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International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society

The purpose of the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society is to foster the collecting of, and research into, sewing machines.

Weir Sewing Machine Company

James Galloway Weir burst onto the 19th‑century sewing scene with a tiny chainstitch machine that sold like wildfire—first imported from Canada, then produced under his own name. Although best known for its wooden box with a hidden drawer, the Weir sewing machine also attracted attention for its innovative (and profitable!) design. Within a single decade, Weir made a fortune and walked away from the business, eventually serving as a Member of Parliament.

This section of our site spotlights Weir’s remarkable journey, from the early models that delighted aristocratic households, to the later patent filings and the surprising political career that followed. Dive into these pages to discover how one unassuming Scottish entrepreneur helped shape the golden era of hand‑crank sewing machines—then moved on to a life beyond the stitching table.

  • James Weir's 55 Shilling Sewing Machine
    'New England' Sewing Machine

    Sold in England at 55 shillings by James G Weir, London, in wooden box, circa 1870, and made by Raymond, in Canada.

  • Weir’s Millions
  • Follow the rise and rapid success of Weir’s chainstitch machines—and how one man amassed a fortune in just ten years.
  • More on Weir
  • Discover new details about James Galloway Weir—his second career in Parliament, personal life, and unexpected legacy.
  • Even More on Weir
  • Extra insights on Weir’s “secretive” methods, his Canadian connections, and the earliest hand-crank machines.
  • Patent an Idea; Register a Design
  • James Weir understood the difference between protecting a mechanical invention and registering a unique shape or configuration.
  • To Protect and Conserve
  • The Riverside Museum in Glasgow

ISMACS is an organization totally independent of all sewing-machine manufacturers, past or present and is not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in these pages.  Please Note: Do not contact any ISMACS official in an attempt to solicit a valuation - it is not possible other than by hands-on assessment and your request will be ignored.

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