

1874

1875

1876

1877

1878

1879

1880

                 + 50.000

1881

                 + 50.000 

1882

                 + 60.000 

1883

                 + 60.000 

1884

                  + 75.000

1885                         

                  + 75.000                                 

1886 ..................................... 1.500.000     circa

                  + 76.000            

1887

1888

1889

1890