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Emdeko Sewing Machines

  Types • History • Photos • Serial Numbers

March 28, 2024

Dating An Emdeko Sewing Machine Using Logo and Trademark Information.

Original logo is text only "Emdeko" (usually written in cursive script and sometimes inside a shield shaped emblem):

New logo adds a house shaped graphic surrounding block text:

Machine logoCase logoManual logo Trademark
TM/R		Estimated date
of manufacture
Original1963-1970
New 1969-1976
OriginalOriginal1963-1969
Original New1968-1970
NewNew1969-1976
OriginalOriginal (or no case)OriginalTM1963-1965
Original Original (or no case)OriginalR1965-1969
OriginalNew OriginalR1968-1969
OriginalNew (or no case)NewTM 1968-1969
NewNew (or no case)NewTM1969-1971
NewNew (or no case)NewR (or none)1971-1976

Click here for an interactive version of this chart

Other combinations, such as new logo on machine with original logo on case or manual indicate those items may not be original to the machine and offer little assistance identifying the manufacture date of the machine itself.

Note: Cases and manuals may not be original to a machine and may only help suggest a likely time frame for manufacture, they do not confirm dates.

Logos printed on manuals and cases were able to be updated fairly quickly, but metal logos on machines took longer, perhaps a year, as evidenced by machines with original logos in cases with new logos. Some manuals with the new logo had no trademark (TM/R). It appears that new logo manuals originally had TM, and after the trademark was registered, TM was dropped and no R was added.

Manuals with original logo and TM or no trademark were printed from 1963-1965, with R from 1965-1969. Manuals with new logo and TM were printed from 1969-1971, and with R or no trademark from 1971-1976.

The original, text only Emdeko trademark, awarded to National Housewares, Inc. was first used in commerce in February 1963 and registered in March 1965. It expired in June 1985. The new logo trademark, awarded to Emdeko International, Inc. was first used in commerce in July 1969 and registered in June 1971. It expired in November 1992.

Emdeko Sewing Machine Types

These are the five apparent types of Emdeko sewing machines, from earliest to latest:

Type 1: Craftsmanship Zig Zag, Reverse Lever, No Cams.
Type 2: Craftsmanship Zig Zag, Reverse Lever, With Cams.
Type 3: Zig Zag, Reverse Button, With Cams, Internal Motor.
Type 4: Mark IV Multi Purpose Select-n-Sew, No Cams.
Type 5: LT-72 Multi Purpose Select-n-Sew, With Cams.

There may be other types or models and further information is welcomed regarding different models.

To quickly identify a Type 1 to Type 3 machine, if it doesn't have a cam door, it's a Type 1. If it doesn't have a reverse lever, it's a Type 3. If it has both it's a Type 2.

Types 1-3 above are the same machine with several modifications. The most obvious changes are that Type 2 adds cams and Type 3 has selectable needle position, a reverse button rather than lever, drops the "Craftsmanship" badge and has an internal rather than external motor. Types 4 and 5 are very similar to each other with distinct design differences. It's not known if different types were manufactured simultaneously or if they were sequential, with a new type replacing the previous. If they were manufactured sequentially, it's possible the Zig Zag machines were manufactured from 1963 to 1970, the Mark IV from 1970 to 1972 and the LT‑72 from 1972 to 1976.

"JA-##" or "JC-##", etc. stamped on vintage sewing machines made in Japan are factory codes, not model numbers. They may be used to help identify the manufacturer and/or factory location.

All information on this page should be prefaced with the word "possibly" and is subject to correction when new details arise.

 Emdeko History

National Housewares, Inc. was formed in the early 1960's and first used the Emdeko trademark in commerce in February 1963. Emdeko is derived from the names of National Houseware's founders: Easy Pipella, Mike Pipella, Dave Bigler, Eddie Gilson, Keith Bigler and Owen Bigler. National Housewares was not a sewing machine manufacturer. They were a wholesaler who purchased many household items from manufacturers, including sewing machines, badged with the Emdeko trademark, and sold them to distributers, who sold them to the public.

National Housewares had 3 distributors in 1961, 200 in 1970, but only 34 remaining by 1976.

In 1970, sales were approximately $15,000,000. This includes all products, not just sewing machines. Subsidies included J.O. Ackley Co. (firearms) and Jet Star Industries (sewing machines, etc.)

National Housewares and their distributors were the subject of numerous investigations by the Federal Trade Commission and various State Attorney's General almost from the beginning. Complaints were filed for deceptive and high pressure sales tactics. Potential customers were led to believe they were participating in market research and would be entered into a sweepstakes to win free Emdeko products. In reality there was no market survey or sweepstakes, they were just being sold products.

In 1968 the FTC placed National Housewares under a consent decree ordering them to cease and desist the deceptive sales practices. The consent decree didn't include the usual language binding successors to the repondents business, and in December 1969 Emdeko International was incorporated, with National Housewares now becoming a division of Emdeko, and the sales practices continued.

In 1974, the FTC reopened the 1968 consent decree and issued a new complaint against Emdeko International for the same business practices. Proceedings lasted several years, with a Final Order being issued in November 1977, prohibiting the deceptive sales practices. This pretty much ended any futher activity by the company. Emdeko had run a test during the proceedings and found that "consumers who were advised that they would be the target of a sales pitch declined to subject themselves to it."

It seems likely that 1975 or 1976 would have been the last possible years that any sewing machines would have been made for Emdeko. The last trademark or corporate filings for Emdeko were in September 1977. Publicily traded Emdeko shares were liquidated in June 1979. Their Utah corporate registration expired in December 1980 and their California corporate registration expired in July 1981. Emdeko's original logo trademark expired in June 1985 and the new logo trademark expired in November 1992.

