Posted 10 years ago
Sewingconc…
(6 items)
I would like to more about this machine. It is a shuttle bobbin and works well. There is stamp on it that says New Williams Manufacturing Company Montreal patented 1894. I would like to know more about it.
New Williams - http://needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php/Williams
http://www.sewmuse.co.uk/american%20sewing%20machine%20manufacturers.htm#w
Started off as C W Williams, 1863, in Montreal, and relocated to Plattsburgh, NY. The New Williams model made 1884-1902
It's a really pretty cabinet and a lovely machine, looks to be in great condition.
All I know about it is that it's got the best original (non-refinished) cabinet I've ever seen, or else someone did an excellent refinishing job! Ditto for the sewing machine.
Has anyone found any further information on these machines? I’ve been told they were manufactured in Oshawa Ontario during the 1930s. I’m not entirely convinced this is true, but maybe parts or a “borrowing” of the name? I’m doing research with the end result of Purchasing a working machine for interpretation at a local museum. Any help or leads would be appreciated.
I am Fred Williams, born and raised in Montreal. My New Williams sewing machine is a family heirloom, but I can't trace any direct linkage to the company at this time. I'm fixing it up to get it working again. The "fabric mover" goes up & down, but doesn't advance. The little thumb screw that shortens & lengthens the stitch has no effect and it may need cleaning inside. When the cabinet is polished with lemon oil, the thing just seems to have a glow of it's own. I can't wait till the day I get it working. Is anyone actually using one of these to sew?
Hi, FredWilliams. :-)
So you have a New Williams VSM that has been in your family a long time. Very cool.
I don't have any hands-on experience with one, but I'll try to help you with some online resources.
If your New Williams is the same model as the one in this post, here is a manual:
https://ai731.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/new_williams_sewing_machine.pdf
If I were you, I'd download a copy for wafe-keeping, because things have a way of moving around on the Internet, and as a result can become difficult to find again if one goes back later to look.
Here are a couple of Williams VSM patents:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US34932/en
https://patents.google.com/patent/US291309/en
Here is a vintage Greist Sewing Aid (Greist supplied accessories for most VSM makers) order form showing the various styles of connectors (the New Williams seems to have a "FORK TYPE BAR" style of connector):
https://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2015/01/greist-sewing-aids.html
Here is a YouTube video of somebody using a New Williams:
How to Thread + Sew On An Antique New Williams Sewing Machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNyqTmNykck
Here are some VSM enthusiast forums:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VintageSewingMachines/
https://leatherworker.net/forum/forum/50-leather-sewing-machines/
https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/
https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/
I'd particularly recommend the victoriansweatshop forum, because between the various members, there's probably not much about VSMs that they don't know.
Ugh, "wafe" should read "safe."
Hi again, FredWilliams. :-)
Because the manual in that PDF was in kind of rough shape, and portions of pages are missing as a result, I've decided that I'd better give you links to the needlebar dot org HTML version of the manual. I don't know why they did all of their manuals in HTML, but it is what it is:
http://www.needlebar.org/main/manuals/newwilliams/1index.html
http://www.needlebar.org/main/manuals/newwilliams/2index.html
http://www.needlebar.org/main/manuals/newwilliams/3index.html
http://www.needlebar.org/main/manuals/newwilliams/4index.html
http://www.needlebar.org/main/manuals/newwilliams/5index.html