A2 Litte Comfort Improved
Super condition without a suggestion of rust. This is the improved version of the Little Comfort having a larger stitch plate. Despite being "improved" far fewer of these turn up, the previous model being a much better seller. Dates from around 1910. Glenda Thomas 1-395.
SOLD

A3 Midget
Super condition, great decals – all from a 100-year-old machine. The Midget was produced by Foley & Williams whose main business was full-size domestic machines. It was sold in mail order catalogues at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries. Glenda Thomas 1-133.
SOLD

A4 Spencer
Good paint and bright rust-free metalwork on this rare 1901 portable - probably not sold as a toy but it certainly looks like one to me and I'm betting that sales went up at Christmas time Nickel plating is great and it's difficult to fault this cast iron machine in any way. Glenda Thomas 1-400.
SOLD

A5 Decker Princess
The cast-iron Decker Princess normally surfaces as a treadle machine and my suspicion this is that this is simply the head from such a machine. It has ivy leaf designs on the rocking arm and the wording Decker Mfg Co Ltd, Detroit, Mich, on the stitch plate. The machine has been put on a new circular base for display purposes. Enjoy it as it is or go out and find that treadle. Glenda Thomas 1-460.
SOLD

A6 Anonymous Stitchwell
Here's a strange bird. It's a Stitchwell machine but with the name painted out ready for a new decal to go on. These machines turn up with so many different names that it's my reasoning that the makers, National Sewing Machine Co, would provide them for large retailers to add the name of their choice. Could be this one never got re-christened. The decals are complete, the brightwork good and the only damage to the paint is at the front clamp area and a few match head-size chips on the rear of the base. The machines comes in its original wooden box complete with sliding lid. Glenda Thomas 1-312A. Price: $400 including insurance and surface-mail shipping.

A7 Trojan/Stitchwell:
An example of a Stitchwell by another name, Glenda lists many Stitchwell variants, but she missed this one. There are so many that it seems likely that makers National Sewing Machine Company, who badged many machines for retailers such as Montgomery Ward, would give this toy any name a dealer who ordered enough asked for. This one is just discernable as a Trojan - not a name I've come across before. The machine has had quite some wear, please check out the photographs carefully. The paintwork is bright but both the name decals have rubbed and there is some chipping to the top of the arm and the base, particularly in the clamp area. Glenda Thomas 1-312
.SOLD

A8 Gear-driven Spencer
When the Spencer Company decided to add gearing and upgrade its earlier portable it really went to town and here's a superb version of the quality-built cast-iron result. Far rarer than the smaller machine, the stitchplate carried patent dates from 1900 to 1902. Just for once this is certainly no toy but a genuine antique portable in simply fantastic condition. Glenda Thomas 1-399.
SOLD