International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society

Fostering the collecting of, and research into, sewing machines.

C. A. Wood Company

The C. A. Wood Company of Philadelphia was active during the late 19th century and is best known for producing the High-Arm Philadelphia Singer sewing machine—a model closely resembling the popular Singers of the era. Like many manufacturers of the time, C. A. Wood capitalized on Singer’s success by offering a similar design, often paired with their own treadle tables. In addition to sewing machines, the company briefly ventured into the booming bicycle market, advertising models such as the “Faultless” 22 and 31. Though surviving records are scarce, C. A. Wood’s legacy lives on through surviving machines and instruction manuals from the 1880s that continue to circulate among collectors and historians.

Philadelphia Singer Treadle Table
"Philadelphia Singer" Instruction Manual
Original instruction manual for the "Philadelphia Singer" machine, providing essential operation guidance, maintenance tips, and historical context for this unique C. A. Wood Company sewing machine.