Historical note, the cover is also known as a casket lid top. Gruesome, no? OK, done drooling for now, lol! Try these links to find out more about your beautiful piece of sewing history: Careful now, those links are the starting point of the most fascinating obsession! I have nine vintage and one genuine antique-all sewing merrily along except the antique. The machines (Singers and one Jones) are easy finds at jumble and boot sales, charity shops, and all over the 'Net, but I have never seen a coffin top Winselmann in person. A number of pioneer women brought their machines to North America with them, yours must be one of those.

They are rarer of course to find in Canada and the US, most machines there (as here in the UK) are Singers and Jones. From the looks of the Winselmann in your photograph, it is in amazing condition!

Aug 7, 2016 - 1 min - Uploaded by Gulvinder S. SanghaVESTA - B Sewing Machine is undoubtedly one the loveliest machines ever made with.

I would have to see the machine under the coffin top to be sure, but the parts that can be seen look 'mint', and that's usually the most neglected area of an antique or vintage sewing machine. So it's fairly safe to believe the machine is more than likely in equal condition-ready to sew on right now, that belt looks brand new! It's just gorgeous-hang off, wiping up more drool. If you own it, could you post a picture of the machine without the coffin top?

You really might be able to sew with this lovely and gracious lady depending on the type of bobbin and needles it uses-a picture of the machine is how anyone would identify the machine, advise on value, and sew-ability as regards parts availability. If the parts are hard to find, it's an amazingly beautiful antique for display (I have an 1898 hand crank coffin top Singer Vibrating Shuttle 28 on display in my workroom, but I don't use it to sew because the bullet bobbins are a little more expensive and hard to find). Parts are usually easy to find for this age machine, it's the bobbins and needles that might prove harder to find. The user manuals are usually easy to find as well-unless you've got one that is accompanied by it's manual and attachments-the 'mother lode' find in the antique and vintage sewing machine world surpassed only by the original sales receipt and other user historical artifacts like a drawer full of sewing notions and hand written notes:) Nuts, more drool! Sorry, can you tell I am a real affectionado? October 29, 2012 0 found this helpful There isn't a lot of info out there (especially in the US) on Kohler-Winselmann machines, but this site does have some info: Click around on the top navigation bar too, for the German rooms and for Kohler. I am a vintage and antique Singer user.

I've found a lot of fantastic information on mine at ISMACS and Treadleon-they have information on other brands of wonderful antique and vintage machines. Use the search features, and contact info-they do accept questions on machines.

I've also found a lot of good information on this site: Be warned, lol, researching a vintage or antique sewing machine becomes an addiction very quickly! Try the search term: kohler-winselmann sewing machines uk Your machine was likely brought to the US by a pioneer family (it looks to be in the 1850s to 1870s manufacturing range era), or by a war bride of either of the two world wars. These machines were treasured, valued companions by families and new brides on immigrating to the US.

I have several pre-WWI Singers that were in use right up to as recently as last year; I have several that are in use right now in my sewing school. When I lived in the US I often found Singer, Howe, and the very occasional K-W machines that had been brought to the US by brides in the later years of the 19th century from all over Europe and the UK. Here in the UK, nearly every family has at least one hand crank or treadle dating back to the late 19th century, and most of those were wedding gifts to a newly married couple just starting out in life. February 28, 2012 0 found this helpful I've never heard of this machine but then I am a vintage and antique Singer user. I've found a lot of fantastic information on mine at ISMACS and treadleon, and I know they have information on other brands of these wonderful machines. Use the search features, and contact info-they do accept questions on machines: I've also found a lot of good information on this site: Be warned, lol, researching a vintage or antique sewing machine becomes an addiction very quickly!

Home of the Sewalot Site By Alex I Askaroff For antique and vintage sewing machines The L. Dietrich Sewing Machine Company & Vesta sewing machines Alex has spent a lifetime in the sewing industry and is considered one of the foremost experts of pioneering machines and their inventors. He has written extensively for trade magazines, radio, television, books and publications world wide. Over the last two decades Alex has been painstakingly building this website to encourage enthusiasts around around the Globe. Instant download now available Most of us know the name Singer but few are aware of his amazing life story, his rags to riches journey from a little runaway to one of the richest men of his age.

