Trendsetter Pinnock Fridor circa 1960s
The Trendsetter range of Pinnocks have a distinctive red Trendsetter badge and underneath is the model name. The Toyota crown is displayed indicating these were once again Japanese Toyota machines and yet they have the “Made in Australia” stickers on them.
So far I have identified 9 Trendsetter badged Pinnocks, there may well be more.
The Trendsetters that I have come across so far, are all made of cast iron, as the earlier green and blue machines on the Toyota Pinnock Page. The Modern is a solid one piece casting much like the earlier Sewmaster. The Standard and the Crescent appear to also be one piece, with no removable top plate. The others in the series all have removable top plates made from aluminum.
They all have the external mounted Australian made Wernard motor. On a few I have found the Pinnock name on the motor and on the others they are clearnly marked as Wernard motors. These motors were added once the machines arrived in Australia. How much of the assembly was done here and how much in Japan I do not know for certain. The Pinnock badge was attached and screwed on, sometimes in the large letters as in the Standard and Modern below and sometimes in the smaller lettering as in the Sapphire. The same machines can also be found with the Fridor name with the same style badge, instead of Pinnock, as in the Gem and Star below. The bakelite food pedals are all Wernard and mostly black, but I have come across the odd brown one.
Another lovely feature of the Trendsetter is the wooden base. I have only come across two machines that came with a table, those that I have found in base and case have all come with a beautifully made, stained and lacquered wooden base. Most have a fold down table extension and a metal stabilising rod that is pulled out at the back. These have an accessories compartment to the right side, held shut with a magnet. Some have two plastic spool pins inserted into the lid and round magnet pin holder. Images of the base can be seen on the Sapphire page. I have as yet found no markings on the wooden bases, but presumably these were made in South Australia. The lids on some of the bases are sometimes marked with stamp or cotton label. Made by K.T. Stewart Ltd South Australia PLASTIC.
Straight stitch machines are the Modern, Standard and Crescent.
Straight stitch and zig zag are the Sapphire, Ensign, Gem and Star.
Straight stitch, zig zag and cam functions are the Jewel and Royal.
I have six in my collection and hope to add more in time, but as proof of their existence I have their badges pics here. As I get around to photographing my machines I will update this page.
I am still looking for the Standard, Ensign, and Crescent machines to add to my collection.
Trendsetters in my collection.
Other Trendsetters identified so far, that I do not have in my collection.
Ensign
Standard
Crescent
Jewel Mark III
Not a trendsetter but I was not sure where I should put the Pinnock Jewel Mark III or the Sapphire Mark II (below). Obviously after the trendsetters and the Jewel Mark 3 also came with the same cams as the Trendsetter Jewel. This machine is aluminum and much lighter than the earlier Trendsetters shown above. Possibly a later Taiwanese machine, but of this I am not certain.
The Sapphire Mark II.
Not my machine, a machine discovered by another collector.
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