Merrow Sewing Machine Company
Encyclopedia
the Merrow Sewing Machine Company is a manufacturer of sewing machines, established in 1838 as the Merrow Company by J. Makens Merrow. Originally a gunpowder manufacturer, in 1837 the company built a knitting mill, and in 1887 evolved to design, build and market sewing machines exclusively. Best known for inventing the overlock
sewing machine
, it was renamed J. B. Merrow & Sons in 1888, then The Merrow Machine Company in 1893. Originally all of its manufacturing
was done at facilities in Merrow, Connecticut
and then in Hartford, Connecticut
. The company is currently based in Fall River, Massachusetts
.
At first the knitted goods were made largely of native wool which was sorted, scoured and dyed, picked, carded and spun into yarn and knitted into hosiery. The product was sold through commission merchants in New York and delivered to retail stores throughout New England by two-horse wagons. Following the gold rush of 1849 shipments of goods began to sail to San Francisco. As business increased, a small machine shop was started to support the equipment in the factory.
, who was president of the company until his death in 1947 at age 98.
The Merrow Machines were constructed under his direction prior to 1876 with numerous patents granted. The machines were so useful that business was undertaken to introduce the equipment to other textile manufacturers. In 1887 the knitting mill was destroyed by fire and the company moved to Hartford and reorganized concentrating on the manufacture of overlock sewing machines.
Between 1893 when the company was renamed the Merrow Machine Company, and 1932 when a line of "A Class" machines was introduced, Merrow had a significant impact on the textile industry. The technology and rate of innovation in this time, spearheaded by Joseph M. Merrow was unequaled in the industry. As a consequence there were several high profile legal confrontations, including Merrow v. Wilcox & Gibbs in 1897.
Sales for overlock sewing machines were strong and Merrow grew to employ more than 500 people in Hartford Ct. The company also excelled developing international distribution and by 1905 had agents in 35 countries and printed manuals in at least 12 languages.
In 1955, Merrow patented the Merrow MG-3U Emblem Machine.
In the mid 1960s Merrow opened a manufacturing facility in Lavonia GA to reduce costs and maintain proximity to an American textile market that was moving from New York City to the American South East.
In the 1990s Merrow developed a new overlock machine called the Delta Class, but was never able to gain traction with the new model.
In 2004 shareholders of the Merrow Machine Co. agreed to a buyout of the company by Charlie Merrow, and it was renamed the Merrow Sewing Machine Company.
The company has capitalized on the trademarks "merrowed" and "merrowing", working with manufacturers who use Merrow Machines to brand and market "merrow" stitching.
In 2008 Merrow developed a social network for stitching named merrowing.com, and introduced series of rich media web based tools to help people research and understand the myriad of stitches produced by Merrow Machines.
, and is managed by Charlie Merrow
and Owen Merrow great great nephews of Joseph M. Merrow. The company continues to build many models of overlock sewing machines. In addition to being one of the most recognized brand
s of textile
equipment in the world, it remains the oldest manufacturer of sewing machine
s still made in the United States
.
1838: J. Makins Merrow founds the first knitting mill in American in partnership with his son, Joseph M. Merrow, under the name J. M. Merrow and Son. This knitting mill is located on the site of the old gunpowder mill in Mansfield, Connecticut.
1840s: A machine shop is established at the Merrow mill to develop specialized machinery for the knitting operations.
1877: The world's first crochet machine is invented and patented by Joseph M. Merrow, then-president of the company.
1892: A need for expansion leads Merrow to rebuild its plant in Hartford, Connecticut.
1894–1947: Over 100 patents are issued in the Merrow name, most notably for the first shell-stitching machine and the first butt-seaming machine.
1964: Merrow expands operations in the South by opening Franklin Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary, in Lavonia, Georgia.
1972: Merrow acquires the Arrow Tool Company of Wethersfield, Connecticut, a machining subcontractor.
