Merrow Sewing Machine Company
An American industrial sewing-machine manufacturer best known for developing and commercializing overlock and crochet sewing machines.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Merrow Sewing Machine Company is an American manufacturer of industrial sewing equipment with roots in a nineteenth-century knitting enterprise founded by Joseph Makens Merrow in Connecticut. The company is particularly associated with the invention and development of the crochet or overlock machine, equipment used to finish fabric edges, create decorative borders, join textile panels, and produce specialized seams. Its history links early American textile manufacturing with the evolution of dedicated industrial machinery for hosiery and apparel production. Merrow's origins followed the destruction of Joseph Makens Merrow's gunpowder mill in 1837. In 1838, Merrow and his son established a knitting mill on the former mill site, using nearby water power. The business initially produced hosiery and other knitted goods from wool and later cotton. A machine shop was created to maintain and improve the mill's equipment. The company eventually developed crochet machines to replace hand-finishing work on the tops of men's socks. These machines became sufficiently useful and distinctive that Merrow began selling them to other textile manufacturers rather than using them only internally. The enterprise operated under several partnership and corporate names during the nineteenth century, including Joseph M. Merrow & Sons, Pitkin, Merrow & Co., Merrow Manufacturing Co., Merrow and Millard, and J.B. Merrow and Sons. After the knitting mill was destroyed by fire in 1887, the business reorganized around machine manufacturing and moved its principal production activity to Hartford, Connecticut. By the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it was focused on industrial overlock machines and related equipment. The company developed machines for overedging, shell stitching, butt seaming, decorative edging, and other textile processes. Merrow expanded beyond the United States through an international agent network. By 1905, it reportedly had agents in 35 countries and published technical manuals in at least 12 languages. Its strong patent position and technical innovation also produced legal disputes, including patent litigation involving Wilcox & Gibbs in the 1890s. The company employed more than 500 people in Hartford during a period when its machines were widely used across the textile industry. Later developments included the MG-3U Emblem Machine, patented in 1955, expansion into the American Southeast through a Lavonia, Georgia facility in the 1960s, and the acquisition of Arrow Tool Company in 1972. The company subsequently moved from Hartford to Newington, Connecticut, and experimented with the Delta Class overlock platform in the 1990s. That product did not achieve the intended commercial traction. In 2004, shareholders approved a buyout organized by Charlie Merrow, Owen Merrow, and Robert Merrow. The business was renamed Merrow Sewing Machine Company and moved its headquarters to Massachusetts. The reorganized company stated that it would continue supporting most machines made after 1925 and would reintroduce updated versions of established models. It also developed a branding strategy around the terms “merrowed” and “merrowing,” using them to identify stitching made with Merrow equipment. The company expanded its digital and educational activities in 2008 through web-based stitch-finding, machine-research, configuration, video, and social-network tools. In 2010, after moving to the Granite Mill Buildings in Fall River, Massachusetts, it opened an industrial-machine sample room and added custom-built machines. Its more recent product and technology work includes ActiveSeam, a family of seam constructions designed for technical apparel and comfort-oriented applications. During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, Merrow retooled production to make facemasks and other personal protective equipment for clinical uses. The company remains an American producer of industrial overlock and specialty sewing machines.
