Posted 12 years ago
codesad
(2 items)
It's old and rusty is about all i can say to describe it. Not sure how old, but seems old. If I spin the side post that sticks out it will move the needle mechanism up and down. its pretty heavy and doesn't have any markings on it as to show who made it. Any info on this would be great! Age, Maker, Time frame? Should I try and remove the rust or leave it as is?
Thanks!!
It's a Wheeler and Wilson type, hard to say if it IS Wheeler and Wilson as there's not much to go on :) I would try some rust removal. They usually have engraving on the cloth plate you may uncover something if you can remove the rust.
any idea of year if it is that? I just picked up some rust remover and am going to try that.
here's an example of a possibly German Wheeler and Wilson type machine that looks a lot like yours.
http://www.sewmuse.co.uk/Wheeler%20and%20Wilson%20Principle.htm
Here is an example of a genuine Wheeler and Wilson of a similar model
http://www.dincum.com/library/lib_wheelerwilson1.html
You can see the round brass W&W badge in the bed of the above machine - the lack of this in not necessarily an indicator that your machine is a copy.
This style of machine was extensively copied all over the world.
The original base of this machine could have been a treadle, or a hand machine like this one
http://collectionsonline.nmsi.ac.uk/detail.php?type=related&kv=44751&t=objects
A guess for age would be (c) 1875.
if you find engraving on the cloth plate under the rust, hopefully there will be something further to narrow it down :)