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The Unknown Treasure
Not many people have heard of White Sewing Machines, although it has been a major sewing machines producer from 1858 until 1986 when it was bought and integrated by the Electrolux Company. After almost 130 years of activity, the White Sewing Machines Company has left some heritage behind.
The Company’s history has a sudden end in 1986 and since then it has been shredded to pieces. Today, there are no more White Sewing Machines being produced, as the existing models were integrated further into the buying companies, Electrolux selling in 2006 some of White’s lines under the name of Husqvarna and the others becoming lower-end models for the same brand.
One of the most popular models was the White Rotary Sewing Machine, their first machine using a rotary hook. A rotary hook is a bobbin driver which has become popular because it can move a lot faster and with less vibration than other models. The first line of White Rotary Sewing Machines was called ‘Family’ and through the years there have been treadle models and electric models alike.
Most White Sewing Machines left today use the rotary hook and all of them are considered antiquities or vintage items. Their quality was a match for any contemporary sewing machines producer and White Rotary Sewing Machines had an artistic touch to them, their accessories and cabinets. Although this aspect should give them an edge, being less popular then Singer, for example, decreases their value on the market considerably.
If you want to have a White Rotary Sewing Machine there is no better way than eBay. Not being produced anymore means you have to get in touch with an actual owner of such a machine and eBay brings a lot of White Rotary Sewing Machine owners together. This way you can have a price and features comparison, you can see plenty of pictures and ask questions, not to mention you can see what amounts are being bided to get an idea of the market value.
White Rotary Sewing Machines are rare now and most likely will keep disappearing, one by one, hidden in a closet or a basement, thrown out or forgotten when the owners move out, even left in a garage to rust. The truth is, as any 100 years old sewing machine, they are heavy and pretty large, especially the ones that come with a cabinet or a desk. They are not easy to maneuver and not easy to learn to use, they make a lot of noise when used and don’t have as many stitch patterns as modern sewing machines.
On the other hand, the hard iron casing beautifully decorated with golden patterns of abstract figures, as well as the inside system are built to last, are built to work for hundreds of years, unlike modern sewing machines which are more technologically advanced, but a lot more fragile, containing tens of delicate parts, electronic and mechanic. So for those people whom appreciate longevity and simplicity over complicated features and high-end technology, a White Rotary Sewing Machine is a little treasure.