Alex has spent a lifetime in the sewing industry and is considered one of the foremost experts of pioneering machines and their inventors. He has written extensively for trade magazines, radio, television, books and publications world wide. 

Established in 1852, Bradbury & Co. was Britain and Europe ’s first sewing machine manufacturer. They produced sewing machines right up until just before the great Wall Street Crash of 1929. As well as sewing machines they produced prams, bicycles and later motorcycles.

Europe's oldest sewing machine manufacturer est 1852 bradbury, oldham

medium VSs Bradbury sewing machine

The Bradbury machines became famous for their reliability and endurance and won many gold medals at exhibitions all around the world.

 
A beautiful Bradbury Wellington circa 1890

The huge Wellington Works in Oldham employed around 500 workers. Some of their machines were marked with the Duke of Wellington badge. His profile sits proudly on the bed of this machine as if still waiting for Napoleon at Waterloo .

Bradbury also sold machines to other dealers who, if they bought enough, could have their own name on the machine and sell them as their own.

This changed a bit with the Trade Description Act of the 1890's. Before this period there were fewer laws to protect the consumer.

Similar to the Jones Cat Back but this Bradbury sold as a Chas Todd.
 

The hand built machines were individually numbered pieces that were uniquely made and finished for each machine, they would fit no other. All Bradbury machines are collected today and represent superb British engineering.

A rare early Bradbury with Sturmey Archer gears now more common on bicycles.

Well that's it, I do hope you enjoyed my work. I spend hours accumulating, researching and writing these pages and I love to hear from people so drop me a line and let me know what you thought: alexsussex@aol.com

Fancy a good read: Ena Wilf  & The One-Armed Machinist

A brilliant slice of 1940's life: Spies & Spitfires

Alex's stories are now available to keep. Click on the picture for more information.

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