About Us

Duncan H Campbell of Rhode Island and Charles F. Bosworth of Connecticut combined their inventive talents in 1882. Both men had seized the beginnings of the industrial revolution with the exuberance of a pioneer; designing and redesigning industrial sewing machines to accommodate the harness trades of the day. Their talent and skill was evident and they found financial support from the Goodyear Shoe Machinery Co. of New York, which later became United Shoe Machinery Co. in 1900. In 1898, Campbell Bosworth Machinery Co. was incorporated and became a separate division of USMC, as the phenomenal Campbell Lockstitch Machine became the benchmark in the saddlery and harness manufacturing trades. Since its early beginnings, the Campbell Lockstitch has been the machine to copy by the competition, as the Randall Lockstitch and Landis 3 soon challenged the standing of the Campbell in the leather stitcher market of needle and awl machines. Although the Landis 3 continues to be a favorite among saddle makers, the company met its demise with a fire that destroyed the manufacturing facility in the early 1950’s. The need for heavy leather stitchers has evolved from its glory days before World War II when farmers still used horses for farming and cars were still an extravagance, to the specialty machine they are today. The Campbell is the preferred stitcher among our countrys major holster and duty gear manufacturers, custom saddle & harness makers and American Made case makers. In the early 1960’s, Jack Irwin of Itzkowitz Sewing Machine Co. purchased the Campbell Bosworth division of USMC, and later purchased Randall Machinery Co.; operating both companies out of New York City. The heirs of Irwin later moved CBMC to Fort Lauderdale, FL in the early 1980’s. With retirement age approaching, Carol and Barry Schiller sought a buyer that would keep this American company in the States. Naegle’s Industrial Leather Machinery Co. had been in the machinery repair business for 10 years at the time, so they took the opportunity to purchase the company that was rich in a history of quality machinery and loyal customers. In 1999, Naegle’s ILM moved CBMC to southeast Texas and have continued the tradition of quality manufacturing of the finest leather stitcher in the world. The Campbell Lockstitch Machine!