I think they assigned model numbers at Sears by tossing little pieces of paper in a hat. None of it makes any sense. The 117 number does at least indicate the manufacturer. In this case it's White Manufacturing of Cleveland Ohio. White made both machines above. The "Franklin Deluxe Rotary" could be a model 87 or 871 (1938) a 123 (1939) or a 21, 217, or 227 (all 1948).
I'm not so sure on the football because Sears didn't call it that, LOL.
As to whether or not the parts are interchangeable... that's a really good question. It's not one I can answer... but I'd bet that many of them might be. Giving it a try sounds like fun!
In the late fifties White contracted out for the Gritzner-Kayser machines. So White became a middle-man so to speak. The 117.740, 117.840, and 117.841 are all G/K machines. When White lost it's exclusive contract with Sears, G/K continued to produce labelled machines for the store chain under the manufacturer number 516 (Lady Kenmore model 89).
Now if I could only remember important things... *wink*
Last edited by Steelsewing; 10-26-2018 at 04:24 PM.