Hunters Return Bert Ingraham & Chas. Wilson 1895

Hunters Return Bert Ingraham & Chas. Wilson 1895

"Hunters Return": Bert Ingraham & Charles Wilson in September of 1895 This appears to be the Taxidermy work shop at the home of Charles Coombs. Note the stuffed birds as well as a sewing machine which may have been used in the process. The gentleman on the left may, in fact, be Coombs himself. The hunting dogs look very much like Coombs' dogs (Spot, Rex or Victor). Miscellaneous notes: Lighting available in the room is provided by both kerosene lamp and electric light. Note the two creels hanging on the wall. The hunters are in possession of two shot guns as seen in the photograph. The gun in the foreground may be an Iver Johnson. There looks to be nearly a dozen birds from the recent hunt (partridge and woodcock) as well as a few of Mr. Coombs stuffed versions. On the right the prominent bird appears to be a Great Horned Owl with threads wrapping its body (part of the taxidermy process?) Just below the owl the hide of a raccoon can be seen. Note the American sewing machine to the right which may have played a role in the taxidermy process. The American Sewing Machine Company was founded in Philadelphia towards the end of the American Civil War. The name was a perfect unification to reflect the new United States of America by Daniel Furber Nichols (1837-1899). Daniel Furber Nichols became the General Manager of the American Button Hole, Over-seaming and Sewing Machine Company after he mustered out of the Civil War. He had accepted the commission of Captain in Company G, 5th United States Colored Heavy Artillery and served in the post-War occupation of the South until 1866. He was honorably discharged on May 20, 1866, one of the very last Civil War volunteer officers to be mustered out. After the war Nichols took up residence in Philadelphia, and eventually became general manager of The American Buttonhole, Over-seaming and Sewing Machine Company. It was not long before the American Sewing Machine Co produced a normal sewing machine called the New American Sewing Machine. Interestingly their first sewing machines boasted an 1850 patent (a year before Isaac Singer produced his sewing machine and button hole machine improvements. The American Sewing Machine Co produced a range of attractive and practical sewing machines right up until the later part of the Victorian period. Their range included the Improved American and the High-Arm American, industrial, boot and leather machines. The American Sewing Machine Co brought out many patents from 1870 until 1881 but then development seems to have slowed. The company seems to have disappeared around 1896.