Gritzner Sewing Machine Company

Gritzner doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves, but it was one of the major players in Germany’s sewing machine boom. Founded in 1872 by Max Carl Gritzner, the company was based in Durlach, and it didn’t take long for them to make a name for themselves with well-built, good-looking machines. They were cranking out everything from basic domestic models to serious industrial gear, and by the early 1900s, Gritzner was right up there with the biggest manufacturers in Europe. Their designs are clever, often mechanically elegant, and you’ll still see them running today—which says a lot. If you come across one in good shape, it’s worth a closer look.