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HUSQVARNA
(1689 - nowadays) |
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On 27
April 1689 King Charles XI of Sweden authorised Count Eric Dahlberg
(architect)to build a musket manufacture. Thus, Husvarna Riflle Factory
was founded alongside the waterfalls in the village of Huskvarna.
The weapons were first manufactured for the Swedish army that fought
over lost territory against Denmark at the time. husqvarna kept on
manufacturing weapons for the army (for example mthe AK-4 automatic
carbine after the second World War), and grew interested in sporting
guns and produced over 100 different sporting models. |
A flintlock gun made in 1735, engraved with the old Husqvarna
factory emblem and the initials JJS. |
Husqvarna's first motorcycle, 1919 (500cc). |
The first Husqvarna emblem
| Husqvarna
is also well-known for its garden tools such as lawnmowers, chain
saws (still manufactured nowadays), as well as its heating stoves,
ranges, irons, meat mincers, scales, dishes, crockery, icecream machines,
as well as for its motorbikes, outboard motors, bicycles... |
| In 1872,
husqvarna manufactures its first sewing machine called the North
Star better known as the "Catback" on account
of its design. Only about 500 of these machines were made. After this
disappointment, Husqvarna decided to send Eskil Lindblad to the United
States on a study trip. |
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The drawing of the sub-frame
of the first Husqvarna  sewing machine, the North Star,
1872.
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Some
thirteen years after the creation of its first machine, Husqvarna
produced a second model which was to prove a great success : the Freja.
It was this third model that was manufactured from 1883 to 1925 !
The longest ever period of production in the Husqvarna factory. Over
200.000 of these machines were sold. The Triumf was used by professional
seamstresses and tailors. It was as successful as the Freja. |
| Later,
the CB (Central Bobin) system was introduced and allowed the
machine to sew faster and to be less noisy. In 1934, the CBN Class
12 model was the first electric, Husqvarna sewing machine. It was
manufactured until 1958 when the rights were sold to Egypt.
1947
was the year of the first zigzag and free-arm machine that allowed
to sew tubular parts of clothes (sleeves, trousers's legs...). The
Husqvarna 2000 (1960) is the milestone of strechable seams thanks
to its automatic feed reverse system.
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Poster form the 40s |
Prior to
World War II output reached 40.000 machines per year. In 1946 it was 73.000.
In 1951 the figure passed the 100.000 mark.
Allan Eriksson,
a self-taught sewing machine technician, invented many systems. He managed
to secure 4 worldwide patents and over 20 national patents. he worked
for Husqvarna for over 50 years and invented, among others, the jam-proof
hook whose modern version is still in use on today's machines.
As soon as
1971, Husqvarna invented the life-long lubricating thanks to the use of
sintered steel (a Husqvarna patent) in the making of
its parts. The Husqvarna 6030 was the first self-lubricated machine
in the world. Five years later, Husqvarna produced a model containing
a microchip thus marking the beginning of the electronic machines era.
This nex feature allowed Husqvarna to manufacture the first "writing"
sewing machine in 1980 (Linnea 6690).
Milestones 1872 - 1960
Background
: The Husqvarna factory.
Foreground : The North Star, |
Today,
Husqvarna still produces sewing machines on the very spot that has
been witnessing its long history, in Huskvarna, and keeps on innovating.
The Prisma series, and today the Designer I are the
worthy followers of the North Star.
The Husqvarna logo nowadays
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Images from
various Husqvarna literature and books.
See the
Links and Bibliography pages.
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