I received this update from the seller. (A little different than his wife explained when we picked it up...)
I know some folks here like genealogy/history stuff so...
The brief history I can provide is: The machine belonged to Wilhelmina Bruns, she was known as Minnie Bruns. She lived on O,Farrell street in San Francisco and was a seamstress. She was borne in San Francisco 3/12/1867 and passed 6/13/1932. She was married to Captain John Schultz who was stationed at Fort Point in San Francisco. After the military they had a farm in what is now known as Hospital Curve. Minnie Bruns parents immigrated from Germany at a yet unknown date. The Machine was Minnie's, but more than likely, purchased by her parents, since she was 6 when it was made....