The Elna Junior is a working toy sewing machine and miniature version of the Elna Supermatic. Made in Geneva, Switzerland in the 1950s, not only is this tiny sewing machine made for travel or smaller repairs, but it also serves as a music box. The music boxes in the Elna Junior machines are made by Thorens, a Swiss audio equipment company founded in 1883 by Hermann Thoren.
The music box works by first pushing in the circular knob below “Junior.” Then, the diamond-shaped knob below that is turned. Finally, the circular knob must be pulled to start the song. While it is unknown which song this specific machine plays, others are known to have featured “My Old Kentucky Home” and “The Blue Danube.”
This piece was donated to the museum as part of the Birk Petersen collection although it was made and manufactured by Elna. Mr. Petersen created a vast array of projects over his lifetime, ranging from miniature engines to hand-cranked animations and more. He built functional miniatures like a 1/3 scale Gatling gun or a 1/4 scale Case steam tractor, but he also built mechanical creations for the fun and enjoyment of his family.
When Birk passed away in 2015, his family graciously donated over 150 items from his collection to the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum, where they are currently on display. We thank the Petersen family for sharing his extensive collection, which demonstrates the broad interests and many talents of Birk Petersen.