History
Joseph Makens Merrow entered manufacturing through a gunpowder mill in Connecticut. After the mill was destroyed by an explosion, he and his son established a knitting mill on the site in 1838. The mill produced hosiery and other knitted goods, first using wool and later cotton. A supporting machine shop developed specialized equipment for the plant, creating the technical foundation for Merrow's later transition into sewing machinery. The company built crochet machines to finish the tops of men's socks, replacing labor-intensive handwork. Joseph M. Merrow directed the development of these machines and received patents for the technology. As demand grew among other textile manufacturers, the enterprise began selling machinery externally. This marked the shift from an integrated knitting producer to a machinery specialist. During the nineteenth century, the business operated under a succession of partnership and corporate names. It became Merrow Manufacturing Co. in 1857, later operated as Merrow and Millard and J.B. Merrow and Sons, and was incorporated as The Merrow Manufacturing Company in 1893. A fire destroyed the original knitting mill in 1887, prompting a reorganization focused primarily on sewing-machine production and a move to Hartford. The company subsequently concentrated on industrial overlock machines used to overedge cloth, join textile sections, and produce decorative or functional borders. Between the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, Merrow was a significant innovator in textile machinery. Its portfolio included overlock, shell-stitching, and butt-seaming equipment, and the company accumulated a large number of patents. Its technology and commercial success led to patent-related litigation, including the 1897 dispute with Wilcox & Gibbs. Merrow also developed an international distribution network; by 1905, agents reportedly represented the company in 35 countries, with manuals available in numerous languages. Employment in Hartford exceeded 500 people during the company's industrial expansion. Joseph M. Merrow remained associated with the company until his death in 1947. In the postwar period, Merrow continued developing specialty machines, including the MG-3U Emblem Machine patented in 1955. The company responded to changes in the American textile industry by opening a Southern manufacturing operation in Lavonia, Georgia, in the mid-1960s. It later acquired Arrow Tool Company, a machining subcontractor, in 1972, and moved from Hartford to Newington in 1982. In the 1990s, Merrow attempted to modernize its overlock portfolio with the Delta Class. The line did not secure the expected market position. A family-led buyout in 2004 changed the company's ownership and identity. Charlie Merrow, Owen Merrow, and Robert Merrow organized the transaction, moved the business to Massachusetts, and adopted the name Merrow Sewing Machine Company. The restructured company maintained a connection with the installed base of older machines, promising support for most models made after 1925 and renewed versions of established products. The Massachusetts-era company also pursued brand and technology development. It promoted “merrowed” and “merrowing” as terms connected with the distinctive stitching produced by its machines. In 2008, it created online tools for identifying stitches, researching equipment, configuring needles, and learning through video, as well as a stitching-oriented social network. In 2010, its Fall River location added a sample room for industrial machines and expanded custom-machine production. The company later introduced ActiveSeam, a branded group of stitches aimed at technical apparel and comfort-sensitive products. The system was presented in several constructions, including minimal, slim, comfort, and infused three-dimensional variants. During the 2020 pandemic, Merrow adapted its manufacturing capabilities to produce facemasks and clinical personal protective equipment. It continues to operate from Fall River as a manufacturer of industrial overlock and specialty sewing machines, maintaining both legacy support and newer technical-apparel applications.
- 2020
Production retooled for PPE
[1]Merrow adapted its operations to manufacture facemasks and clinical personal protective equipment.
- 2012
ActiveSeam introduced
[1]Merrow introduced its ActiveSeam family for technical apparel and specialized seam applications.
- 2010
Fall River sample room opened
[1]The company opened an industrial-machine sample room and expanded custom-machine production at its Fall River facility.
- 2008
Digital stitch platform introduced
[1]Merrow launched online stitch resources, configuration tools, videos, an online store, and merrowing.com.
- 2004
Family buyout and Massachusetts relocation
[1]A family-led buyout renamed the business Merrow Sewing Machine Company and moved it to Massachusetts.
- 1990
Delta Class developed
[1]Merrow developed the Delta Class overlock machine, although the platform did not gain substantial market traction.
- 1982
Headquarters moved to Newington
[1]The company moved from Hartford to Newington, Connecticut.
- 1972
Arrow Tool Company acquired
[1]Merrow acquired Arrow Tool Company of Wethersfield, Connecticut, a machining subcontractor.
- 1964
Southern manufacturing facility opened
[1]Merrow opened Franklin Industries in Lavonia, Georgia, to reduce costs and remain close to the shifting American textile market.
- 1955
MG-3U Emblem Machine patented
[1]Merrow patented the MG-3U Emblem Machine, extending its specialty-machine portfolio.
Products and positioning
A heritage American industrial-equipment brand focused on overlock, edge-finishing, specialty stitching, and technical-apparel sewing systems. Merrow emphasizes domestic manufacturing, long-term support for legacy machines, proprietary stitch technology, and the use of distinctive Merrow stitching as a design and performance feature.
Industrial sewing machinery
Industrial overlock machines
Merrow's core product family consists of industrial overlock machines used to overedge fabric, prevent fraying, join textile sections, and create consistent decorative or functional edges. The machines descend from the company's nineteenth-century crochet-machine work and are intended for textile, hosiery, apparel, and specialty manufacturing environments.
