White Sewing Machine Company facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Founded | 1858 in Templeton, Massachusetts, United States |
| Founder | Thomas H. White |
| Headquarters |
,
Ohio, United States
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Area served
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Worldwide |
| Products | Sewing machines |
| Parent | Electrolux |
The White Sewing Machine Company was a famous company that made sewing machines. It was started in 1858 by Thomas H. White in Templeton, Massachusetts. Later, in 1866, the company moved its main office to Cleveland, Ohio.
Contents
The Start of White Sewing Machines
The company began as the White Manufacturing Company. In 1876, it officially became the White Sewing Machine Company. Their sewing machines were very good and won many awards. For example, they won an award at the 1889 World's Fair in Paris.
White Machines for Sears
In the 1920s, White started making sewing machines for Sears Roebuck and Co. By the 1930s, all sewing machines sold by Sears were made by White. These machines were often given different brand names like Kenmore, Franklin, or Minnesota. One special White Rotary Electric Series 77 machine was even placed in the Crypt of Civilization. This crypt is like a time capsule meant to be opened far in the future.
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White Motor Company: From Sewing to Cars
In 1900, Thomas White's son, Rollin, invented a steam engine. He used a part of his father's factory to start building cars. By 1906, the car-making part of the business became its own separate company. This new company was called the White Motor Company. By 1923, the White Sewing Machine Company decided to focus only on sewing machines and their parts.
White Company's Later Years
By the early 1950s, the White Sewing Machine Company faced challenges. Many cheaper sewing machines were being imported from other countries. Also, Sears stopped buying machines from White, which was a big loss for the company.
Becoming White Consolidated Industries
In 1955, Edward Reddig became the company's president. He made big changes to help the company. He moved some manufacturing overseas and started making different kinds of products. White began to buy other companies that made appliances, tools, and machinery. They bought brands like Kelvinator, Gibson, and Philco. Because of these changes, the company changed its name in 1964 to White Consolidated Industries (WCI).
Growing with New Brands
WCI continued to grow by buying more companies. In 1975, they bought Westinghouse's appliance business. This led to the creation of the White-Westinghouse brand name. Later, in 1979, WCI bought the Frigidaire appliance line from General Motors.
The End of an Era
In 1986, a company called Electrolux bought WCI. In 2006, Electrolux sold off some of its brands, including parts of the White sewing machine line, to Husqvarna. After this, new White-branded sewing machine models were no longer made. Today, brands like Singer, Husqvarna Viking, and Pfaff are all owned by SVP Worldwide. Even though White sewing machines are not made anymore, SVP Worldwide still provides user manuals for them online.
Famous White Sewing Machine Models
- White Sewing Machine (also known as the White Vibrating Shuttle or the White VS)
- White Family Rotary (later called the White Rotary)
See also
- List of sewing machine brands
- White Motor Company