The story of Isaac Merritt Singer will blow your mind, his wives and lovers his castles and palaces all built on the back of one of the greatest inventions of the 19th century. For the first time the most complete story of a forgotten giant is brought to you by Alex Askaroff. See Alex Askaroff on Youtube The Vesta Sewing Machine Company The model of Perfection See Alex Askaroff on Youtube The Vesta Avenue Sewing Machine The Vesta Avenue Sewing Machine The German company that made Vesta was called LOD, short for L.O. Dietrich, and was one of the oldest German sewing machine companies. The Vesta mark went onto their machines in the late Victorian period and lasted up until the Second World War when the company became involved in arms manufacture. The factory was finally closed by the Russians around 1946.

Originally LOD was formed around 1869, by 1871 they were well established in Altenburg, Germany. For the first 20 years the machines were basically Singer copies with a big S as one of their badge marks and sold under the Dietrich, LOD banner. The company was a mixture of three giants in the German sewing machine industry all eventually selling machines under their own names. They were L O Dietrich, G Winselmann, of the Titan mark, and H Kohler. The three men had all worked together at the giant Clemens Muller Sewing Machine Factory in Dresden.

It was there that they came up with the idea of their own business. It did not last long as by 1880 all three men had parted and built up their own businesses making machines. By 1871 The Company had a vast factory employing hundreds of workers and at its peak in 1890 it was employing over 1,500 workmen. The name Vesta comes from the Roman goddess of fire and the hearth, which is perfect for a machine that was forged from the great German furnaces. As a very important Roman Goddess her prayers were uttered daily in worship and of course we have all heard of the Vestal Virgins, but I digress. There were originally two sizes of Vesta and many other models from LOD such as the Universal No 1 with its lovely open cut gears and lightweight, The Family A and Family B.

The Saxonia range which included two smaller machines and a medium semi-industrial model. As well as the vibrating shuttle models mentioned they also produced oscillating bobbin machines model E, F and G with a barrel or cylindrical arm. Groove Collective We People Rarely Succeed more. Then there were central bobbin machines such as the model CE and CF. All were available with the super-smooth ball-bearing treadle base.

All Vesta sewing machines guaranteed for a period of five years. The machines became an instant success in England and soon offices were opened in London at 16 South Street, Finsbury. Vesta machine was sold to shops like Collier & Sons of Clapham road South West London. Were a large ironmongers that sold just about everything you could think of. They were also sold through other retailers such as J.

Williams & Co Ltd, Manchester and Sewing Machine Supplies of Aldergate Street London. If you look carefully at your machine you may have a Winselmann model. Y ou may see the Titan mark on several pieces of the machine if you have an early Winselmann model.

There was a beautiful mother of pearl inlay fiddlebase model, basically a smaller 3/4 size copy of the Singer New Family transverse shuttle that was around in the 1880's. Mother of pearl became so expensive that by the late Victorian period it had become un-commercial.

Having to hand polish 15 layers of japanning to find the inlaid took endless hours of work, but how wonderful it looked. Died away towards the end of the 19th Century. The beautiful small Titan fiddlebase, so similar to many Vesta machines, was made by Gustav Winselmann, also in Altenburg, Germany. The machine is marked with the makers details stamped on the slide plate and also Made in Saxony is on the machine (an old reference to 19 th century Germany). The badge has the great Titan standing over the factory holding a sewing machine. The case often has the gold awards that this small machine had won during its impressive reign from Milano in Italy, Bremen, Bodenbach and Leipzig.

Vesta Trojan Sewing Machine Dietrich passed away in September of 1904 and his son took over the reigns of their empire. Seventy years after the factory came to life it was ended as part of the Russian war reparations. And so LOD and Vesta are no more.

Often the factories were stripped of their machinery and the assets were taken back to Russia. Vesta Titan Sewing Machine, the Titan name was used on several Vesta models. By 1910 most of the machines started to look much the same as patents ran out and everybody used them. The most famous sewing machines in the world! By 1936 the Vesta machines were so admired for quality that they advertised their machines as the most famous sewing machines in the world!

That was a bit rich but they were superb machines. The fact that so many are still sewing today goes to show how well made they were. Open cut gears and porcelain handle all added to the charm and appeal to the smaller than average Winselmann sewing machine, identical to the Vesta, made by an old business partner. The Winselmann Court Maker Titan Sewing Machine The Vesta Vibrating Shuttle sewing machine.

Post First World War, the 'Made in Germany' was removed and the word 'Foreign' added. A late Vesta vibrating shuttle, a great machine to sew with. The Vesta VS Vibrating Shuttle sewing machine circa 1914 A Vesta transverse shuttle below, another great machine to sew with but it created a little tight stitch and did not allow for stretch. You can see the double threads in action, one for sewing, one for winding as you sew. The Vest model no 5 sewing machine took the same needle as the Singer 12 and used a boat shuttle. Here is a great advert from the 1890's advertising the Little Vesta Sewing Machine model No5.

