Featured Moldacot Patent Pocket Sewing Machine (1886)

Now this is something totally weird.



Manufactured from 1886-1888, the Moldacot Patent Pocket Sewing Machine was one of the biggest commercial flops in history. When it came out it took the sewing machine industry by storm - a full lockstitch sewing machine in a pocket! It had adjustable stitch-length, thread-tensioning, a bobbin-winder, a hand-crank attachment on the side, a bobbin, a shuttle...EVERYTHING that a full-sized machine had.

Unfortunately, for all it solid engineering and marketing hype, the machine was never properly quality-tested. As a result, it never actually...you know...WORKED!! Because of this, within a couple of years it had become a complete flop. Today it's useful only as a historical curiosity. But what a curiosity! Most people have never seen one, and that's precisely why I bought this!

 

According to the research I've done, and the experts I've spoken to, it's not a rare-rare machine, but it is certainly rather notorious!

 

I had one of these a couple of years ago. It sold for about £50 at auction, which was a bit of a disappointment, I thought. It did not have the box, which would have boosted it a bit.

 

That sounds pretty low, but yes, I suspect the lack of a box would've had something to do with it. From what I've seen, they tend to fetch about 150-ish pounds at auction or thereabouts.

 

It's glorious. Another great 'show and tell', Shangas!

 

What a fun piece!

 

LOOK!! The bobbin and shuttle for my Moldacot!

Ain't they just the tiniest things ever!?

 

This is so neat! I’m so glad you shared it here along with the info Thanks!

 

Well, I can certainly say I had never seen or heard of one before tonight!!!!! Too bad it was a flop, 'cuz it sure beats any other small portable!!!! Thanks Shangas!!

 

They're not exactly common machines. But they are cute