Originally Posted by Crossstitcher
Nancy here is a picture of our Wheeler Wilson dated 1854 and we have a Wilcox Gibbs dated 1884. We also have a National dated 1869 and a Domestic fiddle base dated 1870-1880. Few others dated pre 1900's.
As I understand it, the National Sewing Machine Company was formed about 1890. The picture you show under the heading of "National 1869" is an automatic chainstitch machine, introduced by Willcox and Gibbs in 1876. Someone else may know if the National machine was licensed by them from W & G or how they came to have identical machines. I have a National as well as a couple of WG, and they look the same to me except for the decal and medallion.
The WW looks like a Model 4 or 5, not a model 3, which would have been manufactured in 1854. Are you quoting patent dates or actual manufacture dates?
Here's a drawing of a number 2, the number 3 (manufactured until about 1861) looks similar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wheeler_%26_Wilson_Sewing_Machine_1852.jpg
There are lots of great places to find information on the internet, but I also recommend some reference books, including Charles Law's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ANTIQUE SEWING MACHINES and Carter Bays ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EARLY AMERICAN SEWING MACHINES.
http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-E.../dp/0963791605
http://www.amazon.com/encyclopedia-a.../dp/B0006SB5KA
(Whoa--I just got a look at the price on this one!! I bet Charles would like to have that for his books!! I bought mine directly from him, and gave a great deal less, I assure you!!)
I have been away for the past few days at a quilt retreat. I sold my never-used Featherweight and table, and came home with a Gritzner treadle, which I sewed on all weekend. I am well pleased with both the treadle AND moving an unused machine out of my house!!