The first traces of hand sewing go back to tens of thousand years. The animal sinew was used as first sewing thread and animal bones as needles. The iron needles appeared in the 14th century. A French tailor invented the first functional sewing machine in 1830. Since then the sewing machine industry has developed drastically. Once very popular the Jones sewing machine is an antique model nowadays.
Once in mid 19th century Mr. William Jones, an engineer and owner of an engineering plant, became deeply interested in sewing machines arriving from America. He understood that British domestic market was ready for big money and the sewing machine was just on time. It was the time of rapid industrial reforms and revolutions. He sold the first Howe and Wheeler & Wilson (inventors of American machines) machines in 1859.
As he was not completely satisfied with the product he decided to modify it. Soon the first model of Jones sewing machine appeared under the patent of his brother’s name John Thomas Jones. As industrial partnership promised some security and decreased risks William started cooperation with Thomas Chadwick. The latter was among the pioneers of British sewing machine technology. In the 1870s the Jones sewing machine already competed with Singer the best American brand in the industry at the time.
The Jones sewing machine brought the first gold medal to Jones Sewing Machine Company in 1885. Soon William and his brother become the only owners of their business. They patented their machines and their trademark became a rising phoenix clutching the arrow of industry. The Jones machines quickly became a real success and took over the market.
The brothers kept making modifications and inventing more complete models. Some of them survived up to the present day. Of course the Singer sewing machine and the German transverse shuttle were partially copied in the Jones sewing machine but the Jones also added their own design and produced the once very popular the Cat Back model. A large factory was opened on Manchester outskirts. Thousands of skilled workmen were employed by the Jones. William becomes a Chairman and his brother John, a Managing Director of their company. Along with the Jones, the Bradbury was another British sewing machine brand. These were the two names on the market during the Victorian era. Almost every British family had either of the sewing machines.
The Jones Company had been producing new models for more than 120 years. The Jones offered an industrial chic for the clients who ordered over 100-machine stock in which they added the client’s name on the machines. None of other sewing machine brands did that.
Many years ago The Princess of Wales used to sew on one of Jones’ machines. From the Marlborough House in London the Princess sent a testimonial to the machine’s reliability and quality. Since then the Jones brothers started to mark their machines with Princess Alexandra.
Nowadays a Jones sewing machine can be purchased in antique stores, online stores and online antique stores. Sometimes the machines need repair and they can be purchased at as low as $10.