Originally Posted by pfroggg

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