Posted 14 years ago
nwksunflower
(1 item)
Antique Sewing Tool. Found in old tredle sewing machine. Item is 2 3/4" long x about 1/2"-3/4" wide. Wording on round part says "Boye Needle Company Chicago". On the arm leading up to the round part it says "Boye" "PAT DEC 1" and "Feb 11 08". I wrote the Boye Needle Company which is now Simplicity and they had no idea what it was. The US Patent site isn't much help when you have a name and date only of PAT Dec. 1. What is this and what was it used for? Thanks
My memory keeps saying "bobbin tentioning device " I don't sew so I can't say why but the thought persists . Jack
It's a sewing machine needle threader. That's what Grandma called it
Just augmenting the record on something that probably interests nobody but me. };-)
The patents:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US878767/en
https://patents.google.com/patent/US905641/en
I have the same thing. It came with my treadle also. I have two with same patent dates. I was trying to find out what it is also.
here's one with instruction sheet
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-1908-boye-sewing-machine-135086716
TallCakes, Thank you. <3
TeresaDesign, So, like many newbie vintage sewing machine owners, you found one of these mysterious doodads in a drawer, and said to yourself, "Wut?" };-)
I suspect that many if not most modern sewing machines come with a built-in automatic threader function. The one I got for my sibling does, e.g.:
https://www.janome.com/siteassets/support/manuals/economy-models/inst-book-hd-1000engfrsp.pdf
Your revival of this post got me wondering when it was that automatic threading was invented, and I found this:
*snip*
Shumail Zafar
Former Director at B&U Investment CompanyAuthor has 7.1K answers and 383.1K answer viewsFeb 17
Automatic needle threading for home-sewing machines was invented in the early 1970s by a Japanese inventor named Yoshino Okamoto. This invention made it easier for people to thread the needle of their sewing machines, which can be a time-consuming and frustrating process, especially for those with poor eyesight or dexterity issues. With automatic needle threading, the machine uses a mechanism to guide the thread through the needle, eliminating the need for the user to do it manually. This innovation has been widely adopted in modern home-sewing machines, making sewing more accessible to a wider range of people.
*snip*
https://www.quora.com/When-was-automatic-needle-threading-invented-for-standard-home-sewing-machines
No joy thus far on finding the patent or indeed more about Okamoto.
Okamoto seems to be an unsung hero, and it seems crazy, because so many people need help with threading needles.
Historically, I haven't been one of them, because like many near-sighted people, when presbyopia set in, I merely pushed my prescription eyewear for myopia to the top of my head, and kept going.