antique sewing machines

James Galloway Weir.

The sewing machine entrepreneur.
J.G.Weir's involvement with the UK sewing machine industry commenced in the late 1860s, and lasted a little more than a decade. Based at Carlisle Street, Soho, London, his chain stitch model - the 55s - quickly became a runaway success. For a number of years, the machines were sourced from Canadian-based Charles Raymond, though this was not common knowledge at the time. In 1872, Weir initiated his own UK patent in respect of various improvements to the Raymond design. When finally marketed, it retained the previous 55 shilling selling price, with the original design reduced to 42 shillings, and renamed "The Globe".

Following the demise of his dealings with Raymond, it has been reported that his machines were produced by Goodwin of Paris, and finally at premises in Belmont Street and Ferdinand Place, London. By the late 1870s, demand for these little chain stitch machines was declining. In response, a new lockstitch model was introduced, but this had only limited commercial success. Having amassed some considerable wealth from the enterprise, Weir totally withdrew from the Industry.

Weir's improved machine featured a
redesigned thread tension device,
needle bar, and new spiral gears.

The man himself.
Most of what follows is taken from obituary notices from both national and local papers, these being assembled by James' daughter Margaret, and furnished to myself by her son - to whom I am indebted.
A Scotsman born in 1839, to Mr James Ross Weir and Margaret, daughter of D. M'Laren. He was initially educated at the Dollar Academy in Scotland.

Upon retiring from business, James ventured into politics. After unsuccessfully contesting the Falkirk Burghs Constituency in 1885, he was returned for Ross and Cromerty as a Gladstonian Liberal in 1892, and represented that constituency for the remainder of his life. He was a magistrate for the county of London, and a member of the Scottish Corporation Committee. From 1892 to 1895 he was member of the London County Council, and as such took an active interest in the municipal affairs of London. He was a man of most kindly and generous disposition, and the zeal with which he fought in the interests of the crofters, and of land reform in Scotland was inspired largely by feelings of humanity.

He travelled around the world and returned with a wallet full of Imperial questions. The fortifications of Hong-Kong, frontier posts in India, what he described as "the decline of British prestige" in the Far East, and numerous other topics formed the subjects of his questions. He had a great thirst for knowledge of all kinds. He was one of the best known figures in the House of Commons. Seriously - minded people called him a bore, those with a sense of humour found in him a continual delight. To ministers, and especially to successive Scottish Secretaries, he was one of the terrors of question time. He introduced a little picturesqueness into Parliament by taking parties of lasses from Stornaway to the House of Commons, and getting them to sing their songs on the terrace for the benefit of his fellow members. It was said of him after his death, 'He will be more severely missed than many a man of more solid pretensions to fame; but whatever else may be said of the spirit that's gone, that he served the interests of his crofting constituents most faithfully and well.' He was obviously a great character, of great determination, at times very entertaining to his fellow parliamentary members, and would fight to the bitter end for the smallest of benefits for his crofters. Whilst visiting a very rural post office one day, he wanted to send a telegram, but was told that the post office didn't have the necessary telegraphic equipment, and that the nearest village with the equipment was three miles away. He told the post office that wasn't good enough, that they needed the facility; sure enough, within a short time the necessary equipment was installed.
He was married twice. The first time was to Mary Anne Dash in 1863, by whom he had three daughters, two of whom died.

One died in Italy in the earthquake there, and the other, who was a lady doctor, died after a long illness. The third daughter - Edith - lived in Italy at the time of his death. His first wife died in 1896. He married again in 1898, to Miss Marion Jolly. His second wife bore him two children - Margaret and James. He himself died on 18th May 1911 at his residence at Frognall, Hampstead, London, after a three-day illness following a paralytic stroke.

A rare Edwardian family photograph.
J.G.Weir (sitting, left) with his daughter, Margaret.
Mrs. Weir - Marion - (sitting, right) with son James on her lap.

Mr. Weir was buried on May 22nd, at Marylebone Cemetery after a service held at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Hampstead, which was attended by representatives of several political bodies. The chief mourners were his wife and Miss Margaret McLaren Weir, his daughter by the second marriage, also Miss Edith Weir.

GD. Sept 2000.