Trimmers have a long and storied past – one that we should all be proud of. Those who came before us upholstered everything from horse carriages to bicycles until cars came along. And when the airplane was invented, guess who they called upon to design their seats?
While researching a little bit of our history online, I came across three beautiful pictures that depict what it was like working as an auto trimmer in the early to mid 1900s. They’re featured below.
Vehicle trim and upholstery factory owned by Fisher Body Corporation / General Motors, 1934
A woman sewing motor covers at the Ford Motor Company Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1943.
Men sewing vehicle seat covers at Britain’s Austin Motor Company, circa 1950.
Karen Edwards says
September 6, 2012 at 7:37 pmLove these pics!
Naseem Muaddi says
September 6, 2012 at 11:13 pmAwesome pictures! I bet those Singer machines are still running today.
Selvage says
September 6, 2012 at 11:54 pmI think I owned one of those machines once!
CousinVinny says
September 7, 2012 at 1:24 amIf they’re using treadle machines, they must have legs like rugby players!
EDWARD MUNDAY says
September 7, 2012 at 10:23 amRETIRED… LOOKS LIKE THE AUTO MAUFACTURES HAD SWEATSHOPS ALSO. SO THATS HOW FORD PUT A FORD IN EVERY DRIVEWAY.
Queiros says
September 7, 2012 at 12:52 pmI thought exactly the same thing that Naseem comented when i saw the first picture!!
Nadeem Muaddi says
September 8, 2012 at 6:25 pmI’m glad that you all enjoyed the photos. I’m working on tracking down a few more!
Gjudd says
September 11, 2012 at 9:19 pmI think we have one of them old singers…..
rich says
September 13, 2012 at 1:44 amExcellent pictures! Check out the lady sewing in a jacket…gotta be sweatin on a hot day.
Edward Munday says
May 31, 2014 at 3:55 pmRetired…Reminds Me Of Some Of The Furniture Shops I Worked In In The Late 60’s And Early 70’s. I Also Worked In A Shop Called Trapuntos Which If You Look Up the word Traputo It Means, A Puffy, Decorative Feature. They Made The Sample Cards Like In “The Detroit Book”. And They All Looked Like Sweat Shops But Some Who Worked There Are Probably Millionairs Today.