Originally Posted by BoJangles
Oh here is picture of 'Betty.'
My DH had to weld the knee guard back together, sand blast, and paint it. The pitman was also messed up, DH fixed that and welded the treadle - pedal back together. Otherwise, the machine is in pretty good shape, except for the missing thread guide. Also, I need a couple wheels/casters for the bottom of the treadle, there are a couple missing.
Nancy
Well I found a manual I think for this machine. I can't find a free one so I will order one, but I found out some interesting informaton about the Davis VF2. This machine was made sometime between 1869 and 1890. I knew it was a pre 1900's because of the wood pitman. The only dates on the machine are 1869 - patent dates - which, made me figure it was about 1870's to 1880's. In my reseach to find out what I am doing wrong I discovered that these machines were only made by Davis until early 1890's when they were replaced with "more conventional models employing feed dogs."
This gives me 3 pre 1900 machines! My 1887 Wheeler and Wilson, my 1898 Model 28, and now this Davis VF2.
Now if I could only get it to work I'd really be excited! Miz Johnny, I know you have one! What is the secret to getting these things to work? Maybe someone put in the wrong shuttle before I got it? Do you play with the needle placement?
What size bobbins does it take - M100 Davis long? -- T130 Davis Short? The shuttle seems to fit perfect now, but the thread is nowhere near the side the needle comes down near.
Nancy