Originally Posted by Crossstitcher
Nancy, can you give me a ball park date for my machine. The last date on the slide plate is May 12, 1886. The number which I think is the serial number is 1088859. I noticed that you only have 6 numbers in your serial number where I have 7. This is for the Davis VF machine.
Well Trish I wish I could give you a Ball Park date. I have been researching my machine all day. The best date I can come up with is that mine was made between 1886 and 1893.
Your machine, #1,088,859 had to be made after mine, but before 1910, because after that your machine would not use the Davis Long needles. The newer Davis VF had serial numbers over 2 million, that puts us back to your machine is somewhere between 1892 and probably 1899. If Davis made 50,000 a year - and if they kept the numbers going -- that would put your machine about 6 to 7 years newer than mine.
This makes sense because your serial number has the last patent date of 1886, which is only one year later than mine, I would be willing to bet your machine is also a late 1800's machine. Probably made in the 1890's. I am still compiling information. Any one, have more information?
Nancy