The Singer Family Tomb, Torquay.

3/4/2015

Although not quite Brixham, this is an important piece of history for Torbay.
Isaac Singer, the Victorian inventor of the Singer sewing machines, and the man who had Oldway Mansion built based on his fortune, was laid to rest in his family's tomb in the cemetery in Hele, Torquay. This is something some of our theatre team discovered the other day while on our way to a photoshoot. To this day, many of our theatre costumes are made on a Singer sewing machine which must be over 100 years old, and is still working perfectly.

3 Comments

Maggie

3/4/2015 02:47:52 pm

Your machine looks like mine, except mine works by a treadle rather than the handle. It belonged to my grandmother and the stitch length control no longer works properly so I can't use it. I believe it was made around the 1920s. I had no idea about the grave so I found that very interesting. I shall have to go and have a look.

Penny Yokubaitis

4/4/2015 01:23:30 am

Thanks so much for this interesting information. I read I.M. Singer's biography and he was, indeed, a very interesting and gifted personality. He was also responsible for several other inventions that benefited industry that are much less know. He fathered 24 children and had 3 wives at the same time!!! What a unique man! I collect his antique and vintage sewing machines. They have changed and improved our nation and yours!
Again, Thanks for these photos and best wishes to you and your endeavors!
Penny Yokubaitis
Houston, Texas
USA

meredith mcclung

10/2/2020 02:38:54 pm

Thank you for the photos. My grandmother married Paris Graham Singer, Isaac's grandson by Paris Singer. Pat's home was Oldway, Paghton, Davon. Pat was a submarine captain in WWI at age 21. He was awarded a medal for saving most of his crew when the sub was torpedoed. i have his pocket BCP that he kept with him during the war. Eventually he moved to the 'States, where he met my now divorced grandmother Claire Parks Singer. He died suddenly in 1951 of a brain tumour.

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