My New 1878 Davis Low Arm
#12
Hi All,
Thought I'd share some pictures of my "new" Davis Low Arm Vertical Feed that I found on CL not far from her birthplace in Watertown, NY. The serial number is 99739, which dates her to 1878. The retail price back then was $70. I still need to do some cosmetic rust removal but she runs and sews nicely. The owner remembers as a young girl her Great Grandmom sewing on it though the last person to use it didn't fare well as the machine had a 15x1 in the needle clamp which is too short. Unfortunatly, the drawers were empty with no interesting junk to look through, one of my favorite parts of a sewing machine purchace. I love the "styling" of the machine and cabinet from this era. Now to find some additional bobbins.
Jon
Thought I'd share some pictures of my "new" Davis Low Arm Vertical Feed that I found on CL not far from her birthplace in Watertown, NY. The serial number is 99739, which dates her to 1878. The retail price back then was $70. I still need to do some cosmetic rust removal but she runs and sews nicely. The owner remembers as a young girl her Great Grandmom sewing on it though the last person to use it didn't fare well as the machine had a 15x1 in the needle clamp which is too short. Unfortunatly, the drawers were empty with no interesting junk to look through, one of my favorite parts of a sewing machine purchace. I love the "styling" of the machine and cabinet from this era. Now to find some additional bobbins.
Jon
Nancy
#13
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millville, NJ
Posts: 1,835
I think people literally took a mortgage out on there sewing machine back then. I have a Bill of Sale from Davis to a General Store in VA for the same model / cabinet style as mine for $26. Hefty markup though most likely the retailer settled for less than the $70 list price.
I'm using Boye 20 needles in the Davis. I'll use MTx190's when these run out.
Jon
#14
How wonderful! I would love to find a vertical feed!
And that bill of sale is gorgeous, too - $1.25 for a ruffler and 20¢ for a hemmer or binder. Can't make out that top item right under the machines. What a nice bit of history to go with your machine.
And that bill of sale is gorgeous, too - $1.25 for a ruffler and 20¢ for a hemmer or binder. Can't make out that top item right under the machines. What a nice bit of history to go with your machine.
#15
Hi jon,
Aren't these machines so beautiful in all their simplicity?
Found this post today doing a search for the full manual for the Davis LA VF machine. Did you have any luck finding bobbins for her? Would you mind sharing your source, if you have? I have the same machine.
Thanks,
d
Aren't these machines so beautiful in all their simplicity?
Found this post today doing a search for the full manual for the Davis LA VF machine. Did you have any luck finding bobbins for her? Would you mind sharing your source, if you have? I have the same machine.
Thanks,
d
#16
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millville, NJ
Posts: 1,835
I'd try contacting Wolfegangs Collectible's on ebay. The Davis VF Yahoo group has the operating instructions. Bobbins can be easily made on a metal lathe if you have no luck with originals.
Jon
Jon
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