My mother recently came into posession of an old model sewing machine (still not sure what year, but the styling places it in mid-20 century I would think). I don’t know exactly what it is about this thing, but it is easily one of the most gorgeous product designs I have ever seen. The lines, the forms, the proportions, the weight of the steel, just about everything. It grabs my attention every time I see it.
Anyway, just thought I’d share a bit of sweetness that I stumbled across. Additional pics can be found on my blog: http://www.dlhdesign.blogspot.com
Yep - this is one of those times when I honestly couldn’t say whether this thing worked well from a functional standpoint, and I’ll go even further by saying that it really doesn’t matter to me that this is even a sewing machine. It could be a toaster oven or a lawnmower for all I care - I just love the form. Heck, I even dig the paint scheme!
Totally understand. I have a bunch of things like this around me at the studio and at home. A few transistor radios from the 60’s, a collection of electric desk fans ranging from the 1900’s through the 60’s, and a few old phones… none of them are plugged in. I just like studying them.
Sweet. Google White Sewing machines and you will find a bunch of good looking products dating from the 1870’s; mostly “industrial” machines, so your grandmother (?) must have been a serious seamstress to have one.
My mom inherited a ancient electric White from her mum; it was black, knocked down to fit in a carrying case, and looked like it was shipped on Conestoga wagon. Probably dated from the mid-40’s or so.
I really like how the top surface responds to the wheel in the rear and gracefully transitions toward the front before terminating in a semi crisp transition to another variable surface. That is some complicated surfacing. Art & Design right there.
In addition to the elegance of the lines and the proportions, I also love the heck out of the metal that the body is made from. It’s not a lightweight plastic or resin. Instead the metal gives it a “weight”, for lack of a better word, that totally seals it for me.
I also LOVE the side-mounted motor, it almost looks like a design they could have used for a spacship in one of the recent Star Wars movies.
I just recently picked up almost the EXACT same model from a dealer in town. I wanted one of the old Singers, but wasn’t quite sure how well it would sew through leather. This thing’s pretty robust, and it caught my eye right away. I think the one I’ve got must be a few years older since the tension knob is in a different location, and the machine threads in a slightly different way.
The next one I get will be a machine with a walking foot to be able to properly sew thicker materials, but I just love these old machines. It’s gotta weigh at least 40 pounds, and I love the case that it comes in making it nice and “portable”. I’ll try and post a pic of mine.
That is when the streamline era started, but certainly it influenced the mass market much more after WWII rather than before. The atomic age started semi-officially in 1945 and arguably still goes today, but I think is more commonly thought of to end in the 70’s. Think of it of starting at the end of WWII (the bomb) and ending with 3 Mile Island, 1979.
I’d agree that streamline did have a presence in the 50s but more in the late 30s as in the wiki article it was common. Anyhow, don’t think the sewing machine is particularly streamline. Streamline has a lot of teardrop shapes, strong hortizontals, etc.
For sure atomic was 45-on but again, don’t see the styling as so atomic, more the refined industrial/commercial styling of the early 60s. Atomic is more things with fins, rocket/jet engine shapes, chrome, spacey.
What I see is a cumulative influence from all of those eras. More like a conscience decision to go a specific direction with the aesthetic based on external influences of the time. Definitely not accidental but certainly not deliberate styling for specific form language. I love the consistent blending of all the components from the nose to the tail. Dutilio. hit the nail on the head with his styling synopsis. It definitely resonates.
