ISMACS Logo

International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society

The purpose of the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society is to foster the collecting of, and research into, sewing machines.

The Hengstenburg & Anker Sewing Machine Companies

  • Mother's Help Sewing Machine

    (Photo: John Langdon, courtesy of Degia's Sewing Machine Collection, Leicester) 

  • Mother's Help Manual
  • The "Mother's Help" machine was made in Germany by Hengstenburg (later Anker) for export, primarily to the UK. It has a transverse, boat-shaped shuttle - modeled on the Singer 12 - and also takes a 12x1 needle.

ISMACS is an organization totally independent of all sewing-machine manufacturers, past or present and is not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in these pages.  Please Note: Do not contact any ISMACS official in an attempt to solicit a valuation - it is not possible other than by hands-on assessment and your request will be ignored.

All rights reserved by ISMACS, under International and Pan American copyright conventions. Reproduction or copy of this page, in any form, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited, without prior, written permission.