Janome
| Type | Public KK |
|---|---|
| Traded as | TYO: 6445 |
| Industry | Sewing machines |
| Founded | Japan, (1921) |
| Headquarters | Hachioji, Japan |
| Net income |
 1,207 million yen (to March 2008) [1] |
| Employees | 3,636 (2008)[2] |
| Website | www.janome.com |
Janome (蛇の目ミシン工業 Janome Mishin Kōgyō, Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.) is a Japanese company that is one of the leading manufacturers of sewing machines worldwide, with manufacturing plants in Japan, Taiwan and Thailand.[2]
History
The Pine Sewing Machine factory was founded on October 16, 1921. In 1935, the Janome trademark was established, and the company was renamed to Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd. in 1954.[3] As one of many manufacturers selling in the USA, its subsidiary Janome America based in Mahwah, New Jersey, also owns Swiss-brand Elna. The company manufactures all of its machines in the same factories.
Around 1862, William Barker and Andrew J. Clark began producing the "The Pride of the West" machine, later calling it the "New England Single Thread Hand Sewing Machine" after moving the plant to Orange, Massachusetts in 1867. Over the next few years, the New England machine and the "Home Shuttle" were their two most significant products. In 1882, the company reformed under the name New Home (a combination of the labels New England and Home Shuttle). The company ran into financial difficulties in the 1920s and was taken over by The Free Sewing Machine Company in 1930, after they temporarily ran the business for two years. In 1960, New Home and the "New Home" brand were purchased by the Janome Sewing Machine Company of Tokyo, Japan. Janome was the first to develop a computerized machine for home use (the Memory 7, in 1979), the first to offer professional style embroidery to the home market (the Memory Craft 8000, in 1990) and the first to offer a long-arm quilting machine for home use (the Memory Craft 6500P, in 2003).[4]
Name
The name "Janome" (蛇の目) literally means "snake's eye" and was taken from the appearance of the latest bobbin design. At the time of brand establishment in 1935, the round bobbin system was the more advanced technology replacing the traditional long shuttle type. As the new round bobbin looks like a snake's eye, Janome was chosen as the company's name.[3]
Janome is also the name of the traditional Japanese bull's-eye umbrella design.
Machines
Machines produced by Janome range from basic sewing, quilting and embroidery through to specialty machines for overlocking (serging), embroidery, fibre arts, machines for schools and compact models. The range includes electronic and computerised machines that can be updated via software and there is a treadle for power-free sewing.
Brands manufactured by Janome include Kenmore for Sears, Artistic Sewing Suite, Elna and all Janome brands. Additionally, brands like Necchi are made in their Asian factories.
References
- ↑ "Janome Consolidated Financial Results" (PDF). Janome. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Janome Corporate Profile". Janome. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Janome History". Janome. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
- ↑ "Janome - About Janome". Janome.