Skandinaven Treadle Sewing Machine, patent date is 1892, and the serial number under the front slide plate is 1,014,548.
Farmer John is doing some research for me, and he believes it may have been manufactured by Goodrich Sewing Machine Company of Chicago, Illinois. He has some reference books, and will contact me soon to confirm this was a Goodrich Sewing Machine. I understand from an article I read last night the Goodrich Sewing Machine company made badged machines for many distributors.
This machine is displayed at the Eliason cabin now relocated to the Scandinavia, Wisconsin village park. I became acquainted with this machine only a few days ago. The coffin top lid was locked, but it was gently persuaded to open by means of a narrow flat head screwdriver, (the original key is missing).
Yesterday I spoke with Julie Hale of the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa. I asked her if she knew anything about the Skandinaven sewing machine. She said she would look to see what she can find and get back with me.
Today, Julie sent me the following email:
Dear Linda,
Thank you for the photos. We have a sewing machine in our collection with "Skandinaven" on it (photos attached). The record states that it was given by the Skandinaven newspaper in Chicago. This was a Norwegian-American newspaper that ran from 1866-1941. Ours is patented Feb. 16, 1892. I don't know if this was some kind of promotion the newspaper did or something else.
We have another sewing machine with "Decorah Posten" on it made by the National Sewing Machine Co. This one was a premium given by Decorah Posten newspaper (another Norwegian-American newspaper). "In the 1890s Anundsen arranged with a sewing machine manufacturer to sell his product under the name "Husvennen" [household friend]...a person could receive Decorah-Posten for one year and a sewing machine at a bargain price of $22.25." (Odd Lovoll, NAHA Studies, vol. 27.)
Maybe Skandinaven had a similar arrangement with a sewing machine company.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
My friend and restorer Jerry Johnson did the initial cleaning and oiling of the machine. I talked with him last evening and he said the machine is stitching beautifully.
Next clue: the current needle in the sewing machine sews very well. I will be sending that needle to Farmer John so he can take measurements and prescribe a current-day match, so we'll have some needles on hand for this Skandinaven sewing machine in the future. Farmer John said, the #26 needle tubes I found in the drawer are not the correct size needle for this machine.
Skandinaven - American Norwegian Newspaper, Chicago Illinois
1866 to 1941
The Skandinaven was established by three Norwegian immigrants: John Anderson, Knud Langeland and Iver Lawson. John Anderson administered the business side of the newspaper, Iver Lawson was the loadlord who provided a location and facilities. Knud Langeland was the first editor of the Skandinaven.
Above Photo: you can see on the side of the building: Daily Skandinaven.
