Sewing Bird, Brass Pat. Feb. 15, 1853

This sewing bird is, I believe is one of the earlier.  The brass is very heavy, the design is crisp as is the wording on the wings.  The later birds have rather obscure wording.  Clearly visible is:  Patented Feb. 15, 1853.  The screw works well, the spring to open the beak works well.  The pin cushion on his back has gone missing over the years.  There is no evidence that there was a pin cushion on the clamp.  The sewing bird was invented in the 19^th century to assist ladies with their hand sewing.  The fabric could be put into the bird's beak and there it would be held taut.  The sewing machine had not yet come to be and having that third hand to hold fabric was a great help!  The patent was obtained by Charles Waterman on Feb 15, 1853 though he had been selling them for a while prior to this.  Not long after, the sewing bird took a romantic turn.  Young men began presenting their brides to be with a sewing bird months before the wedding so that she could sew the necessities for her trousseau.