Dollyo

I am sooooo EXCITED!!!! I just bought an American Button-Hole & Overlock sewing machine for $75 off CL on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas to me!!!! Serial number 52763 (according to Smithsonian) manufactured in 1872. He told me if I hadn't bought it, he was going to part it out. It would be a horrible shame. There is not a lot of info on this machine, so if you know anything about it, I would love for you to share.
Here are the pics of my new baby BC (before cleaning). There will be more AC (after cleaning). Repeat after me, I am not going to buy another treadle, I don't have enough room for another one. OK, I lied, I found room.

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ThayerRags

I had one at one time (just the head), and passed it on to another collector. It was serial number 80917.
From what little that I know about them, I believe that they take a 29x3 round-shank, or 20x1 flat-shank needle, and can be made to sew using a 15x1 needle set low in the needle clamp.

CD in Oklahoma

Rodney

I'd find room for that too. Nice Save!
Rodney

mighty

Congrats, very cool!!!

JudyTheSewer

Yea for you! I have one too. My serial number is quite a bit later than yours: 55602. I found some trade literature out on the net that shows a new No. 1 machine in that treadle cabinet was selling for $70 back in its day.

Do you have a manual? I did not get one with my machine but I found a PDF out on the net that was very helpful.

SteveH

Fantastic find! Lucky You AND lucky Machine!

nancia

So if that's a buttonhole and overlock machine, does that make it the first zigzag machine? Very cool! If i moved out my husband I'd have room for LOTS more machines! But, i still love him so I'll just make do for the next 30 or 40 yrs. lol