Star
Patent/design registration not found
Needle Case (photographs courtesy of Bunny's Place)
Design Details
Needle Case Type: |
Figural |
Patent/Registered to: |
Unknown |
Patent/Design Representation #: |
Unknown |
Patent/Design Registration Date: |
Unknown |
Location of Patent/Design Registration: |
Unknown |
Reference #: |
Unknown |
Dimensions: |
7.7 diameter x 0.75 |
Material: |
Brass |
Name Variations: |
a) W. Avery & Son – Redditch and Wheeler & Wilson
b) W. Avery & Son – Redditch |
Other Variations: |
None |
Additional Photographs
Star open
Version without reference to Wheeler & Wilson (photographs from eBay)
Facts
The star is a geometric shape that consists of four or more points coming out from a center at equal distances. Humans created the
symbol based on the stars they saw in the sky. Fascination with the mystery of the night sky was captured in the 1806 English poem
which started “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are”.
History
Throughout history the star symbol has had many different meanings including ones having mystical or magical significance. In
religion, a four-pointed star resembles a cross and is used to represent the Star of Bethlehem or birth of Jesus. A five-pointed star
with a crescent symbolizes Islam whereas an upside down five-pointed star or pentagram represents the occult. Stars were also used to
signify unity and can be found on the flags of many different nations. The Israeli Flag with the six-pointed Star of David is the symbol
of the Jewish people. In the USA the five-pointed stars on the flag represent the 50 states of the union. The star is sometimes
used to symbolize rank or position especially in the military, such as that of a three-star general. It’s also used as a badge of honor
and can be found on military medals such as the Silver and Bronze Stars which are awarded to American soldiers for their heroic actions during
battle. Today stars are often used to acknowledge quality such as a four-star restaurant.
Miscellaneous
The national flag of Australia contains an interesting arrangement of stars. The Union Jack in the upper left corner signifies the
historic ties of Australia to Great Britain. Below the Union Jack one finds a seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star and on
the right side the cluster of stars represents the Southern Cross constellation, one of the most distinctive constellations in the Southern
Hemisphere.
Wheeler & Wilson
The Wheeler & Wilson Co of Bridgeport, Connecticut was one of the largest sewing machine manufacturers in the world during the Victorian
era. The company was founded around 1853 and their business expanded from 20,000 sewing machines being produced in 1859 to nearly
130,000 in 1871. They opened their first office in London in 1859 and by 1880 had 26 depots in Great Britain. The company won
numerous awards at expositions throughout the world between 1861 and 1889 which resulted in their claim in advertisements that their
sewing machines were the best in the world. The firm was taken over by Singer in 1904.
