"From the History Buzz archives" a new and occasional look back

Before there was History Buzz, there were over 100 stories emailed to our readers from another platform. Every story dating back to April 2020 is archived on History Buzz to be explored and shared.

The 103 stories shared in the first year of COVID lockdowns include some treasures that we’d like to share with our newer readers. Today’s story is one of the first “What’s It Wednesdays” posted by History Buzz writer Marilyn Helmers on May 20, 2020

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It’s Spring! Flowers are blooming, birds are singing...

What's It Wednesdays

by Marilyn Helmers

Well, maybe not this one….

ACHC #1952.052.1

The clamp might make you think that this bird belongs in a carpentry shop. Think again. This is a sewing bird!

Sewing clamps were used first in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe. However, on February 12, 1853, Charles Waterman of Meriden, Connecticut, received the US patent for a "feathered bird upon the wing, bearing a burden upon its back."

The sewing bird could be clamped to a table so a woman could secure the fabric in the bird’s beak. It provided the 3rd hand that kept the fabric secure while sewing. Oh, and the burden the bird carries on its back? It’s an emery cushion for sharpening needles. At the bird's feet is a pin cushion. Very handy!

A lot of sewing for many households was done by hand. The sewing birds grew in popularity as an engagement present of sorts. A young man would present his fiancée with a sewing bird, months before the wedding, so she could prepare all the items she would need for her trousseau!

In the late 1800's and early 1900's, with the increased popularity of sewing machines, sewing birds were still used. In fact, The Singer Sewing Machine Company produced them as accessories until 1980.

Have you ever heard of sewing birds or do you have one still?

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Adding to Marilyn’s original post from May 2020, here are some detailed photographs of the History Center’s sewing bird.

Waterman sewing bird, ACHC #1952.052.1

Patent date Feb. 15, 1855

The fabric being sewn would be held in the bird’s beak. (Don’t mind the blue glove. Curators wear cotton or nitrile gloves to protect artifacts from the oils on our fingers.)

You can see the spring mechanism in this view. (I was inconsistent with my gloves! In this shot I was wearing white cotton gloves.)

Feather details

Check out the thistle detail in this view of the sewing bird. You can also see the original gold-toned finish that rubbed off over the last 150+ years.

So much detail!

The Western Illinois Museum published an article on the Waterman sewing bird. You can read the article here.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this revisit and deeper dive into one of the first What’s It Wednesday posts.

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~Elaine