Remains of the Singer Factory Wittenberge, Germany - some images

[JJN]

@Constabulary Thanks for the photos. I want to start learning the history of Singer now.

Did you get to see the clockworks in the clock tower? I would love to see some photos that mechanism.

[Matt S]

Very interesting, Folker. I'm very glad the buildings are still in use.

I find it interesting that Singer set up major factories in at least three different locations (Germany, Scotland, US) and were producing largely the same models in each of those locations. I wonder if demand simply outstripped supply for a long time, or if there was enough of a cost savings (shipping, tariffs) that it was worth building such large and expensive factories?

[shoepatcher]

Folker,

Thanks for the pics.  Great story.  I am amazed so much of the compound still survives.  It was big and a lot going on there.  No Singers made in Germany at this factory after the war? Hitler did nothing with the complex during the war?

glenn

Edited September 9, 2019 by shoepatcher

[fredk]

Thanks for sharing the photos. Its so good see the factory preserved. Those gates are simply magnificient

A. Its only on a forum like this that we enjoy looking at photos of an old factory!

B, 

2 hours ago, Matt S said:

I find it interesting that Singer set up major factories in at least three different locations (Germany, Scotland, US) and were producing largely the same models in each of those locations. I wonder if demand simply outstripped supply for a long time, or if there was enough of a cost savings (shipping, tariffs) that it was worth building such large and expensive factories?

I can't say for Germany, but in the UK in the early years of the 20th century import taxes on goods could be as high as 75%. The sewing machine was a luxury item so was taxed at about 50% on imported ones. Thats why Henry Ford opened his first English factory in Manchester in 1917 - to get round the import taxation of 25% to 50% on Ford vehicles. Plus goods made in Britain and exported were given a tax relief. So it would make commercial sense for Singer to have a British factory. Also at that time Scottish steel and iron was superior to any in Europe and Scotland had a very big iron producing industry.

[dikman]

Thanks mate, great photos and quite remarkable that the buildings not only survived but can still be used. If you didn't say where they were taken that "industrial style" of building could be anywhere in the UK.

[Constabulary]

13 hours ago, DrmCa said:

Is that East Germany? Did they make Veritas machine brand there after the war? My mother owned a Veritas machine. It was a royal pain to saw with as it was very finicky about the top thread adjustment and just would not saw well most of the time. Can't remember if it was East German made.

Yes, former East Germany (GDR). Well Veritas was the brand name, it´s well possible that other sewing machine manufacturers used Veritas as a model name too.

 

13 hours ago, JJN said:

@Constabulary Thanks for the photos. I want to start learning the history of Singer now.

Did you get to see the clockworks in the clock tower? I would love to see some photos that mechanism.

Unfortunately not. But in the exhibition they had some pictures of the clockwork. Not sure if the pics are online available.

They BTW have approx 20 domestic machines in their exhibition (mainly Singer domestic machines and some Veritas),  2 TEXTIMA industrial machines (Textima 17 and 31 - which are the same as the Singer 17K and 31K) but I did not take pics because I`m not really interested in domestic machines.

 

9 hours ago, shoepatcher said:

Folker,

Thanks for the pics.  Great story.  I am amazed so much of the compound still survives.  It was big and a lot going on there.  No Singers made in Germany at this factory after the war? Hitler did nothing with the complex during the war?

glenn

During WWII Singer Wittenberge still produced sewing machines as well as artillery shells and maybe other armaments. Durkopp did that as well.

Imagine that - Singer USA produced weapons in WWII (like the .45 Mod. 1911) for fighting the Germans and Singer Germany produces Artillery shells for fighting the Allied troops. Crazy! But what could Singer USA / Singer UK do at that time - not much I think. However - finally Europe and Germany have been liberated  - fortunately!!! And I´m still grateful for that!

Story goes that the Singer plant was not bombed whereas the City of Wittenberge got bombed as well as a factory right on the other side of the Elbe river in direct view of the Singer factory - if that is true - I don´t know. Not sure if they were able to drop bomb that princely in WWII.

After WWII (from mid 1950´s onward) Singer produced sewing machines in Karlsruhe (West Germany) where they took over the Haid & Neu sewing machine factory. Thats where the "G" Models came from (like 111G156, 212G141, 307G2 and the like) They closed in 1982 - sadly!

 

1 hour ago, dikman said:

Thanks mate, great photos and quite remarkable that the buildings not only survived but can still be used. If you didn't say where they were taken that "industrial style" of building could be anywhere in the UK. 

Not all of them but approx 40 Co´s found their space in this facility as well as a school and I hope they will restore the unused buildings as well.

Yeah - I really like these old brick building very much! Sadly the plant in Kilbowie, UK has been demolished. Or does someone know if some of the buildings have survived?

How is it in Elisabeth, NJ - all demolished?

 

I just found this Video - looks small , right? I´m pretty sure there where more buildings back then.

 

Edited September 10, 2019 by Constabulary

[CaptainBlack]

Folker, keep on sharing the history you find. Pictures and all the paragraphs you wish to write. We will be here to read it and soak it up. Thanks, Matthew.

[Wizcrafts]

19 minutes ago, Professor said:

I partly restored my Mom's and Granma's ( and possibly Great Granma) Singer foot pedal machine, using the table and top hatch from the stripped down cabinet of a later model to replace the oil perished wood.

This reply is totally off topic and not even about an industrial leather sewing machine. It is a hijack of the existing topic. All such replies will be hidden.

[Bert51]

Thanks Wiz.

[Mizzy]

Constabulary thank you so much for the pictures and information. I have German heritage, and because of this, I tend to collect Singers with G like my 307g, 111g, and 212g. I know a lot more about what the G means now!