oldsewnsew

Just brought home this one, electric in a treadle base, no needle, and missing one shuttle cover plate.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]458355[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]458356[/ATTACH]
A serial number on the plate is 3783670
It was manufactured in Dayton Ohio, I think, but it's in the garage and I'm not. Anyone with some leads on threading, needles, shuttle, manuals?? I did oil and power it up, and it feeds, but I think the foot is a little bent. It's pretty neat though.

Rodney

Neat machine. Sorry, I'm useless to you. Good luck finding the parts you need.
Rodney

Macybaby

I expect it takes the standard singer needle - they have a picture of it right on the front slide plate - actual size too.



Older Davis machines take a much longer needle, so I guess Davis wanted to take extra care to make sure people didn't use that one in the newer machines.

I have the manual for your machine, if you would like a copy, may take me a while to get it scanned though.

I may have a few extra shuttles too, not much time to dig right now.

oldsewnsew

yeah it was represented via txt msg as in great shape with ectra bobbins etc. Might have been a meth fog creating an alternate view of the universe. However they did accept my offer. Now I have some more learning to do. ISMAC needle list showed confusing choices as I'm not quite sure on the exact model. Guess I can put in a 15*1 and see how short it is if all else fails.Didn't see a manual on ISMAC.

oldsewnsew

Cathy we podted same time. thanks. I'll be grateful for any help.
thanks! a manual on ebay kept going past my bid.

oldsewnsew

my plate had serial number and needle/thread list but not that. I have flat needle bar. Does that one?

oldsewnsew

search and ye shall find! http://www.kelsew.info/Domestic/DavisVFmodels.html

Macybaby

The original manuals don't come cheap - I paid over $30 for mine, but it's in almost new condition.

You said you are missing the front needle plate - this is what is on the missing one. I've seen plenty of earlier Davis machines without that, but they also take the longer needle.

Here are a few pages from the manual to get you started (I don't know how to use the scanner - and DH is not home right now).

And yes, it has the flat needle bar -






this might be better



it has reverse! (I see yours has this lever too) Interestingly, this picture shows a different tension dial than the others in the manual.



Of course, I had to get one because of the neat attachments it take

Macybaby

BTW - my manual is "Vertical Feed Sewing Machine" I've also seen teh "Davis Vertical Feed" manual, and other than the Introduction and a very few places that show the Name, they are the exact same manual - down to the page numbers and pictures.

I've also got a download of the earlier VF machines, but I really wanted one to go with my machine. They don't come up on eBay very often (then then two came up at the same time LOL!!)

jlhmnj

Hi Jim,

You have what is called a Davis NVF (New Vertical Feed). These were made from 1912-1924. Yours was made in the early 1920's. The serial number is only stamped on the front slide plate on the machine itself, so I'm not sure how you came up with 3783670 serial number.

The needle is the common 15x1 and the shuttle Boye #9. These are great binder and quilting (not FMQ) machines because of needle feed / walking foot. Attached is underfeed manual which threads similar to NVF and shuttle is the same---should get you started.

Enjoy
Jon