1982: Merrow moves its location from Hartford to Newington, Connecticut.
2004: Charlie Merrow
and Owen Merrow great grandsons of Lena Bryant
(and great nephews to Joseph B. Merrow) with their father Robert Merrow, organize a buyout of the Merrow Machine Company and move its headquarters to Wareham, Massachusetts, changing its name to The Merrow Sewing Machine Company.
2005: Merrow announces it will continue production of all major lines of sewing machines.
2008: Merrow develops and releases a dozen web based tools including video, interactive application & stitch finders, the social network for stitching named merrowing.com, a "needle configurator" and a new online store
2010: After moving to Fall River, MA into the historic Granite Mill Buildings, Merrow opens the only Sample Room® for industrial sewing machines in the USA, and adds custom built industrial sewing machines to its standard product line.
Overlock
An overlock stitch sews over the edge of one or two pieces of cloth for edging, hemming or seaming. Usually an overlock sewing machine will cut the edges of the cloth as they are fed through , though some are made without cutters...
sewing machine
Sewing machine
A sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric, cards and other material together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing companies...
, it was renamed J. B. Merrow & Sons in 1888, then The Merrow Machine Company in 1893. Originally all of its manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
was done at facilities in Merrow, Connecticut
Mansfield, Connecticut
Mansfield is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,720 at the 2000 census.Mansfield was incorporated in October 1702 from the Town of Windham, in Hartford County. When Windham County was formed on 12 May 1726, Mansfield then became part of that county...
and then in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. The company is currently based in Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
.
From gunpowder to knitting mills
In the early 19th Century Mr. Joseph Makens Merrow became interested in the manufacture of gunpowder and established a powder mill 24 miles from Hartford Connecticut. When the Mill was destroyed by explosion in 1837 it was decided to build a knitting factory on the same site using water power from an adjacent river.At first the knitted goods were made largely of native wool which was sorted, scoured and dyed, picked, carded and spun into yarn and knitted into hosiery. The product was sold through commission merchants in New York and delivered to retail stores throughout New England by two-horse wagons. Following the gold rush of 1849 shipments of goods began to sail to San Francisco. As business increased, a small machine shop was started to support the equipment in the factory.
The first overlock machine
In Conjunction with the knitting business, the first Crochet Machines were constructed for finishing around the tops of men's socks in place of handwork. The Merrow machine as it is now known, was an invention of Mr. Joseph M. MerrowJoseph M. Merrow
Joseph Millard Merrow was president of the Merrow Machine Company.Merrow was born in the community of Merrow, town of Mansfield in Connecticut. His parents were J. B. Merrow and Harriet Millard Merrow...
, who was president of the company until his death in 1947 at age 98.
The Merrow Machines were constructed under his direction prior to 1876 with numerous patents granted. The machines were so useful that business was undertaken to introduce the equipment to other textile manufacturers. In 1887 the knitting mill was destroyed by fire and the company moved to Hartford and reorganized concentrating on the manufacture of overlock sewing machines.
The Merrow Machine Company
In Hartford the company focused on building lines of industrial overlock sewing machines that were used to overedge fabric, add decorative edging and support the fabric processing trade by joining fabrics.Between 1893 when the company was renamed the Merrow Machine Company, and 1932 when a line of "A Class" machines was introduced, Merrow had a significant impact on the textile industry. The technology and rate of innovation in this time, spearheaded by Joseph M. Merrow was unequaled in the industry. As a consequence there were several high profile legal confrontations, including Merrow v. Wilcox & Gibbs in 1897.
Sales for overlock sewing machines were strong and Merrow grew to employ more than 500 people in Hartford Ct. The company also excelled developing international distribution and by 1905 had agents in 35 countries and printed manuals in at least 12 languages.
In 1955, Merrow patented the Merrow MG-3U Emblem Machine.
In the mid 1960s Merrow opened a manufacturing facility in Lavonia GA to reduce costs and maintain proximity to an American textile market that was moving from New York City to the American South East.
