Shows the interior of the showroom with several sewing machines on display. Also shows a sales counter; display cases of sewing machine accessories; two chandeliers hanging from the ceiling; and an ornate floor heating grate. The company, established in 1859 by inventor James E.A. Gibbs and Philadelphia investor James Willcox, produced domestic machines until 1947., Title printed on mount., Yellow mount with square corners., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook., Digitization funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012.
Creator
American Stereoscopic Company
Date
[ca. 1868]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department stereo - misc.- American Stereoscopic Co. [(8)1322.F.33b]
Series of illustrated trade cards depicting alternate views of family life with and without a Willcox & Gibbs sewing machine. One print, entitled "Willcox & Gibbs new automatic. A home blessing", shows a mother using Willcox & Gibbs "new automatic" sewing machine and observing her content family relaxing in their parlor. The other print, entitled "Noisy, hard running, double thread. A distressing nuisance", shows the same mother using a different sewing machine and observing chaos in her home as her husband opens the door to flee the scene, two girls fight over their toys, an infant wails in a bassinet, and the dog and cat fight., Title supplied by cataloger., Advertising text printed on versos promotes Willcox & Gibbs "new automatic" sewing machine as the perfect, "no tension" machine and the cheapest in the world., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Digitized.
Date
[ca. 1880]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department trade card - Willcox [1975.F.903 & 904]
