Harry Berzack’s unique collection of antique sewing machines wowed visitors on three tours at The Fox Company in Charlotte, Tuesday, Oct. 18. The tours were sponsored by the Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) as a fundraising opportunity for the organization’s educational programs for students. Berzack, president of The Fox Co., treated guests to a personally guided tour of his collection of sewing machines from throughout the world; most of his collection predates 1900 and chronicles the development of the sewing industry—and of society at that time. He even pulled a couple of love letters, dating from about 1899, out of a secret cubbyhole he’d found in one of his acquisitions (from a cabinet machine produced in 1870; it seems the owner of the machine had received a proposal from the author of the letters but had turned him down; his response, read aloud, told her that he was glad they’d remain friends, a time-honored romantic sentiment that got some chuckles from the audience.
For more information on the sewing machine museum, read the article printed in the August 2016 edition of the Review: http://specialtyfabricsreview.com/2016/08/01/touching-history-the-sewing-machine/
For more information on the IFF and its current programs and educational opportunities, visit: http://www.ifai.com/industrial-fabrics-foundation/