Posted 2 years ago
Konstantin
(1 item)
This sewing machine was given in 1912 as a gift for 12-year birthday to our grand grand mum. It was in deep Russian village. The oval badge has big letters in center VS and wording Vibrating Shuttle Sewing Machine. It is fully operational. How unique it is? We do not know what to do with it. Any suggestions welcomed!
Konstantin, Wow. Very Cool. :-)
I see what you mean about the little "2" stamped into the serial number cartouche.
Yes, even without the "Vibrating Shuttle Sewing Machine" on the medallion badge, I would have described it as such, because it has all of the hallmark features of one as seen here in this picture of a Singer model 27 vibrating shuttle:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Singer.Model27.IdentificationGuide.jpg
It does look like a Singer knock-off.
Unfortunately, I'm out of time at the moment, but I want to explore this further when I get time.
Hi again, Konstantin. :-)
Well, a Google Image search for that SV badge didn't turn up any twins. :-(
I don't think your machine is a badged National vibrating shuttle, because I don't see one like it at Needlebar dot org:
http://needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php/National_Vibrating_Shuttle_Machines
I see about four differnt models that have the trapezoidal inspection plate, but they also have the circular inspection plate at the shoulder.
The thing that really mystifies me is that medallion badge with the initials "S" and "V," and "Vibrating Shuttle Sewing Machine" spelled out in English.
I haven't yet found a sewing machine company with the initials "S. V."
I took a look in Grace Rogers Cooper's seminal work "The Sewing Machine: Its Invention and Development," but no joy so far (it shows "Mars" as a name associated with the New Home Sewing Machine Company!):
https://library.si.edu/digital-library/book/sewingmachineit00coop
Your machine is unique in that couldn't find a twin; however, the answer is out there somewhere. };-)
You're lucky to be able to date it to circa 1912 by virtue of it having been a gift to your great grandmother.
Thank you for posting it. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to identify it.
Now that I've had a nap, look at this Stoewer Serata vibrating shuttlle sewing machine:
https://vintagesewingmachinesblog.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/img_20180629_07591801958766415.jpg
*snip*
In my opinion, the Serata is the best of the vibrating shuttle machines, and one of the very best straight stitchers overall. And I am so lucky to have the larger model – this machine is full size.
“Serata” was a trade mark registered by Bernhard Stoewer in 1905 – they used it for their vibrating shuttle machines. Stoewer (see http://www.stoewer-museum.de) was a German manufacturer from Stettin, they made machines for various distributors, so you’ll find them bearing various names and badges. Mine actually has the original Stoewer badge!
*snip*
https://vintagesewingmachinesblog.wordpress.com/2018/06/30/my-secret-weapon/
It has a similar stitch length mechanism near the balance wheel to yours (Singer vibrating shuttles have a different stitch length mechanism).
Are there any marks on the underside of the machine bed?
You could try contacting the Stoewer museum to see if your machine is a badged Stoewer:
http://stoewer-museum.de/kontakt/kontakte.htm
Oh, and look at the case cover for the Stoewer vibrating shuttle at the bottom of this page (Stoewer # 1.713.126):
https://www.fiddlebase.com/german-machines/stoewer/stoewer-sewing-machines/
The handle is different, but the woodwork looks remarkably similar.
Konstantin, even the portable base on that Stoewer at the bottom of the page at fiddlebase dot com looks the same.
So I think we have two possibilities: (1) either the same third party outfit made portable cases for both Stoewer and the maker of your machine (2) Stoewer made their own cases, and your sewing machine head as well.
I favor the second possibility.
As to the "MARS" badge name, it's possible that the same retailer was a customer of both National and Stoewer, and when the contract ran out with one, they moved on to the other, requesting the same badge name. That was not an unusual practice.
Now, who that retailer was, not to mention how a sewing machine with an English language medallion badge ended up in Russia, I don't know.
Perhaps Stoewer had some sewing machines left over from a factory run for that retailer, and sold them at a bargain price to somebody else.
It's worth noting that there are a lot of people of German descent in Russia, and they might have recognized a Stoewer sewing machine even without an official Stoewer medallion badge.
You might still want to ask the Stoewer museum. :-)
Whoops, I probably should link that Mars-badged National VB-TT Type 5 that prompted your own post:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/122626-very-old-sewing-machine
While I'm at it, a visitor took pictures of some of the sewing machines at the Stoewer Museum in Wald-Michelbach, Germany, and uploaded them to Google Maps in 2019:
Stoewer Automobiles
Michelstraße 2, 69483 Wald-Michelbach, Germany
https://goo.gl/maps/epYVPKgkgy3hgCqs8
https://goo.gl/maps/wQ1yaLZssKWSwo3Y8
Somebody seems to have successfully contacted the museum owner for information about their Stoewer sewing machine as recently as 2021:
https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/post/stoewer-11992820
Hi again, Konstantin. :-)
After looking around some more, I feel comfortable in saying that your great grandmother's sewing machine is probably a badged Stoewer.
I don't know the meaning of the raised "2" in the serial number cartouche, but I suspect it's not part of the serial number. I think the serial number should read "308988."
If you read this history of Stoewer, it cites some annual production figures for sewing machines:
http://stoewer-museum.de/stoewer/bernhstoewere.htm
Possibly your great grandmother's machine was produced around 1908-1909.
As to what your family should do with this machine: I can't really tell you.
I would hope that your family would cherish it as an heirloom that has been in your family now for a minimum of four generations.
However, if there is nobody in the youngest generation of your family who either cares about heirlooms or has room for one, you might ask the Stoewer museum for a donation suggestion.