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.

Small IS Beautiful

Tom Thumb Wedding

THE SMITHSONIAN Institution adds very few machines to its collection nowadays. Let's face it, the collection is pretty impressive as it is, and the museum suffers the same financial restraints as do others around the world.

But there was no hesitation in doing a deal for this three-quarter-size Wheeler & Wilson built specially for Mrs General Tom Thumb, wife of the star of the Barnum & Bailey Circus in the 1860s.

The machine, apart from its size, is conventional but the cabinet is painted in oils all around.

It may well have been a wedding present for the couple, as the picture on the rear shows them being married two miniature figures dwarfed by the guests.

The front of the cabinet shows Tom and his wife in patriotic poses taken from their circus act. GF

Tom Thumb Cabinet -- Open      Tom Thumb Wedding

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.