Bulasky Special Hat Machines were created in the 1890s and sold into the early Twentieth Century. They are beautifully crafted forged steel, strong, resilient, very useful, sought after and not so easy to find. 

Some years ago we called sewing machine stores all over the country and found a stash of Bulasky machines in a store near downtown Chicago. We visited the store and learned they were being sold as boat anchors for small boats in Lake Michigan. And the store owner was mounting some of these beautiful antique machines on plaques to gift his customers.

 We bought all he would give up. They are a great production machine that once adjusted can keep an adjustment for years. They can be used to sew a circular braid hat body, to sew a sweatband ribbon into a hat and to welt (fold and hem) the brim edge . Here is one we use to welt the brims of panama hats. The attachment that swings away is a folder used to add a binding to the edge of the brim.