 Photos

Type 1
Emdeko Craftsmanship Type 1 Zig Zag sewing machine with Reverse lever without cams. With original logo and case with original logo. Note red "E" on stitch length dial and "Craftsmanship" badge below reverse lever. Circa 1963‑1969
Type 2
.Emdeko Craftsmanship Type 2 Zig Zag sewing machine with Reverse lever and cams. With original logo and case with new logo. Note red "E" on stitch length dial and "Craftsmanship" badge below reverse lever. Circa 1968‑1970
Type 2
.Emdeko Craftsmanship Type 2 Zig Zag sewing machine with Reverse lever and cams. With new logo and case with new logo. Note red "E" on stitch length dial and "Craftsmanship" badge below reverse lever. Circa 1969‑1976
Type 3
Emdeko Type 3 Zig Zag sewing machine with Reverse button and cams. With new logo and case with new logo. Note green "R" on reverse button at center of stitch length dial and lack of "Craftsmanship" badge below stitch length dial. Circa 1969‑1976
Mark IV
Emdeko Mark IV Select-n-Sew. With new logo and manual with new logo with no (TM). Circa 1971‑1976
LT-72
.Emdeko LT-72 Select-n-Sew with cams. Case with new logo. Circa 1969‑1976 (1972 or later would seem likely)
LT-72
Emdeko LT-72 Select-n-Sew face plate with new logo. Circa 1969‑1976 (1972 or later would seem likely)
Type 2
Back of Emdeko Type 1 Zig Zag sewing machine showing external motor.
Type 3
Back of Emdeko Type 3 Zig Zag sewing machine showing cam door and internal motor.
Type 1 and 2
Location of reverse lever and Craftsmanship badge on Type 1 and Type 2 Zig Zag sewing machines
Type 3
Location of serial number on Emdeko Craftsmanship Type 1 Zig Zag sewing machine
Manual
Emdeko Craftsmanship Type 1 and Type 2 Zig Zag manual. Tan, grey or yellow. Original logo with (R) trademark. Circa 1965‑1969
Manual
Emdeko Type 3 Zig Zag sewing machine manual. New logo with (TM) trademark. Circa 1969‑1971
Mark IV Manual
Emdeko Mark IV Select-n-Sew manual. New logo without (TM) or (R) trademark. Circa 1971‑1976
LT-72 Manual
Emdeko LT-72 Select-n-Sew manual. New logo without (TM) or (R) trademark. Circa 1971‑1976
Type
Detail from Emdeko Type 1 Zig Zag sewing machine manual, showing Reverse lever (#8) and no cams. Craftsmanship badge not shown on this image.
Type
Detail from Emdeko Type 2 Zig Zag sewing machine manual, showing Reverse lever (#8) and cam cover (#24).
Type 3
Detail from Emdeko Type 3 Zig Zag sewing machine manual, showing Reverse button (#8) and cam cover (#24).
LT-72
Detail from Emdeko Mark IV Select-n-Sew manual.
LT-72
Detail from Emdeko LT-72 Select-n-Sew manual.
Emdeko Cams
Decorative stitch cams for Emdeko Type 2 and Type 3 Zig Zag sewing machine
Emdeko Packaging
Emdeko sewing machine packaging for Type 1 Craftsmanship Zig Zag. Circa 1965‑1969
Emdeko Cutlery
Other Emdeko products. Sheffield Cutlery Set.
Emdeko Radio
Other Emdeko products. Transistor Radio.
Chiyoda zig zag
Chiyoda Zig Zag sewing machine. Looks suspiciously similar to an Emdeko.


Serial Numbers

It appears that Type 1 machines carried serial numbers with an "E" prefix, Type 2 machines started with "E" prefix and changed to "NH" prefix and Type 3 machines used the "NH" prefix. Mark IV machines appear to have numerical serial numbers. LT‑72 machines have "NH" prefix.

No examples of documentation connecting serial numbers with specific dates is yet available. It's possible, but pure speculation, the change from "E" to "NH" prefixes occurred in conjunction with National Housewares merging into Emdeko in December, 1969. If this is the case, machines with "E" serial numbers may date to 1969 and earlier, and "NH" serial numbers to 1969 or later.

Serial number NH-69744 is said to have been purchased new in 1970.

Here are a few known serial numbers ranges for these types:

1. Type 1 Craftsmanship Zig Zag: E‑16000 to E‑38000
2. Type 2 Craftsmanship Zig Zag: E‑18000 and NH‑#####
3. Type 3 Zig Zag: NH‑64000 to NH‑156000
4. Mark IV Multi Purpose Select‑n‑Sew: 8900 (Model #E56941)
5. LT‑72 Multi Purpose Select‑n‑Sew: NH 3700

Numbers stamped or etched on sewing machine motors are generally not the serial number or model number of the machine.

You Can Help

If you have documents showing original dates of purchase, warranty dates, etc. for your Emdeko sewing machine, you can help establish a database of serial numbers and dates that can assist other Emdeko owners in dating their machines using serial numbers. Please email photos of the documents and the machine to Fifteen50vsm@gmail.com.

Also, if you have those documents for other vintage sewing machine brands that are not already extensively documented, please send those as well to help create databases to help date those machines. Especially looking for Morse 4100/4300, Bel‑Air, and Free/Free Westinghouse dates and serial numbers.

Thank you!

If you find this information helpful, please consider donating to help support the website. Thank you.

Sources

 www.ftc.gov/../december_1977

uspto.report/../Emdeko-I-N-T-Inc

secure.utah.gov/bes/
Search term "Emdeko International"

bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search
Search term "Emdeko"

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