Rare Antique Frister & Rossmann Hand-Crank Sewing Machine – Circa 1908
What an extraordinary piece of sewing history.
This beautiful Frister & Rossmann hand-crank sewing machine was manufactured in Germany around 1908 and carries the famous Berlin Trade Mark. With its elaborate gold floral detailing, black enamel body and wonderful original wooden base and cover, this is a particularly striking example of early 20th-century sewing-machine craftsmanship.
The machine bears Serial Number #. and was originally supplied by W. Pierssene of London. It features a transverse shuttle system and the later improved bobbin-winding mechanism.
One of my favourite details is the original hand-crank mechanism with its beautiful white handle. There is something wonderful about operating a sewing machine entirely by hand—no electricity, no electronics, just beautifully engineered mechanics doing exactly what they were designed to do more than a century ago.
And this machine isn't simply decorative. It is in good working order, and we have actually sewn with it. A sewn sample demonstrates that this remarkable old machine can still do the job it was built to do.
These machines were designed as serious working tools and were capable of sewing an impressive range of fabrics, from lightweight cottons and silks to heavier materials such as denim and canvas.
The ornate gold decoration remains particularly beautiful. After approximately 118 years, the machine naturally shows cosmetic wear, age and patina, as does its wooden base and cover. I wouldn't want it any other way—those marks are part of its history.
For the antique sewing-machine collector, sewing enthusiast or someone looking for a truly special piece for a sewing room, studio or home, this is much more than an old sewing machine.
It is a surviving piece of sewing history from another era.
Details: Frister & Rossmann · Made in Germany · Berlin Trade Mark ·· Circa 1908 · Hand-crank operation · Transverse shuttle · Improved bobbin winder (rubber missing) · Original wooden base and cover · Good working order · Cosmetic wear consistent with age.
RARE FIND. A wonderful opportunity to own a beautiful, functional piece of sewing history that has survived for well over a century.
