Been to the auctions and bought three machines
 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]540595[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]540596[/ATTACH] This is the VISTA

[ATTACH=CONFIG]540597[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]540598[/ATTACH] This is the Frister & Rossmann

[ATTACH=CONFIG]540599[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]540600[/ATTACH] I have no idea what this one is? Maybe a Willcox Gibbs clone or knockoff. Now how do I go about dating and identifying models? Appreciate any help you can give. I have found them on the internet, but no models or dates like with Singer.

Nice haul!!!!:thumbup:

the "arched top" machine looks like a Gold Medal. If so, it dates to around 1880 or so. I am shopping for one of that as we speak! was that the "big auction site"?? if so, I must have missed it... Good find!!!

Dang! You did real good! I love your choices. I wish we had auctions around here. I went to one once in southern California and it was very exciting!

That Vesta is very unique with that large wheel. Looks like you will be oiling and cleaning these new "children". Enjoy.

Maggie, For the F&R, look at the gold badge behind the bobbin winder to see if there is a specific distributor or agent listed, as perhaps W. Pierssene. this will help with the dating. Read about the Vesta on Alex's sewalot site http://www.sewalot.com/sewalot_index.htm...Very nice sm, enjoy.
Johnm

or you can look here:)
http://fiddlebase.jimdo.com/dating-frister-rossmann/

Boy, you won the lottery by the looks of that "herd." Nice!

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!! You REALLY got a fabulous haul!!!

That little Vesta makes my heart sing - and long, and ache, and desire...

It's a beauty; the entire lot is beautiful, but that Vesta is the Besta! Does it want to move to North Dakota for a change of scenery?