1856 Grover & Baker Hand Machine * 1st Portable Sewing Machine * 1st Year Made For Sale

Make sure to check out all of my sales after you look at this one. I\'m listing an eclectic assortment of mechanical, technological and musical antiques, and I suspect there will be something to interest just about everyone.
Here\'s an ancient Grover & Baker hand crank sewing machine. This was the first self-casing portable sewing machine, powered by hand or treadle, and the google patent database provides insight into its design and utility. According to the Fiddlebase website (where you can see a photograph of the patent model), the serial number dates the machine to 1856, the year in which the patent was granted.As you can see in the photographs, the machine is in good original condition throughout, with no restoration or repairs evident anywhere. There do not appear to be any improvised or reproduction parts on this machine, which makes it all the more desirable. There\'s some enamel wear on the casting, as you can see, and some tarnish and light oxidation on the nickel-plated hardware, but for an unrestored antebellum hand crank sewing machine, the condition overall is much better than you would expect. Comes with its original cabinet key and a variety of extras that were stored in the drawer when I got it. Some are related to the machine; most are vintage items related to sewing in general.The machine will need to be serviced if you wish to use it again. The gears and cams all appear to be in excellent original condition, with no rust or other issues, but the mechanism is tight, and I don\'t know how to adjust it. When the crank is rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise, the cams move only about an inch or so in either direction before binding up.The cabinet is in decent original condition, with its original finish still intact. Some splintered veneer and chips, as you can see, but for a cabinet this old and this utilitarian, the cabinet is remarkably solid and still in reasonably good shape.With the lid closed, measures approximately 13\" wide x 10\" deep x 11\" high. This is a heavy machine. Shipping weight, properly packed, will be about 45 lb. That\'s about it. I will package it properly so that it arrives at your doorstep safely. I have been shipping fragile antiques of all kinds for years, and if you check my response, you\'ll see that I know how to do it correctly. Buyer prepays and includes shipping.