Originally Posted by
Mizkaki
It's made by the American Buttonhole Sewing Machine Co.
Pat can probably chime in here with more info.
PAT where are you?
I think it's 'American Buttonhole, Overseaming and Sewing Machine Co.' (American BHO and Sewing Machine Co), established in 1867 in Philadelphia, which manufactured sewing machines till around 1896. I'm not sure about the model number (would be nice if they'd taken a picture of the front!), but there's a sketch of a similar-looking machine on the Smithsonian site (dated 1874). If 15995 is the serial number, this machine *may* date to 1870.
http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollect...ges/image3.htm
Here's a nice description (from somewhere around 1870-74):
http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollect...ges/image1.htm
pat