Alfred Paris was a London agent for Vesta and several other German makers. Values The German quality engineering has meant that many Vesta and Dietrich machines still survive. When working well they make a superb stitch and cope with modern fabrics with ease. The value of the machines depends on condition and age. The older machines are far more ornate and fetch good prices at auction. There is a keen collectors market for the best ones. The most expensive I have seen so far fetched over $1,000 in 2009.

Strangely though this price is still nowhere near what these machine cost new in comparative terms. They say nothing lasts like quality and certainly Vesta sewing machines prove that point. The Vesta Sylvia circa 1900 I f you have any information to add please do contact me: it is really useful for research and helps others.

Also there is a little email at the bottom of the page which is very interesting. Don't you love this picture of the oiling of the Vesta sewing machine. I need some staff like that! Mercedes Sewing Machine It is possible that this Mercedes sewing machine was made by L.O. The similarities including the unique snake scale pattern engraving on the plating is a give-away. I have only seen two genuine German Mercedes VS sewing machines in a lifetime of collecting. The name was later put on a Chinese model before Mercedes made them remove it.

Threading your Vesta sewing machine Well that's it, I do hope you enjoyed my work. I have spent a lifetime collecting, researching and writing these pages and I love to hear from people so drop me a line and let me know what you thought:. Also if you have any information to add I would love to put it on my site.

Fancy a funny read: A brilliant slice of 1940's life: Isaac Singer, The First Capitalist Now available as an instant download. Most of us know the name Singer but few are aware of his amazing life story, his rags to riches journey from a little runaway to one of the richest men of his age. The story of Isaac Merritt Singer will blow your mind, his wives and lovers his castles and palaces all built on the back of one of the greatest inventions of the 19th century. For the first time the most complete story of a forgotten giant is brought to you by Alex Askaroff. Visit Amazon for a list of Alex Askaroff's books Sussex Born and Bred, and Corner of the Kingdom are now available instantly on Kindle and iPad.

Alex's stories are now available to keep. Click on the picture for more information. Vesta: My great grandfather Frederick Berryman emigrated out of Prussia-Saxe Coburg, Thuringia area (now Coburg County in Bavaria) in 1850, one of many leaving after failed 1848-49 unification effort. Years later he became a postmaster in East Texas. It was the then for postmasters to submit a name their post office or community to the US.

Postal OFfice. Frederick named it VESTA, Texas (1874-1901). The older generations of family didn't think to ask, and we younger generations only speculate: Frederick was an educated man, knew Latin, so evoking the goddess of fire and hearth is quite possible. Also there was a mid-1800s riverboat into East Texas named The Vesta, which he probably traveled on from Galveston to Sabine County TX. In Coburg there is a castle/fortification called The Vesta, but usually spelled with an E, Veste--which might be an ironic or nostalgic comment.

In our searches for the use of VESTA in mid-1800s we've found a few other towns in German areas and in German immigrant areas of the US. Martha Berryman Texas USA Dear Alex, Thank you very much for your informative website. I picked up a vesta recently, never heard of it before but liked it because its a cute size and I like the open cut gears.

I’ve given it a good oiling and clean and it sews like a dream. Annette Thank you for your article about L.O. Dietrich and Vesta sewing machines and for your invaluable website.

My Meister Klasse 101 is a direct descendant of the Vesta line. A Vesta engineer named Stark moved to Schweinfurt, Germany after the war and teamed up with Friedrich Meister, who had been a major Vesta dealer. Their Meister-Werke company produced sewing machines based on a Vesta that Stark had brought with him. The Meister company, as you probably know, was taken over by Viking Husquvarna around 1980. The Meister logo that appears on the Klasse 101 machines is very similar to the later Vesta logo and the design of the forward-reverse lever is virtually identical.

The Klasse 101s are beautiful, sturdy machines which sew well. I bought mine secondhand in 1978. It's still going strong and it's gorgeous, too.

Dear Sir Alec, With great pleasure and emotion I read your contribution on a sewing machine 'VESTA' It is a machine of my late mother which she received as a girl of thirteen years in 1939, when he learned the craft of seamstress. Until two years ago, all the time this machine worked with my mother, and now remains as a memory to me and I love to watch podmazujemi. Total War Shogun 2 Patch Gamecopyworld Fallout here. Once again, thanks for a nice story on this and all the other machines, which maintain a family in the skilled hands of majstoa sewing. Greetings from Stevan Novi Sad-Serbia CONTACT: Copyright ©.