Light industrial sewing machine, manufactured by Bellow Machine Co., Leeds, about 1940.

This industrial sewing machine was designed to carry out basting, also known as tacking, which is the creation of a temporary stitch to hold pieces of fabric together until they can be permanently sewn together. Taylors and dressmakers use this technique to piece layers or parts of a new garment together whilst it is under construction, to test size and fit.

Basting can be done by hand, but sewing machines like this made it much easier to stitch several layers of fabric together. Most modern sewing machines come with a basting setting which mean it isn't necessary to use a separate machine to do the job.