Specialty sewing machinery · 1955
MG-3U Emblem Machine
The MG-3U is a specialty machine associated with emblem and decorative sewing applications. Merrow patented this model in 1955, reflecting the company's expansion beyond general edge-finishing into dedicated industrial stitching tasks.
Industrial sewing-machine platform
MB Class
The MB Class is the machine platform associated with ActiveSeam. It supports specialized flatlock- and coverstitch-related constructions intended for technical apparel, comfort-focused garments, and products where seam appearance and tactile performance are important.
Technical-apparel seam system · 2012
ActiveSeam
ActiveSeam is a branded family of seam constructions designed as an alternative or technical improvement to conventional flatlock and coverstitch methods. Its variants include minimal, slim, comfort, and infused three-dimensional constructions, allowing manufacturers to emphasize low profile, seam comfort, visual width, or a contrasting color effect during stretch.
Custom textile machinery · 2010
Custom-built industrial machines
Following the establishment of its Fall River sample room, Merrow added custom-built industrial sewing machines to its standard offering. These machines extend the company's capabilities to customers requiring specialized stitch formats, production configurations, or adaptations beyond catalog equipment.
Marketing campaigns
- 2008Merrowing.com and digital stitch education
United States · International markets
Merrow created a digital program built around stitch education and machine discovery. It included videos, interactive resources, stitch finders, a needle configurator, an online store, and merrowing.com, a social network centered on stitching. The initiative helped present industrial sewing technology through accessible online content rather than relying solely on traditional sales materials.
Outcome. The initiative broadened Merrow's educational and brand-marketing presence online.
- 2008Merrowed and merrowing stitch branding
United States · International markets
The company promoted the trademarks and concepts associated with “merrowed” and “merrowing” stitching, working with manufacturers using Merrow machines to identify and market the resulting stitch aesthetic.
Outcome. Merrow used its historical machine identity as a branding asset for manufacturers and finished products.
Brand decisions
2020
Production retooling for pandemic suppliesStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic created demand for masks and clinical protective equipment.
Action taken
Merrow adapted its manufacturing operations to produce facemasks and PPE.
Aftermath
The company applied its textile-manufacturing capabilities to pandemic-response products.
2012
ActiveSeam launchProduct launchBackground
Technical apparel manufacturers were seeking seams that could combine comfort, appearance, and performance.
Action taken
Merrow introduced ActiveSeam as a family of branded seam constructions made on MB Class machines.
Aftermath
ActiveSeam gave Merrow a technology and marketing platform for technical apparel and specialty garment applications.
2005
Legacy-machine support and product re-releaseStrategyBackground
The company retained a large installed base of older industrial machines after its ownership and location changes.
Action taken
Merrow announced continued support for most models made after 1925 and plans to re-release updated versions of popular machines.
Aftermath
The strategy combined heritage-brand continuity with selective modernization of the product range.
2004
Family-led buyout and reorganizationM&ABackground
Shareholders agreed to a buyout organized by Charlie Merrow, Owen Merrow, and Robert Merrow.
Action taken
The company was renamed Merrow Sewing Machine Company and relocated its headquarters to Massachusetts.
Aftermath
The reorganization restored direct Merrow-family management and was followed by renewed support for legacy machines, updated product offerings, and expanded custom manufacturing.
1964
Expansion into the American SoutheastStrategyBackground
American textile production was moving away from the Northeast toward the Southeast, and Merrow sought lower costs and closer proximity to customers.
Action taken
The company opened Franklin Industries, a wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary in Lavonia, Georgia.
Aftermath
The move expanded Merrow's Southern manufacturing footprint and aligned production with the changing geography of the U.S. textile market.
1887
Shift from knitting production to sewing-machine manufacturingStrategyBackground
A fire destroyed the original knitting mill, while the company's internally developed crochet machinery had already demonstrated demand among other textile manufacturers.
Action taken
Merrow reorganized around the design, manufacture, and sale of industrial overlock sewing machines and moved production activity to Hartford.
Aftermath
The shift established the machinery business as the company's central activity and supported later international expansion.
Recent events
Merrow Manufacturing announces planned acquisition of Superior Sewing[2]
Reported:
Merrow Manufacturing said it would acquire Superior Sewing, a wholesale supplier to the textile industry. The report describes a planned acquisition, not a completed transaction.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/merrow-sewing-machine-company · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled