Expert: Irene Schwall - 10/13/2006

Question
To Irene
from : Gilles Vayre ( France)

Dear Madam.

I found on a flea market last sunday this sewing machine. As I'm curious I would like to know more about it . And as I readed your website, may be you'll be interested to have some details about it.

First of all , let me tell you , I dont know nothing about the sewing machine , but as I'm a collector of everything, I bought it. I founded it so nice and pretty so I got it ( 10 € / 12 $)
I suppose it's a Standard sewing machine made for the french network as written and as the two flags let suppose too.On the main arm it's written NEW HOME
But I readed it exist a brand called NEW HOME , so i dont know if it's a standard or a New Home... I guess new home is the model.
It's written on one of the plate    :  NEW HOME
                                                                                       S.M.OO
                                                                                     orange, MASS
                                                                                         USA
On the other plate we can read :  STANDARD
                                                                                MANUFACTURED
                                                                                  FOR FRANCE
                                                                                    TYPE AR

On one plate is engraved patents 1887

Join some pictures to help you to identify the item.
The mecanism is in a very good condition . The drawing of the house is really intersting showing a farm

Thank for your help. I'm at your disposal if you need morepicture for exemple. I send pictures to :xtahoeviews@yahoo.com

Yours

Gilles Vayre
00(33) 6 86 48 17 98  

Answer
Hello Gilles,
Thanks for your patience. I will firstly tell you a little history about your machine.
According to what I have been able to research, the predecessor of the New Home Co. was the Gold Medal Sewing Machine Co. and it was established in 1860. In 1882 the company was re-organized and renamed The New Home Sewing Machine Co.
The New Home sewing machine was a very popular brand and in 1878, the company sold around 48,000 machines. The company exceeded this number in 1879 by selling over 55,000 machines and at one stage they estimated that with the twelve different styles offered, they would sell approx. 400 per day.
The New Home Sewing Machine Co. manufactured both the vibrating and rotary sewing machine. They also sold their machine to other retailers and manufacturers, some of them being from other countries.
The trademark for the New Home Co. was a greyhound and the words LIGHT RUNNING. (your photo shows this)
Having looked at similar machines like yours I believe that it is a Model A and was most likely manufactured for the French market and the American and French flag signify this.
I also found a French advertisement for the New_Hope "Horla" machine from the late 1800's early 1900's but it was not clear enough for me to see the design or the model number - sorry.
Armed with this information, it appears that you do not have a "unique" machine I'm afraid but one of many that were made during this period.
Your New Home sewing machine looks to be in very nice condition minus a few parts, like a belt but parts are still available for these old machines and if you check through my correspondence with other people, you will find reference to other websites that may be of assistance to you.
Regards,
Irene