08/09/2026
Tonight From Wolf’s Travels & The J&P Lowrey Collection….
“Painted RED… and left for dead!”
Hi Folks!!!
Well you’ve heard me say it before and I’ll say it again, thank goodness for the Lowrey’s & their commitment to save this priceless early American technology! … and just WOW-ZA… Magician!!! This was a tough one folks!!!
When found this machine had literally been painted RED and left for dead! A thick coat of brick red paint had been brushed onto nearly 95% of the machine’s cast iron body!
Her wood had suffered too! Coming apart at the seams and loaded with CRUD… but the Magician has brought her back!
Before we deliver this machine we will also fabricate a new set of slide plates! SEW LOOK for a future post!😊
Lots of before & after pics!!!
The American Magnetic SMCo. Was based in Ithaca, New York from 1853 to 1854! While the company reported making about 600 machines, this is doubtful in the companies 1 year time frame! This machine is serial number 329!
Her needle bar arm is ENGRAVED on both sides! The front side says… The American Magnetic Sewing Machine Co. Patent 1853… and the rear side says … Improvement on E.Howe’s Patent Sept.10,1846!
But “Improvement,” may have been a lofty term, as reports from the time indicate that these machines did not work very well, a common occurrence with machines made in the early 1850s!!!
The Ames marking… The Ames marking often causes a lot of confusion and people think that manufactured these machines, when in fact, it’s really more probable that Ames manufactured some of the parts for these machines, and they may have even cast the thin, skeletal body of these machines, also as they did have their own foundry and were known for making parts for several different types of machinery! Manufacturing the large brass gear that you’ll see in the pictures would not have been a stretch for the Ames company!
This machine sews a two thread lock stitch! I’m not sure exactly how and I’m sure The Lowrey’s are going to have a lot of fun, figuring this old gal out, again look for a future post! 😊
This could be the rarest machine you see all year! … but wait until you see what we have coming next from this incredible collection!
Enjoy!
Wolf, The Magician & The J&P Lowrey Collection
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,