~1886 Jones Serpentine Hand Machine
 

Also known as a "Cat back".

This machine is the one from the thread "these two beauties are on their way" but I think that a machine this nice deserves it's own thread...

This is one of the machines on my "want list" that I did not expect to find any time soon.

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I applied JB Quick to "glue" the foot in place and then used JB Weld to create a back support. It seems to be holding well.

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This machine has a very interesting underneath

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The shuttle feed moves in the same fashion as most machines move the needlebar

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Really pretty!

the machine is in really good shape, but still needs a good cleaning.

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It cracked me up when I saw a note that said "Bobbin in bubblewrap near needle" sure enough there was a small package tightly packed laying next to the needle, containing these "critical components" LOL

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here is what she looks like when I finished cleaning for the night.
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and she SEWS!!!!!!

Set the needle height and she picked up a stitch on the first try.

Since the bobbin thread is OLD and the spool as also Vintage (Talon seemed an appropriate brand) I figured i might get a wonkey stitch or two before the thread broke, but she just started stitching away!

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SteveH, What an absolutely gorgeous machine especially after your clean-up job! And it sews? Nice! I like the "cat back" name better than the "Serpentine" one .... that serpentine design looks like and makes me think "snake" and gives me a bit of a chill. It does look like the arched back of a cat so I'll stick with that. Wondering where you found that machine? No matter, you did good!

Craigslist out of Nashville.

I am calling her Sarff. It is welsh for Serpent

She is a beauty. Too bad about the leg but nice repair, you really can't see it in the pictures. Was it shipping damage?
Rodney

yep, the seller decide that his idea to use bubblewrap was a better one than my idea to use foam...

What a beauty! I am very envious. Enjoy.

Great job on finding an unusual machine. Nice stitches too - a bonus!

Steve, your machine is truly a beauty. I just love it. And I know you must . It reminds me of a violin with the part that holds the strings pulled up and over itself.

Excuse me while I wipe the drool off my iPad... Congrats!

Steve,

Both my wife and I agree --- that's a very nice machine. The shipper was an idiot.
My wife asked what kind of shuttle does it use, can you post a pic of it for her?

Joe

you betcha!

It uses a Boat Shuttle and long bobbin.

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I'll take better pics tonight and post them.

Cool. My wife says: "That explains things".

Joe

What a lovely machine! I was wondering if this was the machine that was damaged in shipping...and read farther and so it is....
Good job on the repair...I wouldn't have know if you didn't tell.

That's amazing!!

Thanks folks, I really appreciate the appreciation of this old gal... This machine is so cool and fun to sew on, that I am finding it hard to make myself play with the OTHER old handcrank I got at the same time as this one... Maybe if I start taking pics and cleaning the other machine tonight, that might help...

Oh, what a gorgeous machine!!!!!!!

Really interesting and very pretty
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Steve,

Your machine is wonderful. You would never know it had been broken. I can imagine that you were genuinely sick when you found the damage! Why is it that idiots won't listen to the voice of experience? You did a wonderful job of repairing it. The machine is in incredible condition for one that old! Congratulations!

Jeanette

What a beauty.....I have never seen one here in West Aus. Magnifico repair and the bobbin in the bubblewrap made me smile. Great repair, cool name....thanks for sharing her with us.

I just love her...so pretty and that's a great stitch...WOW

Wow, she is a beauty for sure. You have done an incredible job cleaning her up BUT she was in really good shape to begin with & that makes the job easier. Lucky you !!

Yep. I usually refer to the process I go through as "de-neglecting". I just carefully remove the neglect.

This machines did not take much, it only had a little neglect...

Cleaned up the head mechanism today. runs even smoother...

Before...

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And after...
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Fallen Soldiers...
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found this odd screw on the back.... it did not operate anything, was kinds stuck but came free with some coaxing...

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It's the bed attachment screw!!!!
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How I hold it while cleaning
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Cleaned up back in storage..
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Looks prettier every day!

You have done miracles with this machine. It was great to see it as it was, but truly breath-taking the more you work on it.

Good job.

CD in Oklahoma

Beautiful machine!! What do you use to clean the metal to make it so shiny?

in this case, Q-Tips and Brasso.

This thread almost got away from me before I could comment on it. Steve, that is an awesome machine! I'm very envious. You're doing a fab job on it. Are you going to do anything to the decals, s/a touch up, restore, etc.? They must be gold leaf.

~ Cindy

No way. I will clean, and even polish, but not "redo" machines like this. (just my opinion)

I am currently hunting down accessories/manual/case/bobbins for it.