Coffin top:there is a reason for the name
 

Someone recently posted a question about a bentwood vs. coffin top. There is a real reason for the name coffin top, and if one thinks of elaborate carvings on coffins of yesteryear.. Well anyway, you can get the idea.

LOL! Love it - especially with Halloween coming up, that's perfect.

Too funny! I will think of this picture every time one my vintage sewing machines dies, especially if I can't resurrect it!

Looks too much like a child's coffin to suit me, I still use the name.
My great grandmother used hers turned over to set the baby in while she sewed. We have a picture of grandfather sitting in it.
She was also very thrifty, and would try to sew each day to keep up with the families clothing needs.
By thrifty, I mean she didn't waste thread, she would chain sew every seam she could so as not to lose the leader threads, even in clothing construction.
My cousin still has her domestic treadle sewing machine. They take a special needle with a notch in the top, rather hard to find, so the treadle doesn't get used very much.

Ethel

That makes total sense! Thanks for the visual.

I have one just like that but not as in good shape. Yours is very pretty, mine is a work in progress still.

I lose so many responses because I click away from the subject before I click on "post quick reply" Thank you for the clarification and visual. I've seen only one or two of this type of top and usually what hides under it is not in any useable condition. I'll stop calling the bentwood case a coffin top and thanks to you can give it the proper name.

I was lucky enough to find two treasures one day. Fiddlebase Singer 27 under the coffin top and a Free VS.

Many also refer to this as "gothic" instead of "coffin"