My New 1878 Davis Low Arm
01-27-2013, 05:26 PM
#12
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Rescue, California
Posts: 4,585
Originally Posted by jlhmnj
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
01-27-2013, 07:03 PM
#13
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millville, NJ
Posts: 1,835
Originally Posted by J Miller
Jon,
That's a sturdy looking old work horse isn't it. What needle does it use?
And, $70.00 1878 dollars calculates out to $2,435.51 2013 dollars. It was probably harder to pay for then than it would be now.
Joe
That's a sturdy looking old work horse isn't it. What needle does it use?
And, $70.00 1878 dollars calculates out to $2,435.51 2013 dollars. It was probably harder to pay for then than it would be now.
Joe
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
01-27-2013, 08:13 PM
#14
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Mars
Posts: 2,549
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.
04-04-2013, 02:00 PM
#15
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Pine cone and tassel state
Posts: 978
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
Originally Posted by jlhmnj
...Now to find some additional bobbins.
Jon
Jon
04-04-2013, 05:36 PM
#16
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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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