The oldest and only family-owned sewing machine manufacturer left in the world today is Bernina. It has been family owned since 1893 and under the guidance of the founders great-grandson, Hanspeter Ueltschi. To learn all about the different sewing machine brands just keep reading.

When was the first sewing machine made?

1830 1846: Elias Howe patents the first practical sewing machine and threads his way into the fabric of history. French tailor Barthelemy Thimonnier patented a device in 1830 that mechanized the typical hand-sewing motions to create a simple chain stitch.

How old are sewing machines?

An early sewing machine was designed and manufactured by Barthélemy Thimonnier of France, who received a patent for it by the French government in 1830, to mass-produce uniforms for the French army, but some 200 rioting tailors, who feared that the invention would ruin their businesses, destroyed the machines in 1831.

Is Janome better than Bernina?

One person took the Bernina over the Janome because they felt the feet and accessories were more solid and had a heavier feel to them. Also, she liked the precision stitching that came with her Bernina sewing machines. These are very good reasons to like one machine over the other.