Thread: Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell

Originally Posted by playswithcolor

It shows a picture of the needle length it uses but I didn't see any kind of # or needle size. I need to read a little more to see if I can find it.

Yes, I have the manual. Your machine takes a normal Schmetz needle, modern common size 15x1. That is one of the great things about this machine!

Nancy

Originally Posted by Crossstitcher

Nancy I have three Free Machines, one treadle and one electric.
The treadle serial number is 873674 the patent numbers go from June 11, 1902 thru Jan. 4, 1910.
The electric is a number 8 CE53077 Last patent Feb. 11, 1902 thru May 20, 1913
One is in a parlor cabinet. It's covered up right now and I can't get the number from it but here is a picture.

Wow Trish, please post pictures of the other 2 when you can! Also, the serial number of the 3rd machine. Are two of them Free #5? I am trying to figure out the serial number sequences. Your 'CE' must mean electric?

Nancy

Originally Posted by BoJangles

Originally Posted by Crossstitcher

Nancy I have three Free Machines, one treadle and one electric.
The treadle serial number is 873674 the patent numbers go from June 11, 1902 thru Jan. 4, 1910.
The electric is a number 8 CE53077 Last patent Feb. 11, 1902 thru May 20, 1913
One is in a parlor cabinet. It's covered up right now and I can't get the number from it but here is a picture.

Wow Trish, please post pictures of the other 2 when you can! Also, the serial number of the 3rd machine. Are two of them Free #5? I am trying to figure out the serial number sequences. Your 'CE' must mean electric?

Nancy

Nancy I could only find the one machine that had a number 8 on the bed. The parlor machine is on the porch and the weather is bad today. I'll look as soon as I can. I'll post pictures of the others soon there on here way back somewhere.

Bojangles, I went to the site you provided. It has some good info. I was able to print a manual. My question is that the manual is for the fiddle base machine and I have a square/rectangular base. Is there that much difference as far as oiling is concerned? The mechanics look pretty much the same.

Originally Posted by dirty1mom

Bojangles, I went to the site you provided. It has some good info. I was able to print a manual. My question is that the manual is for the fiddle base machine and I have a square/rectangular base. Is there that much difference as far as oiling is concerned? The mechanics look pretty much the same.

No, oiling should be pretty much the same. Just make sure you oil every moving part/joint.

Nancy

Originally Posted by Crossstitcher

Nancy I could only find the one machine that had a number 8 on the bed. The parlor machine is on the porch and the weather is bad today. I'll look as soon as I can. I'll post pictures of the others soon there on here way back somewhere.

Ok Trish, I did a search and found your other two machines posted on page 111. They both only say "free" no number. I'd be willing to bet the one you have not listed the serial number of is the oldest. I will be curious to see what the serial number is on that machine.

Doing more research, it looks like Free operated from about 1897 to about 1954 -58? There is conflicting information on that. This is fun!

Nancy

Originally Posted by BoJangles

Originally Posted by IT_Nana

I can't find any other dates on it, but I need to take a flashlight and look underneith it. I'm not sure what you mean by the slide plate... Is it that round plate on the back that covers an opening into the machine? Mine is plain ... no dates.

No, the slide plate is under the needle -- what you open to get to the shuttle/bobbin area. My slide plate has a series of number printed/engraved in the plate.

Nancy

My slide plate is plain, no markings at all. The only other markings I can find are on a plate on the front of the arm which indicates needle sizes. I'm attaching a picture of that. I double checked my serial number and it is indeed 827313. On one of the websites I looked at I gathered that it is a #5, but can't find that now.

Also, there is one for sale on ebay right now that is a beautiful machine and is the same cabinet type as mine, but the markings on the head identify it as a "Will C Free", not "The Free", like mine. I would snatch this up in a minute if I were in Illinois...it's in incredible condition!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

plate on front of Free sewing machine

I am having camera/computer /photo software issues. Giving up for now as have spent all morning. Used 2 cameras/3 photo programs. I need a break. Will check with a computer geek friend and get it fixed.

My free no5 is like the one on pg 111.

Found a 301 on CL will get it this weekend if it is what the guy says it is. That will round out my collection. A new Pfaff, FW a 99 that I need a case for and a 301.

Originally Posted by BoJangles

Originally Posted by vintagemotif

I have a free "Free" too. Serial #0240726, patent dates June 14 1910 Oct 10 1911, I hope that helps for dating.

I haven't used mine since I need to find the little ball bearings for the pitman rod.

Monica, this is interesting. So far

Playswithcolor has 031503 Free #5 bought at end of WW1 1918 or 1919?

Monica's Free 0240726 - is it a Free # 5?

Nana's Free 827313 - is it a Free #5?

My friend Deb's Free #5 - C76088

My Free #5 - C83642

Do you all have the Free #5? Does anyone else have one with pending patent dates written on the cabinet top?

Does anyone have a Free with patent dates on the slide plate? If so, what are the dates?

Nancy

Please make sure I have the correct serial numbers. I want to try and figure out why two of the serial number start with 'C'? Something to do with patent's still pending on those machines or a different factory?

Yes mine is a Free No. 5. I can't tell is the 0 in front of the 2 is a C or a zero. Cleaned it but it is still difficult to read. So take a pick at what you think is correct.