Posted 14 years ago
ExtremeChef
(3 items)
"Improved Melville" is the only name on this machine. There are 4 small side drawers, and one small swivel drawer in front with 4 of the original bobbins. There is also a small box with the metal attatchments. I have the two original manuels for it but they don't show anything on what make or model this is.
I have one very similar. Mine is an Excelcior. Both machines are so very close in detail except my cabinet is of Tigerwood. I have all the pieces and parts to mine as well. I do know that these particular machines were possibly made between 1860 and 1920. Good Luck w/finding out anymore on this as I am doing the same myself.
Thank you Vicky Gatton for the information on this sewing machine. I wish you luck with your search on your own machine. Peggy.
It appears both your machines, (Melville and Excelsior) were manufactured by National Sewing Machine Company. National produced more "badged" machines than any other company. Davis, New Home and Standard also produced machines with the "Excelsior" name badge. Depending on whether your machines are vibrating shuttle or rotary machines, you can find a wealth of information on them using the following links. The cabinet is gorgeous, and was most likely produced by either Singer or White, both of which sold their cabinets to other companies.
http://needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php/National_Rotary_Machines
http://needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php/National_Vibrating_Shuttle_Machines
http://needlebar.org/main~nb/makers/usa/national/index.html
Thankyou very much glorygrace. I appreciate your help and the information you gave. Thanks for adding the websites. It will make my search so much easier. Peggy.
I need to know about an old sewing machine and the only name that I can find across the top is Crawford Special. The cabinet is a medium oak and beautiful. Across the foot pedal, there is no name so I'm guessing that it is not a Singer but would love to find out more about this machine. The lady who has it is 92 and she says her mother made clothes on it for her and the other kids in the family. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks, Debbie
I have my grandmother's White Rotary sewing machine in its original cabinet. The oldest patent date listed on the footplate is 1913. I opened the cabinet top to bring up the machine, but it won't retract into the cabinet again. Any suggestions?
It's beautiful!
I'm envious!!
Extreme Chef, I have a Gold Medal sewing machine which was made by the New Home Co or one of the companies that existed before it became New Home. I do not have a manuel for it. Since it looks like the one you have, I was wondering if you could share information from your manuel; especially about the bobbin, needles and how to thread it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Beth
Finally have found a site that may lead to the identification of my Vintage Machine! this is the second one I have found, tonight, with decals, like mine!!!
When I saw the decals on this machine, I recognized that I had found "my" machine. I have had absolutely no luck, in researching this machine. My decals are exactly like these. I am trying to date the machine, as well as find a name. Mine is completely rubbed off, on the front and back, both. I finally found a serial #, which was under lots of crud, under the throat plate. It is 2038333. What year was it made? I will probably never find out it's Brand Name, although I do realize that it is a Badge Machine. I can vaguely see a "B", (I think), at the end, where a name would be. Any help is appreciated.
Still searching for info. Is there any list of serial #s for National machines. Desperately want to date this.
I thought that I'd augment the commentary on this one, because people trip on Collectors Weekly posts while searching for information to identify their own vintage sewing machine.
For the record, the sewing machine head in this post is a National Sewing Machine Company vibrating shuttle model VB-TT Type 5:
http://needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php?title=File:04natvbtt3506951.jpeg
(Text information from the needlebar dot org chart has been reformatted)
*snip*
Model: VB-TT Type 5
Size: Full
Body Shape: Rounded
Inspection Plate(s): Shoulder
Upper Tension: Top Leaf
Stitch Length Control: Pillar Screw
Notes: (Arrow) New model shape. Low bobbin winder. Size - 14 1/2" x 6 13/16"
*snip*
http://needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php/National_Vibrating_Shuttle_Machines
My own 'notes':
The "(Arrow)" mentioned in the notes at needlebar dot org was a name chosen by the customer. "Arrow" does appear in the list of National badge names:
http://needlebar.org/main/makers/usa/national/index.html#a
Here is a National VB-TT Type 5 sewing machine head with the same style of decals as the example at needlebar dot org; however, the name chosen by the customer, and put on the machine was "Manhattan":
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/291511-manhattan-sewing-machine-w-blonde-tiger
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/291516-manhattan-sewing-machine
http://needlebar.org/main/makers/usa/national/index.html#m
There is no central database of serial numbers for National sewing machines. The best one can do is to compare one's machine with another that's been dated by other means, such as Wayne Schmidt's Willamette D-badged National:
http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/images/sm%20bessy%20small.jpg
*snip*
Dating antique sewing machines is often a combination of hunting and guesswork. In this case, the name may provide a clue. The Willamette D sewing machines were made by National for the Portland, Oregon-based chain of Meier & Frank department stores. While she has a serial number (2,296,351) there are no known lists of National sewing machine serial numbers and production dates, so that by itself doesn't help much. But, when compared to our other National machine, which has a 2,167,857 serial number and was dated to 1913 by other means, it suggests this Willamette D is slightly later, say around 1914. Additionally, assuming the name refers to the town of Willamette, which only existed from 1908 to 1917, this date seems to be reasonable.
*snip*
http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/Antique%20Sewing%20Machines.html