With production starting in the early 1850s, the Thomas Company should certainly be one of the foremost in our minds when considering the formative years within the UK sewing machine industry.
It was William Thomas who, armed with the British patent rights to Elias Howe's well-travelled patent model, founded the famous company which prospered for half a century.
However, it was his son - William Frederick - whose name and influence is most remembered. The firm became known as W.F.Thomas & Co. by the 1860s.
Specialist industrial models were always their mainstay, with the basic designs remaining little changed throughout the life of the company.
Top feed, freearm, in-line shuttle, and powered by a multi-cam system behind a heavy forward-facing flywheel, are the features that became synonymous with the Thomas name.
Domestic machines were not overlooked and today, collectors particularly seek out their "holly" figural model, together with the somewhat plainer looking "C" shaped machine, sometimes inscribed "The London."

photos - GD Collection.

G.D.
May 2000