In 1858, a man by the name of Thomas H. White opened a little sewing machine shop in the town of Templeton, Massachusetts. His dream was to manufacture and sell hand-operated sewing machines. In 1866, he moved his shop to Cleveland, Ohio in order to have easier access to the supplies he needed. It was there that he made his first sewing machine, which was small enough to fit in your hand. Mr. White incorporated his company in 1876 and it became known as the White Sewing Machine Co. The late 1800s and early 1900s was a time for development and growth for the White Sewing Machine Company. During this time, Mr. White also manufactured the White Steam Car. In addition, he marketed other products such as phonographs, screw machines, bicycles and roller skates. He formed a separate corporation called the White Motor Company in 1906. White sewing machines saw great innovation in the 1920s. They were built with electric motors and no longer had to be operated by hand. Other features added during this time include a numbered tension dial and a furniture style cabinet. In 1923, the company stopped focusing on other products and dedicated itself purely to White sewing machines and accessories. A separate furniture factory was developed, however, for making White sewing machine furniture. The White Sewing Machine Company saw many changes and was a technological leader throughout the 20th century and still is today. The company obtained the patent for the electronic power needle system in 1967. This allowed the needles in the machines to operate at different speeds. Today, many of the White sewing machines are computerized with technologically advanced features. Some examples of the most popular models include the Jeans Machine, the Fashionaire and the Style Maker. |