In the 1990s Merrow developed a new overlock machine called the Delta Class, but was never able to gain traction with the new model.
In 2004 shareholders of the Merrow Machine Co. agreed to a buyout of the company by Charlie Merrow, and it was renamed the Merrow Sewing Machine Company.
The Merrow Machine Company today
After the reorganization in Massachusetts, the company released notice that it would continue supporting most models of sewing machines manufactured after 1925, and would re-release to market new versions of its most popular models.The company has capitalized on the trademarks "merrowed" and "merrowing", working with manufacturers who use Merrow Machines to brand and market "merrow" stitching.
In 2008 Merrow developed a social network for stitching named merrowing.com, and introduced series of rich media web based tools to help people research and understand the myriad of stitches produced by Merrow Machines.
Present day
the Merrow Machine Company is now based in Fall River, MassachusettsFall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
, and is managed by Charlie Merrow
Charlie Merrow
Charles Griswold Merrow Charles Griswold Merrow Charles Griswold Merrow (born November 11, 1976 is an entrepreneur who is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Merrow Sewing Machine Company. He is the great grandson of Lane Bryant and great great nephew to Joseph M. Merrow, who was the inventor of...
and Owen Merrow great great nephews of Joseph M. Merrow. The company continues to build many models of overlock sewing machines. In addition to being one of the most recognized brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
s of textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
equipment in the world, it remains the oldest manufacturer of sewing machine
Sewing machine
A sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric, cards and other material together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing companies...
s still made in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Timeline
1822: J. Makens Merrow purchases a powder mill in Mansfield, Connecticut for the manufacture of gunpowder. The mill is destroyed shortly thereafter by a gunpowder explosion.1838: J. Makins Merrow founds the first knitting mill in American in partnership with his son, Joseph M. Merrow, under the name J. M. Merrow and Son. This knitting mill is located on the site of the old gunpowder mill in Mansfield, Connecticut.
1840s: A machine shop is established at the Merrow mill to develop specialized machinery for the knitting operations.
1877: The world's first crochet machine is invented and patented by Joseph M. Merrow, then-president of the company.
1892: A need for expansion leads Merrow to rebuild its plant in Hartford, Connecticut.
1894–1947: Over 100 patents are issued in the Merrow name, most notably for the first shell-stitching machine and the first butt-seaming machine.
1964: Merrow expands operations in the South by opening Franklin Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary, in Lavonia, Georgia.
1972: Merrow acquires the Arrow Tool Company of Wethersfield, Connecticut, a machining subcontractor.
1982: Merrow moves its location from Hartford to Newington, Connecticut.
2004: Charlie Merrow
Charlie Merrow
Charles Griswold Merrow Charles Griswold Merrow Charles Griswold Merrow (born November 11, 1976 is an entrepreneur who is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Merrow Sewing Machine Company. He is the great grandson of Lane Bryant and great great nephew to Joseph M. Merrow, who was the inventor of...
and Owen Merrow great grandsons of Lena Bryant
Lane Bryant
Lane Bryant is a United States retail women's clothing store chain focusing on plus-size clothing. It began in the early 1900s with the innovative maternity designs created by Lena Himmelstein Bryant Malsin. -Beginning:...
(and great nephews to Joseph B. Merrow) with their father Robert Merrow, organize a buyout of the Merrow Machine Company and move its headquarters to Wareham, Massachusetts, changing its name to The Merrow Sewing Machine Company.
2005: Merrow announces it will continue production of all major lines of sewing machines.
2008: Merrow develops and releases a dozen web based tools including video, interactive application & stitch finders, the social network for stitching named merrowing.com, a "needle configurator" and a new online store
2010: After moving to Fall River, MA into the historic Granite Mill Buildings, Merrow opens the only Sample Room® for industrial sewing machines in the USA, and adds custom built industrial sewing machines to its standard product line.